The Magna Carta or 'Great Charter' was an agreement imposed on King John of England (r. 1199-1216) on 15 June 1215 by rebellious barons in order to limit his power and prevent arbitrary royal acts like land confiscation and unreasonable taxes. Henceforward, the king would have to consult a defined body of laws and customs before making such declarations.
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Definition
Timeline
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15 Jun 1215The Magna Carta is signed by King John of England.
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6 Nov 1217The Charter of the Forest re-establishes the rights of free men to access the areas in England previously defined as "royal forest" and including not only forests but grasslands and wetlands whose use was restricted to the aristocracy. The charter opened these lands to all free men of England, following the reforms of the Magna Carta, and remained in effect until repealed in 1971, becoming the longest charter in force in English history.
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1225The Magna Carta is reaffirmed by Henry III of England.
