Magna Carta

John I vs. Phillip

• Engage in war
• How again did John raise money for the war?
• John I has big defeat at Battle of Bouvines
• How are John’s barons feeling about him right now?

Who is it?

• Who was the guy that John had previously held a personal vendetta against in the Church?

Stephen Langton!

• What position does he currently hold?
• Take inventory: who currently hates John I?

Baron Rebellion

• Langton encourages barons to take up arms
• Angry barons confront John at Runnymede, England
• Demand him to stop war
• And to sign “The Great Charter”

Magna Carta

• Large piece of parchment!
• Composed/Influenced by barons and Langton
• Contained coronation oaths
• King’s rules

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Expectations

• If the Magna Carta was written by the barons and Langton what sort of things might we expect to see in it?

Wordle Time!

https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html

Not like the DOI

• 63 clauses
• Not about human dignity and rights
• Concerned with technicalities
• About Feudal Law

Feudal Law

• Inheritance rights
• Feudal Relief
• Wardship
• Widow’s Rights

Elite Freedoms

• Church and barons granted liberties
• Promised a moral justice system for freemen
• King can only tax with common consent
• Who isn’t represented here?

John’s Response

• Renounces it as soon as it was signed
• Pope Innocent actually supports John in this!
• Why?
• “Oath sworn under duress”

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John I Dies

• Dies of dysentery
• Three Rumors
• Ate unripe peaches
• Drank too much sweet ale
• Poisoned with toad poison

Who’s Next?

• "Foul as it is, Hell itself is made fouler by the presence of John.
• John I’s only possible heir was named Henry
• Only 9 years old
• Barons seize control & reinstitute Magna Carta
• Set up a council to rule instead of Henry

Connections

https://www.connectionsunlimited.org/?gameId=486