The signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 stands as a seminal moment in the history of constitutional law and the struggle for individual rights. King John of England’s oppressive rule had provoked widespread discontent among his barons, leading to a revolt against his tyrannical reign.

On June 15, 1215, at Runnymede, a meadow by the River Thames, King John reluctantly met with his rebellious barons. Under pressure, he affixed his seal to the Magna Carta, or “Great Charter,” a document drafted by Archbishop Stephen Langton and other baronial leaders. This historic agreement aimed to curtail the king’s arbitrary power and protect the rights and privileges of the nobility.

The Magna Carta established crucial principles, including the idea that no one, not even the king, was above the law. It limited taxation without representation, ensured due process of law, and protected individual liberties. Although initially a peace treaty between the king and his barons, it later became a symbol of broader legal and political aspirations.

While King John sought to annul the Magna Carta shortly after its signing, it was reissued by subsequent English monarchs and became a foundational document in the development of English and, later, global constitutional law. Its enduring legacy can be seen in documents like the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, making the Magna Carta an enduring symbol of the fight for justice and individual freedoms.