The First Barons' War (1215–1217) was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of rebellious barons and King John. Events June 15 - King John of England forced to put his seal to Magna Carta, outlining the rights of landowning men (nobles and knights) and restricts the kings power. ... Events April 9 - Peter of Courtenay crowned emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople at Rome, by Pope Honorius III May 20 - First Barons War, royalist victory at Lincoln. ... A civil war is a war in which the competing parties are segments of the same country or empire. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Various rulers or governments of Europe, of Japan bestow or recognise the title of baron. ... John of England depicted in Cassells History of England (1902) John (French: Jean) (December 24, 1166/67–October 18/19, 1216) reigned as King of England from 1199 to 1216. ...

Background

King John in June of 1215 was forced to sign Magna Carta by a group of powerful barons who had had enough of John's failed leadership and despotic rulership. "The law of the land" is one of the great watchwords of Magna Carta, standing in opposition to the king's mere will. Magna Carta placed certain checks on the absolute power of the English Monarchs. ...

Magna Carta of 1215 contained clauses that no medieval king could accept, unless he wished to remain ruler in name only. This included clause 61, the "security clause", that allowed a group of 25 barons to override the king at any time by way of force, a medieval legal process called distraint that was normal in feudal relationships but had never been applied to a king. After a few months of half-hearted attempts to negotiate in the summer of 1215, open warfare broke out between the rebel barons and the king and his supporters.

First Barons' War

The war began over Magna Carta but quickly turned into a dynastic war for the throne of England. The rebel barons, faced with a powerful king, turned to the son of the king of France, Louis, son and heir apparent of king of France Philip Augustus. Louis landed in England on May 21, 1216 and marched on London where he was openly received by the rebel barons and citizens of London. Many of John's supporters, sensing a tide of change, moved to support to barons. Gerarld of Wales remarked: Louis VIII the Lion (French: Louis VIII le Lion) (September 5, 1187 - November 8, 1226) reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. ... Philip II (French: Philippe II), called Philip Augustus (French: Philippe Auguste) (August 21, 1165 - July 14, 1223), was King of France from 1180 to 1223. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... Events Prince Louis of France, the future King Louis VIII, invades England in the First Barons War Henry III becomes King of England. ...

"The madness of slavery is over, the time of liberty has been granted, English knecks are free from the yoke."

John died in the middle of the war on October 18, 1216 of dysentery and it quickly changed the nature of the war. His nine year old son Henry was next in line for the throne. The royalists believed the rebel barons would find the idea of loyalty to the child Henry more palatable than loyalty to Louis, and so the child was swiftly crowned in late October. On November 12, 1216 Magna Carta was reissued in Henry's name with some of the clauses, including clause 61, omitted. The revised charter was signed by the young kings' regent William Marshal. October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... Events Prince Louis of France, the future King Louis VIII, invades England in the First Barons War Henry III becomes King of England. ... Henry III of England, as depicted in Cassells History of England, Century Edition, published circa 1902 Henry III (October 1, 1207 - November 16, 1272) is one of the least-known British monarchs, considering the great length of his reign. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... Events Prince Louis of France, the future King Louis VIII, invades England in the First Barons War Henry III becomes King of England. ... For the insecticide Regent, see Regent (insecticide) A regent is an acting governor. ... William Marshal is the name of two important men in English history. ...

Having appropriated the rebels' cause, the military defeat of Louis came soon after and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Lambeth in 1217, and the withdrawal of Louis to France. The Treaty of Lambeth was signed in 1217 by Louis VIII of France, ending his campaign in the First Barons War, and his claim to the throne of England. ...

See also

• Second Barons' War