en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barons'_War
3 corrections found
A formal document to record the agreement was drafted by the royal chancery on 15 July; this was the original Magna Carta.
This sentence gives the wrong month. Magna Carta was sealed at Runnymede on 15 June 1215, and its terms were published four days later, not on 15 July.
Full reasoning
The date in this sentence is off by a month.
Authoritative archival sources date the original Magna Carta to 15 June 1215 at Runnymede:
- The UK National Archives says "King John and the barons famously sealed their agreement, later known as 'Magna Carta', at Runnymede on 15 June 1215" and adds that "Four days later its terms were published".
- The U.S. National Archives likewise states that "On June 15, 1215 ... King John affixed his seal to Magna Carta."
So a document said to have been drafted on 15 July cannot be the original Magna Carta. If this sentence is trying to describe the original charter, the month should be June, not July.
2 sources
- Magna Carta - The National Archives
King John and the barons famously sealed their agreement, later known as 'Magna Carta', at Runnymede on 15 June 1215. Four days later its terms were published.
- Magna Carta | National Archives
On June 15, 1215, in a field at Runnymede, King John affixed his seal to Magna Carta.
The damage was caused possibly by the castle having been besieged by the barons in 1189, less than 30 years earlier.
The earlier siege of Windsor Castle was in 1193, not 1189. Multiple historical sources identify Prince John's siege crisis at Windsor as happening in 1193.
Full reasoning
The year given here is incorrect.
Sources on Windsor Castle's medieval sieges place the earlier siege in 1193, during Prince John's attempted coup while Richard I was away, not in 1189.
- A Historic England report states that Windsor Castle was "besieged twice, first in 1193 and again in 1216."
- Berkshire History's account of the castle's first siege likewise dates it to 1193: "In March 1193 ... [forces] surround[ed] the castle and trap[ped] John inside."
- Windsor Local History Group's chronology also lists: "1193 Windsor Castle was under siege by rebelling barons whilst Prince John was in residence."
So the article's reference to a siege in 1189 is not supported by these histories; the correct year is 1193.
3 sources
- Windsor Castle: identifying, conserving and ... | Historic England
Castle was besieged twice, first in 1193 and again in 1216.
- Berkshire History: The First Siege of Windsor Castle
Barons besiege Prince John 1193 ... In March 1193 ... the Justiciar ... sent a large force of knights ... to surround the castle and trap John inside.
- Windsor - the Early Years - Windsor Local History Group
1193 Windsor Castle was under siege by rebelling barons whilst Prince John was in residence.
In exchange, the barons renewed their fealty to John on 19 July.
The month is wrong here. The barons renewed their allegiance to John on 19 June 1215, not 19 July.
Full reasoning
This sentence misdates the restoration of peace after Magna Carta by one month.
The National Archives' document "Peace announced, 1215" is explicitly dated 19 June 1215 and describes John announcing that peace had been restored between him and the barons after the agreement at Runnymede. The Magna Carta Project likewise says that after the charter was issued on 15 June, the rebel barons "returned to the King's allegiance" on 19 June.
So the article's date of 19 July is incorrect; the barons' renewed fealty belongs to 19 June 1215.
2 sources
- Peace announced, 1215 - The National Archives
Following his agreement to rule in accordance with the rules set out in Magna Carta, King John announces the end of the civil war, 19 June 1215 (C 66/14).
- Magna Carta Project - King John's Diary & Itinerary - Magna Carta and Peace
This was followed by four further days of discussion ... ended on Friday 19 June when the rebel barons returned to the King's allegiance and the King received the barons' homage.