Attempt to revoke the Charter

In the century that followed, the charter was destined to become a rallying-point for the people of England, though for the moment it looked as if it might be revoked. John had no intention of keeping his promises. On his appeal Pope Innocent relieved him of his oath, excommunicated the barons and Stephen Langton, and in a special bull declared the charter illegal. John with unexpected vigor began war. He recovered the north and the centre, while the barons held London and the southeast. The latter, fearing defeat at the hands of John and his mercenaries, turned to the king of France and offered the crown to Louis, Philip's son. Louis had a claim to the English throne, based on his marriage to Blanche of Castile, John's niece, but with this claim he apparently was not satisfied, for he endeavored to strengthen his position by inventing tales against King John. He asserted, first, that the latter did not deserve the crown because of his failure to keep an alleged coronation oath; and secondly, that he had forfeited the crown, having been condemned to death by an alleged court of feudal lords in France, summoned by Philip in 1203, to judge the king for the murder of Arthur.

Louis crossed to England in May, 1216, and supported by the English party began the conquest of the kingdom. John's death the October following saved England from civil war and brought unexpected relief. The English barons began at once to desert the French pretender and to support the legitimate heir to the throne, John's son, Henry, a lad only nine years old. On October 18 Henry was crowned at Gloucester, and a week later confirmed a revised text of Magna Carta. This act rendered hopeless the cause of Louis, who after a defeat at Lincoln in April, 1217, gave up the struggle, and in November renounced all claims to the crown. In 1217 Henry confirmed the charter a second time, and with the second coronation in 1220 at the hand of Stephen Langton, the civil war caused by John's faithlessness came to an end. The king and people were once more apparently working in harmony.

Result of John's Reign