Cambridge in the Thirteenth Century

1201-1210

King John was in dispute with the Pope around this time, which had a number of consequences. It meant that clergy were less likely to claim "benefit of the clergy" successfully - protection from civil authority - which had an impact upon the disturbances in Oxford in 1209. Also the King was short of money and granted many town charters as an easy source of funds.
• 1201: Town Charter
• 1208: St Francis founded the Franciscan order of friars
• 1209: The Origin of Cambridge University - earliest recorded existence

1211-1220

• 1215: Magna Carta
• 1216: King Henry III
• 1217: St Dominic founded the Dominican order of friars

1221-1230

• c1225: Franciscan house established
• 1226: Existence of University Chancellor recorded
• 1229: King Henry III invited Paris students to Cambridge

1231-1240

• 1231: Pope Gregory IX created the Papal Inquisition
• 1231: Early Town v. Gown troubles
• 1233: University granted the right of local trials
• c1238: Blackfriars established
• 1238: There was a migration of scholars from Northampton to Oxford

1241-1250

• 1242: The Sheriff subordinated to the Chancellor
• 1249: A major outbreak of violence
• 1250: Whitefriars established

1251-1260

• 1258: Sack Friars established
• 1258: First Parliament convened

1261-1270

• 1261: King Henry III approved the formation of a university at Northampton
• 1262: Students from Cambridge and Oxford migrated to Northampton
• 1264: Northampton University's licence was revoked
• 1264: The leader of the rebellious barons, Simon de Montfort, forced the King to establish a Great Council and in 1265 to call a Parliament of 2 knights from each shire and 2 burgesses from each borough
• 1265: North v. South riots
• 1267: Charter for street cleaning
• 1268: The Chancellor oversees weights & measures
• 1270: The Great Congregation

1271-1280

• 1271: Marco Polo sets off for China from Venice
• 1272: King Edward I
• 1274: Philosopher Thomas Aquinas died (b. 1225)
• 1278: The Hundred Rolls - a detailed survey of the town
• 1280: The first college
• 1280: Cambridge c1280

1281-1290

• 1284: Wales annexed
• 1284: The town is allowed its first Members of Parliament. This may have led to Cambridge merchants winning the contracts for most of the royal fish supply for the next three centuries
• c1290: Austin Friars established
• 1290: Gilbertine Canons established

1291-1300

• c1291: The Chancellor audits pavage tax
• 1294: Philosopher Roger Bacon died (b. 1214)
• 1295: Two Members of Parliament for the borough
• 1297: William Wallace's uprising in Scotland