Stephen Langton was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1207 to 1228 and a central figure in the constitutional crisis of King John of England’s ⓘ reign. Despite John’s objections, Pope Innocent III ⓘ consecrated Langton as archbishop in 1207 after the king attempted to impose his own candidate, John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich. John’s hostility stemmed in part from Langton’s close association with the court of Philip II of France ⓘ.

John refused to allow Langton to enter England and declared enemies all who recognised him as archbishop. When the monks of Canterbury supported Langton, the king expelled them in July 1207.1 The dispute escalated in 1209 when Innocent III excommunicated John and placed England under interdict ⓘ ⓘ.2 It was not resolved until 1213, when John submitted to papal authority and promised to restore lawful governance and ancient liberties.3

Langton returned to England in 1213 with other exiles. On 25 August he publicly read the Charter of Liberties of Henry I of England, urging its renewal. In 1215 Langton played a key mediating role between king and barons and was instrumental in shaping the settlement that resulted in the Magna Carta, sealed by John at Runnymede.4

• 1.
  
  Warren, WL King John Yale English Monarchs Yale English Monarchs New Haven and London Yale University Press 1997.

  p163.

• 2.
  
  Poole, Austin Lane From Domesday Book To Magna Carta The Oxford History Of England The Oxford History Of England Oxford Clarendon Press 1985.

  pp446-448.

• 3.
  
  Poole, Austin Lane From Domesday Book To Magna Carta The Oxford History Of England The Oxford History Of England Oxford Clarendon Press 1985.

  p457.

• 4. Archbishop Stephen Langton ⓘ - British Library