Magna Carta

Magna Carta is the document signed by King John on June 15, 1215.

King William the Conqueror

• Established an unified government;

• Required loyalty oaths to strengthen allegiance of English nobles;

• Created an accurate tax system.

King Henry I

• Created the office of the exchequer to handle royal finances;

• Established at circuit of traveling judges to replace feudal judges.

King Henry II

• Used judges and introduced juries to determine criminal cases;

• Used marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine to add more lands in France;

• Created a mercenary army which would be loyal to the crown.

King John

• Became entrenched in expensive wars in France;

• Engendered much ill will amongst the nobles;

• Disputed with the Pope over Stephen Langton's election as archbishop of Canterbury.

King John’s government in comparison with the previous three kings was quite poor. That’s why his barons enforced him to limit the power of

the king by signing Magna Carta.

The significance of Magna Carta

Magna Carta was an important part of the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law in the English speaking world.

References

• Fordham University file:///K:/Magna%20Carta/magnacarta.asp.htm

• http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/magna2.html• America's Gateway to the British Isles since 1996.• Mr. Zoller Video Podcast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUVnpe8uffs• MrZoller's channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrZoller• A web-site dedicated to the history of Russia

http://manger.ru/ot/13/mtat2.htm