1.The Reign of Richard I: 1189-1199

In Richard the lion-hearted there was a susceptibility to high ideals which made go on crusade to the Holy Land. At home, there was strife between the friends of John (King's brother) & those of the King Richard I entrusted the government to Hubert Walter who had to suppress the treason of Richard's brother, John

When he came back from the Holy Land, the perils of the Angevin Empire engrossed his mind. He made Hubert Walter raise money for the Norman War. In France, the Capet Kings were extending their influence.The Angevin Empire was made of Anjou, Maine, Touraine, Normandy, Gascony, Aquitaine, Poitou & Britany

2.The Reign Of John: 1199-1216

The Angevin inheritance was also a preoccupation of John. He lost Normandy in 1204, then all these possessions except Aquitaine.

This war made him very unpopular with his subjects because he forced his barons to wage war. He extorted money from all his subjects with the help of Archbishop Stephen Langton, the barons & the City of London united to curb the power of the King At triat time, Parliament carried no idea of election of representation. Parliament was the King's curia or council. Barons and the King's servants met to debate on foreign policy & then to take decisions

This revolt produced MAGNA CARTA, the Great Charter, in 1215. So, the King was forced to accept it. Magna Carta is a first step in the principle of "no taxation without representation". It is an important document as several clauses in it gives expression to the spirit of individual liberty.

King John never accepted this charter & he tried to repudiate it. However, he died before a crisis had time to develop

3 The Reign of Henry III: 1216-1272

Henry IlI was only 9 when he inherited the crown. The regency brought back peace & stability to the country but when he was of age, he did not respect Magna Carta. The King raised a strong opposition from the barons & the middles classes led by Simon de Montfort.

The barons refused the money to support the King in making his son, King of Sicily. Simon de Montfort's reforming party was victorious fora time. In 1265, he had 2 burghers & 2 knights of the shire summoned from each borough & country to Parliament.

4 The Reign of Edward I: 1272-1307

Edward I when he came to the throne on his father's death had already learnt that the King of England must rule under the law, that as a King he was not above the law

Edward realized that he summoning of representatives from the countries and boroughs would in effect help him to collect taxes more easily. They would explain the King's policy to their neighbours who had no other means of information.

A large part of the business of the early parliaments consisted in receiving petitions for redress. It was a means for the King to keep in touch with the life of the governed.

5.The Reign of Edward II: 1307-1327

Edward II & his friends Piers Gravestone were unfit to govern England. The barons checked their exactions with the ordinances of

1. In 1312, Piers Gravestone was captured by the barons and beheaded. The Incapable King was deposed & his son Edward III, aged 14, became King.