This Month in History
June

June has it all: births, deaths, coronations - and one truly momentous event: the signing of the Magna Carta by King John.

With its premise that nobody - not even the monarch - is above the law, the Magna Carta is one of those documents that really made a difference.

Not that King John granted the charter out of reverence for the laws of the land. Far from it. His failure to subdue England's barons on the battlefield forced his hand, and he tried to have the charter overturned almost immediately.

He failed to do so and the guiding principles of the Magna Carta survive on the statute books to this day.

1 June 1533
Anne Boleyn's Coronation

King Henry VIII was clearly besotted with Anne Boleyn. After they had finally - though secretly - married on January 25th, Henry now had a most magnificent coronation arranged for her.

Unfortunately, her triumph only lasted three years. Then she was accused of treason, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and finally beheaded.

None of Henry's later wives were crowned.

8 June 1042
Death of Hardecanute, England's last Danish King

King Canute, though Danish by birth, was a very effective English king. His son Hardecanute - at least according to The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - was not.

The chronicle tells us that he was ruthless and greedy and far too fond of drink. At a wedding feast in Lambeth, Hardecanute suddenly collapsed and died. He was twenty-three and had ruled England for just two years.

His half-brother, whom we know as Edward the Confessor, would have much more of an impact on the country whose throne he now succeeded to.

15 June 1215
King John is forced to sign the Magna Carta

Toward the end of his reign, King John became increasingly tyrannical in his treatment of friends and enemies. Not surprisingly, his barons revolted, challenging the King's authority. Not as good a battle commander as his elder brother, Richard the Lionheart, John lost that fight.

And on this day he was forced to sign a document that severely limited his authority. Having little choice, John signed. I often wondered how he felt as he put his seal to the parchment...

17 June 1239
Birth of King Edward I

King Edward I, son of Henry III and grandson of King John, is best remembered for his battles with the Scots under Robert the Bruce and Braveheart William Wallace. He was also a great castle builder, surrounding Wales with a ring of the most advanced strongholds of its time.

His birth was marked by the appearance of a comet... a sign that was meant to presage greatness and good fortune for the prince.