What is Magna Carta or Great Charter important?« Back to Questions List

Magna Carta Libertatum, popularly known as Magna Carta, is a peace agreement executed on 15 June, 1215. The peace agreement also known as Great Charter was executed to stop an English rebellion against King John. The document was drafted by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury to bring peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons. Magna Carta gave rise to alternate governance by absolute power. In effect, Magna Carta is a charter of rights that protected ancient personal liberties.

The official language during the era was Latin and the Magna Carta was also written in Latin. Following the then prevailing practice for official documents, it was written in a single piece of calfskin. 

The importance of the Magna Carta is that it is the first written document in the history to declare no man, including the king is above law. The Great Charter assured protection of church rights, swift justice, protection for barons from illegal punishments and protection from illegal taxing. The rights were intended to be ensured through a council of twenty five barons. Unfortunately, both sides failed in fulfilling their commitments, prompting Pope Innocent III to annul the Great Charter. This led to the First Baron’s war. Magna Carta was renewed and reissued by each monarch in turn.  The renewals occurred in 1216, 1217, 1225 1nd 1297.  Thus, Magna Carta assumed an importance in the English politics though it lost its significance as the English parliamentary system gained momentum. 

The Great Charter is considered as an inspiration for democracies across the world. The Constitution of the United States and the Universal Declaration of Human Right’s by United Nation contains the spirit of Magna Carta. Even today, Magna Carta is held in high reverence by the British and American legal communities and politicians across the world. It is often remembered as a symbol of personal liberties and the greatest constitutional document of all times.   

At present, four exemplifications of the original 1215 charter are existence. Two are in the custody of the British Library and one each at the  Lincoln Cathedral and the  Salisbury Cathedral respectively.  The Magna Carta in the Salisbury Cathedral is well known as the best preserved of four original Great Charters. 

Magna Carta came into public attention recently as a hammer wielding man smashed the glass cover containing the document in an alleged attempt to steal the Magna Carta document in display at the Salisbury Cathedral.  His attempts were foiled and he was arrested. The document is not damaged. 
 

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