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The Reigns of King Richard I and King John, 1189–1216

Magna Carta and the First Barons’ War

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2 booklet B

Overview

Runnymede, why John agreed, what the barons wanted, the clauses on free men and on raising money, the promises, the security clause, the annulment and renewed fighting, the mining of Rochester and Prince Louis's arrival.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What was the security clause, and why did John find it intolerable?

Numbers

Why did fighting break out within months of Runnymede?

Key term

How did John take Rochester castle in 1215?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Where and when was Magna Carta agreed?

    Model answer

    In the meadow at Runnymede beside the Thames in June 1215.

  2. 2

    Why did John agree to the charter?

    Model answer

    He had lost London and could not defeat the rebels quickly, so agreeing bought him time to gather mercenaries and appeal to the pope, and he had no intention of keeping to it.

  3. 3

    What did the barons want out of Runnymede?

    Model answer

    Their grievances over arbitrary money demands, inheritance and justice written down as binding law, so that the king could not simply deny them afterwards.

  4. 4

    What did the charter say about imprisoning a free man?

    Model answer

    That no free man could be arrested, imprisoned or stripped of his lands and rights except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.

  5. 5

    What did the charter say about the king raising money?

    Model answer

    That scutage and aids could not be levied without the agreement of the kingdom’s leading men, apart from the three customary payments long recognised as the king’s due.

  6. 6

    Which other promises did the charter contain?

    Model answer

    That the Church should be free, that reliefs should be fixed at a set sum, that widows should not be forced to remarry, that London should keep its liberties, and that John’s foreign mercenaries should leave.

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