Magna Carta which was issued on 15 June 1215 signed by King John was the first document to put into writing the principle that the King and the government was not above the law, and with this royal family can’t exploit their power.
Human rights are inherent right to all human being. While the ‘right’ remain in existence before the Magna Cart but it was only brought into writing in 1215. It was the first document to the ‘rights’ into writing.
THE SIGNING OF MAGNA CARTA
Richard I was the King of England until his death in 1199 but he had no legitimate heir. John succeeded him, (also known as John Lackland because he was not expected to inherit any significant land). Though Richard’s nephew, Arthur I who was 12 years old was also considered for throne and had the support from the nobility. He was imprisoned by John and later suddenly disappeared, many believed he was killed.
John lost most of his ancestral land in France over the years and he attempted to regain it. On shortage of military resources and following his defeat in Battle of Bovines, John had to pay for the compensation as a result, he raised taxes to raise money to win back Normandy from France and imprisoned anyone who opposed him. John was not willingly to listen to barons and forced them to follow his rule.
King John and the Pope were also not at good terms. Their relationship was strained when he ignored the Pope’s preferred appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterberry.
John’s behavior of ignoring his advisors caused the rift between the nobles and John. A group of forty barons led by Robert Fitzwalter were exasperated at the King’s arbitrary rule and high taxes. The barons stormed into the palace and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215.
Magna Carta was written by Archbishop of Canterberry, Cardinal Stephen Langton. It was written in 3500 words on calf-skin and promised the protection of church rights, protection of barons from illegal imprisonment, containing total of 63 clauses.
Unfortunately, it was of no use as John never planned to implement it. Three months later, under the persuasion of John, Pope Innocent III annulled Magna Carta, declaring it null and void because it violated his rights as a feudal lord.
KING JOHN’S DEATH AND REISSUEMENT
The dissatisfaction broke a civil war, barons rebelled and joined Louis VIII of France, resulting in the First Baron’s War. The civil war only ended after King John death. John contacted dysentery and he was brought to Newark Castle to recover where he died. With the death of John situation changed and the main reason for the war disappeared, barons changed sides.
John’s eldest son, Henry succeeded him and was crowned as the king. During his reign, Henry III reissued the document in 1216. The charter was revised many times like in 1217, 1225 before it was officially accepted as the part of English Law in 1297.
MAGNA CARTA AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Magna Carta was an important document for Human Rights and the first step towards the modern democracy. Magna Carta was significant in the history as it charactered the right to free trial and limit the taxes. It recognized all men where free and equal.
While in today’s world Magna Carta is relevant to England only but the principle of human rights is universal. Only 3 out of 63 are still present in the law.
Originally Magna Carta was not created for the purpose of benefitting the society since barons only forced King John to sign the guarantee ‘their right’, the right of nobles. Most of the population at that time were a peasants or slave and they were not considered free men.
The shifts of power from the noble people and parliamentary system consider everybody equal that turned Magna Carta into modern form of Magna Carta that became relevant, otherwise it was made by the barons for their benefit.
The principles were later included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The declaration which was proclaimed by the United States General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948.
Currently, four pieces of Magna Carta preserved in the museum and library in England.
