Magna Carta

 Magna Carta (1215)

808 years go, King John I of England sealed the Great Charter in front of his barons who rebelled against him. It was for the first time in history when a king admitted that he was not above the law and it was for the first time when the rights of individual citizens against the abuse of the state were recognized. 

King John of England (1166-1215; reigned 1199-1215)

The year was 1215. England had been ruled by King John for the last 16 years, but there were problems. Apart from being the King of England, John also inherited all the English possessions in France, which along with England are known today as the Angevin Empire. However, by 1214, King Philip of France had expelled the English from France. This loss of lands was not without consequences. Furthermore, this wars waged by John needed money. As a result, he levied draconian taxes on his subjects, especially the wealthiest ones known as the Barons. Eventually, the Barons of England had had enough and they decided to rebel against their King. Seeing that he had few allies left, King John agreed to enter negotiations with them. The two factions met at the a place called Runnymede, in June, 1215. On June 15, 1215, the King signed the Great Charter. 

King John signed the Great Charter at Runnymede (1215)

Runnymede; the place where Magna Carta was sealed 

It was a major turning point not only for England, but for the entire history. Magna Carta encapsulated the struggle for rights at one moment. Overall, the charter had 63 clauses; clause 39 states that ''no free man shall be sized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land''. However, not all people in medieval England were considered free men. According to Domesday Book, in 1086, in England there were slightly less than 40,000 free men. On the other hand, there were more than 200,000 villeins and servi. 

Furthermore, the charter promised the protection of church rights, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown. A council of 25 barons, which is considered by many to be the first Parliament of England, was chosen to implement these measures. Unfortunately, neither side stood behind their commitments, and the charter was annulled by Pope Innocent III, leading to the First Barons' War. In 1216, King John died, and his son, King Henry III, reissued the charter again. Eventually, the war ended in 1217 with the Treaty of Lambeth, in which the charter was part of the agreement. Throughout his reign, Henry III reissued Magna Carta multiple times in exchange for a grant of taxes. In 1297, King Edward I confirmed the charter as part of England's statute law. 

Pope Innocent III (1161-1216) considered the first issue of the charter too radical and he annulled it

Despite losing its popularity in the next centuries, Magna Carta experienced an upsurge in interest in the 17th century. Sir Edward Coke used Magna Carta extensively in the 1600's, arguing against the divine right of kings. 

James VI of Scotland/ I of England (1566-1625) was a staunch believer in the divine right of kings

King Charles I of England (1600-1649; reigned 1625-1649), James' son, believed as well in his divine right; his attempt to obstruct Parliament lead to the English Civil Wars (1642-1649)

Moreover, the myth of Magna Carta and its protection of ancient personal liberties influenced the American colonists and the formation of the United States Constitution.