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The Pope’s residency between 1309-1377 in France. In 1377 Romans rioted to ensure the pope was a Roman, and with Gregory XI returning to Rome the Pope resided in Rome. Pope Urban VI was elected in 1378. Urban VI proved suspicious, a reformist, and prone to violent outbursts of bad temper. The cardinals that had elected him regretted their decision and in 1378 elected a rival pope, Robert of Geneva.
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The Magna Carta was signed 15 June 1215 at Runnymede by King John. Magna Carta means ‘great charter’. The Magna Carta has become one of the founding documents of the English legal system. England was in a period of political and military upheaval and King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta by rebel barons as part of peace negotiations. The document dealt with grievances dealing with King John, which he swiftly backtracked, causing a civil war.
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The fall of the Western Roman Empire marks the beginning of the Middle Ages. Western Rome's collapse was due to a string of military losses. Rome had fought with Germanic tribes for centuries. In the 300’s barbarian groups encroached the Empire’s borders. Several decades later the Empire was under threat. In 476CE the Germanic Leader staged a revolt and deposed the Emperor Romulus Augustulus. No Roman Emperor would ever rule again. 476 was the year the Western Empire ended.
