Treaty of Lambeth facts for kids
The Treaty of Lambeth of 1217 was an important peace agreement. It is also sometimes called the Treaty of Kingston. This treaty officially ended a big fight in England known as the First Barons' War.
This war began because some powerful English nobles, called barons, were unhappy with their king, King John. They invited Prince Louis of France to come and take the English throne. Many barons joined Louis's side.
However, King John died in 1216. His young son, Henry III, became king, and a wise leader named William Marshal became his regent. A regent is someone who rules for a child king until they are old enough. After John's death, many barons switched their support back to the English crown.
Prince Louis's forces then suffered major defeats. They lost battles at Lincoln in May 1217 and at Dover and Sandwich in August 1217. These losses forced Louis to agree to talk about peace.
Where and When the Treaty Was Signed
The discussions for the treaty happened in several places during September 1217. They started around September 6 at Staines, which was near the royal court. Some records suggest it might have started on September 5 on an island in the River Thames near Kingston.
Different old documents mention various dates for the treaty's signing:
- A treaty was signed by Prince Louis and Henry's regents on September 11 at Lambeth Palace. This was the home of the archbishop of Canterbury in London.
- Another agreement, the Treaty of Kingston, was signed on September 12.
- A special church official called a papal legate (who represented the Pope) was near Kingston. He approved the terms on September 13 and officially announced them on September 22 at Merton.
- A final Treaty of Lambeth was signed on September 20, which confirmed the Kingston agreement.
No matter the exact dates of the documents, Prince Louis left England for good from Dover on September 28.
What the Treaty Decided
The main things agreed upon in the treaties were:
- Amnesty for Rebels: All the English barons who had fought against King John and then Henry III were forgiven. They would not be punished.
- Channel Islands: The French had tried to take over the Channel Islands, but they failed. The treaty made sure these islands went back to the King of England.
- Peace Promise: Prince Louis promised he would never attack England again.
- No Claim to the Throne: Louis also agreed that he had never been the rightful King of England.
- Payment: In return for leaving England and giving up his claim, Louis received 10,000 marks. A mark was a type of money used back then.
- Scottish Withdrawal: Troops from Scotland, led by King Alexander II, who had supported Louis, also left England.
Today, there is no known original copy of these treaties.
