Magna Carta Short Summary

The “Magna Carta” is a charter of rights that was approved and agreed to by John, King of England and Stephen Langton. The agreement took place in June 1215 in Windsor. The first charter was drafted to create peace between a king and some barons. It is viewed as one of the crucial peace treaties in history.

A Quick Look into the Story

King John is remembered in history as a poor king. This is because he tried to dethrone his brother and take the crown for himself while Richard had gone out of his country. King John was also the royal backing of the known Robin Hood society.

However, it is also King John who gave the world Magna Carta, which came to be one of the most important documents in history. The main reason for the Magna Carta was to make the king and the barons leave the meadow without any further bloodshed. It had several clauses that advocated the release of war prisoners, and everyone getting home alive and intact.

Secondly, it contained a list of various grievances that were directed to King Johns ruling. King John was known to abuse power by making up taxes and claiming the land he did not own and even delivering judgment to people before allowing them to be tried. John was great in administration but unskilled in matters of war. Even the church clergy feared him because he took possessions from the church. The church even excommunicated him in 1209.

The Magna Carta was to ensure that he did not go back to these ways, and that is why the barons were open to it. The church got granted its previous privileges. They also ensured that there were clauses for legal proceedings and justice. The adherence to the Magna Carta, the barons, were given a clause and the power to enforce it if the king goes astray.