The English charter that completely changed how

monarchy controlled the law and gave people rights back

Magna Carta

By Hayley Muir

In old English times, many people didn’t have the same rights as people of higher power, like the king. When punishments were being served, the rules were put down greatly and severely in front of the regular citizens.

However, people of higher power would receive lesser punishments or would have certain laws not effect them. In many eyes, the king was known almost as a god. When it came to the king, nothing could touch him, not even his own laws.

The Magna Charter, also known as the “Great Charter”, was issued on June 15, 1215 to challenge the monarchy’s authorities. This charter was the first of the series of documents that revolutionised the world and gave many people rights that were never given before.

The Magna Carta was originally written by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful Barons of England, because of this, the document was first known as “The Articles of the Barons”.

The 1215 charter was made to be forced on King John of England by the feudal barons to limit the King’s power and protect the citizens from unjust laws and punishments. This charter was also made to give back the people their privileges and their rightful freedoms.

Over the years and after much resistant from King John, he finally gave the charter the stamp of approval. Finally, the charter came into place and was passed into law in 1225.

Later in the 13th century, the charter was reissued and modified. Later in 1297, another version was made under the name “The Great Charter of the Liberties of England, and of the Liberties of the Forest”.

16. No man shall be forced to perform more service for a knight's `fee', or other free holding of land, than is due from it.

17. Ordinary lawsuits shall not follow the royal court around, but shall be held in a fixed place.

Some examples of codes from the Charter are:

22. No clerk shall be amerced for his lay tenement except according to the manner of the other persons aforesaid; and not according to the amount of his ecclesiastical benefice.

31. Neither we nor our bailiffs shall take another's wood for castles or for other private uses, unless by the will of him to whom the wood belongs

Many sections of the Charter at Runnymede were copied into the Magma Carta, most word for word, from the Charter of Liberties of Henry I. This Charter was issued when Henry I became king in 1100.

Many sections were added later to the charter and repealed over the years. In 1225, there were only 37 sections. There were also a total 63 sections in the Magma Charter made but only the three sections 1, 9, and 29 are still in effect today.

The three charters that are still in use today (in short

from) are:1. The English church shall be free and that the

charter granted the liberties written.9. The city of London shall have the old liberties

and customs used before, and other cities shall also keep their liberties and customs already in place

29. No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned and be denied justice or his rights.

Over the years, the Magma Carta has influenced great documents. Without the Magma Carta documents such as the Habeas Corpus Act, the Petition of Rights, the Bill of Rights, and the Act of Settlement would not be in place.

This document revolutionised how justice was brought fairly in society back then, and largely influenced how it is brought today. Without the Magma Charter we may still have in most cases the higher power being granted unfair justice.