Signing of the Magna Carta
1215 CE
Limitation of English royal power by the barons.
Historical Context
King John of England waged ruinous wars in France, crushing barons with taxes (scutage). His authority hit rock bottom after his defeat at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214.
The Event
In June 1215, rebellious barons captured London. They forced the King to negotiate at Runnymede. On June 15, the royal seal was affixed to the charter guaranteeing fundamental liberties.
Key Figures
King John (of England), Robert Fitzwalter (leader of the barons), Stephen Langton (Archbishop of Canterbury).
Aftermath
Although quickly annulled by Pope Innocent III (sparking the First Barons' War), the charter established the principle that no monarch is above the law (Habeas Corpus).
Legacy & Culture
It became the cornerstone of modern constitutional law. Its principles directly inspired the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Historiography
Victorian historians viewed it as the cradle of universal liberty. Modern medievalists nuance this: it was initially a private peace treaty protecting elite aristocratic privileges.
Sources and References
Roger de Wendover, Flores Historiarum
Confirmation de 1297 par Édouard I