Profile of the Day: King John of England

King John of England

On this day in 1215, King John of England put his royal seal on the Magna Carta, which established that everyone, including the king and the government, were not above the law. Not only is the Great Charter one of the most famous documents in the world, it is also one of the most important documents in the history of democracy.

At the time, King John was facing a political crisis. Rebel barons were opposed to the King’s tyrannical rule and King John was unwilling to give in to the barons’ demands for the king to sign a charter of liberty for the barons. The dispute escalated, leading the barons to renounce their allegiance to the King and organize their own military faction. Once the rebels took control of London, King John was forced to negotiate for peace. On June 15, 1215, King John placed his seal on what would become known as the Magna Carta. The document was the first of its kind to place significant limits on the power of the throne.

Today only four exemplifications of the original 1215 charter remain in existence.

Have you found your connection to King John of England? Explore his family tree and share your connection to the King.
 

View King John of England’s Geni Profile

Image: Wikimedia Commons