King Charles III became king after Queen Elizabeth died in 2022. Today, the king is head of the British government and meets regularly with the Prime Minister. He also signs many official government documents. However, the reality is that king has very little political power and must stay neutral.
This was not always true. In the past, kings and queens had enormous power and often acted above the law. One example is King John of England, who came to power in 1199. His disastrous reign led to the creation of the Magna Carta (which means “Great Charter” in Latin). This document is famous because it was one of the first to say that a king or queen was not above the law. It inspired people to begin fighting for legal rights.
What Is the Magna Carta?
Let’s go back to the year 1215. The place is England. King John is being forced to follow rules.
The Magna Carta was a document signed by King John in 1215. It was written by a group of powerful men called barons who were noblemen just below royalty. These barons were angry because the king was taking too much money in taxes and starting wars they didn’t support. King John had also lost land in France, including Normandy, which made the nobles even angrier. He punished those who refused to pay taxes, imprisoned his wife, starved enemies, and was suspected of killing his own nephew.
In 1215, the barons took control of London. With the capital in their hands, King John had no choice but to negotiate. In June, they met him at a field called Runnymede beside the River Thames. There, they gave him the Magna Carta and said, “Sign this, or lose the crown.” John signed it.
In short, the Magna Carta said, “The king must follow the law too.” This may sound fair and honest to us nowadays, but at this moment in history, this idea was revolutionary! Kings often acted above the law. The Magna Carta was the first step towards changing that.
What was in the Magna Carta?
The original Magna Carta had 63 rules, or clauses. Many were about small matters, like forest rights or fishing laws, but some were revolutionary:
- No one is above the law—not even the king.
- Free men must have a fair trial before punishment.
- Taxes should only be collected with consent.
- The king cannot take property without permission.
What was its significance?
At first, the Magna Carta mainly protected rich, powerful men like the barons. Ordinary people such as farmers, women, and workers were not included. Most people were not considered “free men,” so they were not protected by the charter.
Soon after the signing, things became more complicated. King John claimed that he had signed the Magna Carta by force, so he asked Pope Innocent III to cancel it. The Pope agreed, declaring the charter invalid. This made the barons even angrier and led to civil war known as the First Barons’ War.
The war was between King John (supported by loyal nobles and the Pope) and the rebel barons (joined by townspeople and Prince Louis of France). Prince Louis, invited by the rebel barons, came to England in 1216 with an army to claim the throne.
However, things were about to take a sudden turn. The same year that Prince Louis came to England, King John died suddenly of dysentery, aged 49. His 9-year-old son, Henry, became king. Because Henry was a child, his advisers made peace with the barons and reissued the Magna Carta. The war ended. Louis returned to France, and Henry ruled a more peaceful country.
How important was the Magna Carta for Europe?
Although written in England, the Magna Carta’s ideas spread far beyond. Over time, it became a symbol of liberty and justice.
It helped inspire:
- The English Bill of Rights (1689)
- The American Declaration of Independence (1776)
- The French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)
- Modern laws about justice, rights, and freedom
So even though it was not a European document, it helped shape European values. It planted the idea that governments must protect rights - not take them away.
Today, only four original copies of the Magna Carta still exist. You can see one in the British Library in London. But to read it, you’ll need to understand Latin - the official language of government at the time.
So next time you hear someone say, “No one is above the law,” you will know that this idea started in a field next to the river Thames in 1215 with the Magna Carta.
Reading exercise
- What is the current role of the British king in government?
a) He creates laws independently
b) He has full control of the government
c) He holds symbolic power and must stay neutral
d) He chooses the Prime Minister - What was a key reason the barons created the Magna Carta?
a) They wanted to become kings themselves
b) They were angry about high taxes and unnecessary wars
c) They wanted to remove the Pope's power
d) They believed in democracy for all people - What does the term “Magna Carta” mean?
a) Royal Agreement
b) Grand Kingdom
c) Great Charter
d) Noble Code - What happened at Runnymede in 1215?
a) The king was overthrown
b) A battle took place between France and England
c) King John signed the Magna Carta
d) Parliament was first established - Which of the following was not included in the Magna Carta?
a) The king must follow the law
b) All people could vote in elections
c) Free men must have a fair trial
d) Taxes need consent to be collected - Why did King John later say the Magna Carta was invalid?
a) He claimed it was written in secret
b) He said the barons were not citizens
c) He argued he signed it under force
d) He didn’t understand the document - What was the result of the Pope declaring the Magna Carta invalid?
a) The king was arrested
b) Civil war broke out
c) The barons fled England
d) The French took over England - Who ruled after King John died in 1216?
a) Prince Louis
b) His wife
c) His son Henry
d) One of the barons - What was one major limitation of the Magna Carta when it was first signed?
a) It applied to everyone equally
b) It gave women full rights
c) It only protected powerful men like barons
d) It removed the monarchy entirely - Which modern value did the Magna Carta help inspire?
a) Rule by divine right
b) Separation of church and state
c) Government above the law
d) Liberty and justice for all
Answer Key
- c
- b
- c
- c
- b
- c
- b
- c
- c
- d