King John signs Magna Carta King John was out of control. His 13th-century reign was, for the most part, a disaster. Not only was he without land of his own (thus his nickname, Lackland), but he also lost most of England's  possessions in France. To recoup his losses, taxes skyrocketed and demands for feudal military service became downright unreasonable. To add insult to injury, the Pope excommunicated him. King John was cranky. The natives were restless and a French invasion seemed imminent. What to do? The powerful English barons negotiated some checks and balances and voilà! The Magna Carta was born. Faced with revolt, King John reluctantly put his seal to the Great Charter on June 15, 1215, establishing that even a king was bound by the rule of law. Did it work? Alas, in the medieval version of a signing statement, King John ignored the new charter and civil war broke out. Suggested Sites... The Magna Carta, 1215 - new English translation from the Latin document. King John, the Lusignan Affair and the Early Years - the highs and lows of King John's reign. Medieval English Towns - town histories and the structure of government for select medieval boroughs.

Directory categories: Magna Carta, John, King of England, Middle Ages

Archived under: England, Government, History, Royalty

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