The Middle Ages
In 1214 the barons
rebelled against John. He was forced to sign Magna Carta, the Great Charter (symbol of
freedom, hundreds of years later it was used by Parliament to protect itself from a powerful
king),in 1215, but was unwilling to keep to the agreement. The nobles rebelled and civil war
was avoided only because John died suddenly. John's son Henry became King as Henry III.
He was then 9 years old and until the age of 20 he was under the control of powergul nobles.
When he became independent, he became involved in wars & got foreign advisers. This upset
the nobles. Their leader Simon de Montfort took over the government and called a Great
Council in 1258. It included knights, barons & bishops. It forced Henry III to get rif of his
foreign advisers and he signed a document in Oxford. In 1265 de Montfort called Parliament.
For the first time nobles & spokesmen from both towns & shires met. It was made up of
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