Introduction
Magna Carta or Magna Charta is a landmark legal document issued by King John of England in 1215 at Runnymede under the pressure and wake of the baron rebellion. It is celebrated as the foundation stone of freedom and liberty across the globe; influencing significant legislatures and documents like the U.S. Constitution (1787), the Bill of Rights (1791), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
Basic Overview
- Medieval Latin for Great Charter.
- Issued on 15 June 1215 by King John of England under pressure from his barons at Runnymede.
- Drafted in negotiation between the King’s chancery and the baronial rebels.
- Key roles were played by Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton, Cardinal Stephen Langton, and baron leader Robert FitzWalter.
- It was essentially a peace treaty between the king and his rebellious barons.
- It was not a democratic document in the modern sense, but a feudal document that protected the rights of a limited franchise—barons, the Church, and a few legal liberties for commoners.
Need of Magna Carta?
- The key reason behind the forceful implementation of the law was the arbitrary and failing rule of England’s monarch John. For example:
- He imposed hefty taxes, fines, and inheritance fees on the nobility. He even took hostages and seized lands of the barons who failed to comply. However, he lost the war with France, which made his rule appear fragile, especially after the loss of Normandy.
- His feud with Pope Innocent III over the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury resulted in England being placed under interdict, and he was excommunicated from the Church.
- Furthermore, his cruel punishments for the slightest crimes, while ignoring established feudal customs, created fear that people’s ancient rights would be blemished.
Important Clauses of Magna Carta
- Originally, the Magna Carta had sixty-three different clauses. However, we will look at the most significant clauses that became the foundation of liberty and justice:
- Clause 1: The English Church shall be free from royal interference.
- Clause 12: No taxation without “the common counsel of the realm,” an early form of “no taxation without representation.”
- Clause 39: No free man shall be seized, imprisoned, or punished except by lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land; laying the foundation of habeas corpus.
- Clause 40: To no one shall we sell, to no one shall we deny or delay, right or justice.
- Clause 61: A council of twenty-five barons to oversee and, if necessary, enforce the king’s compliance.
Aftermath of the provision
- Pope Innocent III, although not happy with King John, repealed the law within weeks after it was issued. As King John was the Pope’s vassal, the Pope did not want the barons to gain an upper hand that would threaten the established hierarchy and papal authority.
- In other words, the Pope wanted a strong monarchy under papal (his) influence, not a weak king constrained by barons.
Symbolic meaning of Magna Carta
- Although in 1215 it was basically a feudal peace treaty, over centuries it has become a symbol of the rule of law, limits of power, consent in governance, protection of liberties, and resistance to tyranny. It is often celebrated as the “foundation stone of freedom and liberty.”
- Likewise, it symbolizes the birth of “constitutional” government worldwide and inspired many significant democratic documents, such as:
- Petition of Right, 1628
- English Bill of Rights, 1689
- U.S. Constitution, 1787
- U.S. Bill of Rights, 1791
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
- Part III of the Indian Constitution, often called “India’s Magna Carta”
Conclusion
In short, Magna Carta is an important juncture in the development of a more inclusive, representative, and accountable form of legislature that promotes freedom of expression and liberty of individuals, rather than reducing people to mere subjects of a kingdom. Hence, it influenced some of the most landmark documents in the history of law and governance.
