King John and the Magna Carta

Page 1 of 5

• 1. The events leading up to Magna Carta
• 2. The rebels gather
• 3. Magna Carta
• 4. Death of John
• 5. Find out more
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The events leading up to Magna Carta

In 1209, John had been excommunicated in a dispute over the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He had used this as an excuse to confiscate church property and sell it back to his bishops at a profit.

Part of the money raised by these exactions was used to create a fledgling English Navy. John had used this to invade Ireland in 1210, and on 30 May 1213, the Earl of Salisbury destroyed a French armada poised to invade the British Isles at Damme.

'John patched up a truce and retreated back to England, but once again he was tainted by the stain of cowardice.'

However, it could also be used by his barons to justify their lack of support for his continental ventures. This delayed John's return to the continent until 1214, but following the success at Damme, John was able to launch an invasion of Poitou.

Once again, the Lusignans were pivotal. They were persuaded to switch allegiance to John, but at the critical point in the campaign, they refused to fight. John patched up a truce and retreated back to England, but once again he was tainted by the stain of cowardice through little fault of his own.

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Published: 2002-01-01