Stephen Langton made Archbishop of Canterbury 1207
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On the 17th of June 1207, despite objections from King John of England, Pope Innocent III consecrated Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. John had wanted to appoint the Bishop of Norwich John de Grey. John's objection to Langton was because of Langton's close relationship with court of Philip II of France. John refused to allow Langton to land in England, and declared as an enemy any one that recognised Langton as Archbishop. When the monks of Canterbury supported Langton John expelled them on the 15th of July 1207.1 In November 1209 Pope Innocent excommunicated John and placed England under interdict.2 The dispute lasted until May 1213 when John yielded to the Pope and promised to repeal unjust laws and reinstate the liberties under Henry I of England.3
Stephen along with a number of others that had been exiled arrived in England in July 1213. On August the 25th Langton read the Charter of Liberties and calls for its renewal. In 1215 Langton was instrumental in drafting the Magna Carta that John was forced to sign at Runnymead.4
- 1. King John. Yale English Monarchs (Yale University Press, 1997). p163.
- 2. From Domesday Book to Magna Carta. The Oxford History of England (Clarendon Press, 1985). pp446-448.
- 3. From Domesday Book to Magna Carta. The Oxford History of England (Clarendon Press, 1985). p457.
- 4. Archbishop Stephen Langton - British Library http://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-people-and-society
