Year 1216(MCCXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place England Spring – First Barons' War: The English army, led by King John (Lackland), sacks the town of Berwick-on-Tweed (or Berwick), and raids southern Scotland. John pushes up towards Edinburgh over a ten-day period. On his return, he puts down a revolt in East Anglia. On March 24, King John arrives at Hertford, to deal with the challenge of a coming French invasion. May 18 – John (Lackland) assembles a naval force to defend against a French invasion. Bad storms disperse the fleet, and John spends the summer reorganizing the defenses across the country. He sees several of his military household desert to the Barons, including his half-brother, William Longespée, who is the commander of John's army in the south. May 21 – Prince Louis of France, son of King Philip II (Augustus), invades England in support of the Barons, landing in Thanet. He enters London without opposition, and is proclaimed, but not crowned, King of England at Old St Paul's Cathedral. In June, Louis captures Rochester Castle and Winchester, and soon controls over half of the English kingdom. June – The rebel barons besiege Windsor Castle and Dover Castle; the latter is strategically important as the 'gateway to England', controlling the shortest route to France. Meanwhile, John (Lackland) uses Corfe Castle in the southwest as his base of operations, while he plans his campaign against the Barons, and the French invading army under Louis. October 19 – John (Lackland) dies of dysentery at Newark Castle (Nottinghamshire). He is succeeded by his 9-year-old son Henry III – with William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, as regent. The young Henry is crowned as King of England at Gloucester Cathedral, by Peter des Roches ("Peter from the Rocks"), bishop of Winchester, on October 28. November 12 – William Marshal and Cardinal Guala Bicchieri, Italian diplomat and papal legate to England, issue a Charter of Liberties, based on the Magna Carta, in the new King of England's name. Europe April 10 – King Eric X (Knutsson) dies of fever after a 8-year reign at Näs Castle on the island of Visingsö. He is succeeded by the 10-year-old John I, son of the former King Sverker II (the Younger) and a rival of Eric. April 22 – Battle of Lipitsa: The Kievan princes