Middle+Ages+Documents


 * MAGNA CARTA ||
 * [[image:magna_carta_written_document.jpg width="294" height="421" align="center"]] ||
 * The Magna Carta set the first limits on medieval kingship. The document came about because the conflict between King John of England and rebellious aristocrats dissatisfied with the king. Because of this dissatisfaction it caused the king to raise the level of taxation a lot through income taxes and special laws pertaining to forest. Another places of dissatisfaction was the loss of most of England's possessions to France during King John's reign and the argument between the king and the Pope Innocent III over who had the right to appoint archbishops, which resulted in all church services in England becoming temporarily interdicted. In 1215, the barons, known as aristocrats, gathered together to force King John to concede certain rights and protections that are recorded and promulgated in the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta has many very specific legal questions. The most important concessions are in clauses 12, 14, and 61. Clauses 12 and 14 force the king to gain the permission of a council of aristocrats before raising taxes. Clauses 61 was about empowering a group of 25 barons to take direct acting against the monarch if he fails to fulfill the clauses of the Great Charter. The barons are permitted to seize all the king's possessions and the public is to swear allegiance to the barons. Due to clause 61 the 25 barons are the effective rulers of England, not the king. There are 63 laws total in the Magna Carta ||