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Following the death of King Richard in 1199, his brother John ascended the throne, becoming an unpopular king known as "Lackland" due to his lack of inherited land. His reign saw rising taxes, lost wars, and conflicts with the Pope, inciting nobles to seek limits on his power. This led to the Magna Carta of 1215, a pivotal document that established rights like trial by jury and consultation with nobles before tax increases. Its legacy inspired the development of the English Parliament, significantly shaping governance in England and limiting royal authority.
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Background Information • After King Richard’s death, his younger brother John took the throne in 1199 A.D. • John was an unpopular king • He received the nickname “Lackland” because he inherited no land from his father
King John • King John angered his people by: • Raising taxes • Taking money for wars (which he ended up losing) • Arguing with the Pope and trying to take control over Church decisions • As a result, a group of nobles began looking for a way to limit the kings’ powers and protect their own rights in return
Magna Carta • In 1215, at the meadow of Runnymede, a group of nobles and lords forced King John to approve a document they had written: Magna Carta • Magna Carta means “Great Charter” and it focused on the rights of the nobles
The Effects of the Magna Carta • No imprisonment without a trial by jury *habeas corpus-“you have the body”- meant that people could not be held in jail without a reason • Must consult lords before raising taxes • Must choose competent officials who understand and obey the law themselves • Could not interfere with or limit the freedom of the church • Most importantly, the Magna Carta required that everyone- even the king- had to obey the law
Changes after Magna Carta • After King John signed the charter, the conflicts continued until his death the following year • The Magna Carta lived on inspiring the English to find more ways to limit the king’s power • A council of nobles who advise the king was created, which eventually developed into Parliament, the lawmaking body that governs England today • By the late Middle Ages, kings could do little without Parliaments support
England vs France • While the power of the English monarchy waned, in France the Valois were consolidating the power of Paris over the vassals. • Just as the Magna Carta set a precedent for decentralising power in England, the success of the Valois set a precedent for centralisation in France. • This paved the way for the Bourbons to achieve Absolutism in later periods. • Louis XIV in the 17th Century is famously (and falsely) attributed for saying ‘L'État, c'est moi!’ (‘I am the state!’)