Member Poem

Hand of King John of England

(1166 - 1216) forced into signing

document reducing his power

reigning reins of King from

old English laws prevailing

before Norman conquest, a collection

of 37 English laws drafted

by Archbishop Stephen Langton.

Barons of England and King John

approved document in meadow

at Runnymede in Egham, Surrey,

South England (between Windsor

and Staines) originally called

'Articles of the Barons' on June

10, 1215 which Oath of Fealty

presented to King John on June

15, 1215 produced formal royal grant,

based on agreements reached at

Runnymede, which became

known as Magna Carta considered

founding document of English

liberties and hence American

liberties influence of Magna Carta

seen in United States Constitution

and the Bill of Rights. Article 21

from Declaration of Rights in

Maryland Constitution of 1776 reads:

"That no freeman ought to be

taken, or imprisoned, or disseized

of his freehold, liberties, or privileges,

or outlawed, or exiled, or in

any manner destroyed, or deprived

of life, liberty, or property, but by

the judgment of peers, or

by the law of the land."

Unprecedented basic human rights

produced roiling contention.

In 1205 King John quarreled with

Pope Innocent III about who should

be archbishop of Canterbury.

The Pope wanted a man named

Stephen Langton to be archbishop.

King John swore he should never come

to England. In 1209 the pope

excommunicated King John

and banned all church services

in all parish churches.

King John acquiesced. Pope

Innocent made the king

and people pay him money

upon request. Taxes levied

by King John exorbitant. In

1212 King John taxed Barons

in attempt to regain lost lands

of Aquitaine, Poitou

and Anjou. King John quarrels

with Barons over his methods

of ruling England. Barons and

Stephen Langton decided to limit

King and make him govern by old

English laws that prevailed before

the Normans came. The demands

of Barons were documented in 'Articles

of the Barons' in January 1215.

Barons took up arms against

King John. Barons captured

London in May 1215.

In June the Barons took King

John by surprise at Windsor.

He agreed to a meeting at Runny

mede. King John signed and

sealed the document on June

10, 1215.The barons renewed

Oath of Fealty to King John

on June 15, 1215.

The royal chancery produced

formal royal grant, based on

agreements reached at Runny

mede, which became known

as Magna Carta. King John

had no intention abiding by

Magna Carta. His duplicity

leads to Barons War

between 1215 - 1217. The

rebel barons support son king

of France, Prince Louis in

preference to King John.

In 1216 Prince Louis invades

England marches to London

where he receives support

and proclaimed King of England

(although not actually crowned).

King John dies in October.

The Barons turn on Prince

Louis and supports the nine

year old son of King John

who then became King

Henry III of England.