19 June 1215
Magna Carta

Previous event | Timeline | Next event

At a meeting by the Thames at Runnymede, discontented nobles force King John to put his seal to Magna Carta ('great charter'), which obliges him to seek their agreement before introducing any new taxes. Threat of civil war means he has little choice – the nobility has tired of constantly emptying its pockets for royal adventures abroad, which culminated in John's costly attempts to recover Normandy after losing the duchy in 1204. The charter makes the law independent of monarchical whim, and becomes the foundation of English liberties for centuries afterwards. But, after giving his approval, John appeals to the pope, who declares the document to be the work of traitors, leaving him free to ignore it (see 21 May 1216).

Top