The Magna Carta
In Our Time
00:00
The Battle of Runnymeade
Magna Carta is a peace treaty between the kings and the barons. It was signed in 1215 at Runnymeade, halfway between London and where the king's forces are. King John had been on the back foot after disasters of 1214 - he'd squandered vast resources that he'd acquired over the previous 10 years. He wanted to gain protections that the church afforded to crusaders. But they were no longer on his side so he took the cross.
Transcript
Play full episode
