The Magna Carta ‘Rebel’ Barons of 1215 and Their Castles

In the early 13th century, England was a realm embroiled in complex political dynamics, marked by a feudal system where power was concentrated in the hands of the monarchy and nobility. King John, son of the legendary King Henry II, ascended to the throne in 1199, inheriting a kingdom fraught with challenges.

John was known for his assertive and often tyrannical rule. He faced immense pressure to fund his military campaigns, leading to exorbitant taxes imposed on the barons and the general populace. His autocratic tendencies and arbitrary decisions eroded the trust and goodwill of the barons, who increasingly saw him as a capricious and unjust ruler.

This volatile atmosphere of discontent, coupled with King John's authoritarian rule, ultimately culminated in a clash between the crown and the barons, leading to one of the most significant documents in legal history - The Magna Carta.

The Magna Carta, also known as the "Great Charter," is a historic document that was originally issued in 1215 during the reign of King John of England. It is considered one of the most significant legal and political documents in history, and was a result of conflict between King John and his barons, who were dissatisfied with his arbitrary and oppressive rule. The Magna Carta has had a profound and enduring influence on the evolution of constitutional and legal systems, serving as a cornerstone for the development of modern democratic principles and the protection of individual rights.

Step back in time and discover the formidable barons who stood up to King John in 1215 to secure the Magna Carta.

The list below outlines my ancestral connections to the rebel barons and the castles that played pivotal roles in the historic struggle of securing the birth of modern democracy. Eighteen of the 25 ‘Rebel’ Barons are my ancestors and Five are my ancestral Uncles. 

* Ancestor | **Ancestral Uncle | + Ancestral Cousin

• William d'aubigny, Lord of Belvoir* - BELVOIR CASTLE
• Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk* - FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE
• Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk* - FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE
• Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford* - TROWBRIDGE CASTLE
• Richard De Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford* - TONBRIDGE CASTLE
• Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford, 5th Earl of Gloucester* - TONBRIDGE CASTLE
• John Fitzrobert, Lord Clavering, Sheriff of Northumberland, Norfolk and Suffolk* - WARKWORTH CASTLE
• Robert Fitzwalter, Lord of Dunmow* - BAYNARD'S CASTLE
• William De Forz, 3rd Earl of Albemarle + - BAYNARD'S CASTLE
• William De Huntingfield, Sheriff of Norfolk & Suffolk* - NONE
• John De Lacy, 2nd Earl of Lincoln, 7th Baron of Pontefract, 8th Baron of Halton and 8th Lord of Bowland, Sheriff of Lancashire and Hereditary Constable of Chester*- PONTEFRACT CASTLE
• William De Lanvaleii, Lord of Walkern* - NONE
• William Malet, Lord of Curry Malet, Sheriff of Somerset & Dorsetshire* - NONE
• Geoffrey FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex, 4th Earl of Gloucester** - PLESHEY CASTLE
• William II Marshal, Earl of Pembroke** - Refer To His Loyalist Father's Castles
• Roger de Montbegon, Lord of Hornby** - HORNBY CASTLE
• Richard II de Montfichet, 5th Baron Montfichet, Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire** - MOUNTFITCHET CASTLE
• William de Mowbray, Baron Axholme, Lord of Thirsk & Mowbray* – THIRSK CASTLE
• Richard de Percy, 5th Baron Percy** - NONE
• Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester* - NONE
• Robert de Ros, 1st Lord of Helmsley, 4th Baron Hamlake, Sheriff of Cumberland* - HELMSLEY CASTLE
• Geoffrey II de Say, 2nd Lord of West Greenwich* - NONE
• Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford, Hereditary Master Chamberlain of England* - HEDINGHAM CASTLE
• Eustace de Vesci, Lord of Alnwick* - ALNWICK CASTLE