Magna Carta

Magna Carta is an influential legal document, which King John was pressured into signing in 1215. It reduced his power as King of England and granted his subjects more rights.

The privileges permitted by Edward’s law, which many men enjoyed in the Anglo-Saxon period disappeared with the succeeding dynasties. After the Norman Conquest the Monarchs ruled in a more absolute manner. Over the years a feeling of nostalgia towards the Anglo-Saxon laws grew. Although many monarchs expressed their will to grant their subjects certain rights no King actually did. Immediately after ascending the throne Henry I for example promised to grant his subjects more rights in the so called “Charter of Liberty” but in reality he failed to do so. However, his charter was later used as a model for the Magna Carta.

Another reason for the increasing demand for a legal document asserting the subjects’ rights can be found in King John’s reign. The battles he fought against France on the continent at the beginning of the 13th century did great harm to his popularity and when he returned to England after being defeated in Bouvines the opposition against him had grown strong. He had financed his warfare by raising taxes and especially the Barons of the north resisted his demand of the fees they were ordered to pay for not having accompanied him into battle or having sent any other form of support. Threatened by military actions of the northerners, King John was pressured into signing the Magna Carta on 15 June 1215.

To a degree the charter was beneficial for all of the King’s subjects. The opening chapter guaranteed the church their liberties. All merchants were allowed to come and go freely except in time of war and trade was made simpler by introducing standard weights and measures. An attempt was made to curb the abuse of power of local officials; for example it was no longer legal to force people or whole villages to build bridges. The most influential points in later disputes were the judicial clauses. Common pleas were to be held in a fixed place instead of following the court. Right and justice were not to be denied to anyone and no freeman was to be prosecuted without a trial. This reduced the power of the king, who was no longer able to declare anyone an outlaw, depriving him of his rights. In addition, the charter dealt with debt payments, inheritance, taxation, etc. To raise taxes it was now necessary to consult a council, the main task of Parliament in the centuries to come.

Although the significance of the Magna Carta at the time may be somewhat disputable there is no doubt about the influence it has had on history. Until the 17th century it was confirmed or revised 32 times and had a great influence on later declarations such as the Bill of Rights (1689).

Sources

Kyriazis-Gouvelis, Demetrios L. Magna Carta Palladium der Freiheiten oder feudales Stabilimentum. Berlin: Duncker und Humboldt, 1984.

Poole, Austin Lane. From Domesday Book to Magna Carta 1087 - 1216. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975.

Schröder, Hans-Christoph. “Die Geschichte Englands bis 1945: Ein Überblick” Länderbericht Großbritanien. Eds. Hans Kastendiek and Roland Sturm. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 2006: 14-52.