Magna Carta Original
Magna carta libertatum medieval latin for great charter of freedoms commonly called magna carta also magna charta.
Magna carta original. Joshua rozenberg explains magna carta s place in modern legal and popular culture and reveals the importance of its 800 year old symbolism. Magna carta was written by a group of 13th century barons to protect their rights and property against a tyrannical king. It is concerned with many practical matters and specific grievances relevant to the feudal system under which they lived. According to one account it was discovered in a london tailor s shop before being presented to sir robert cotton 1571 1631 by humphrey wymes of the inner temple on 1 january 1628 9.
Out of that meeting between a king and his subjects came a document the magna carta that some scholars regard as the foundation for the rule of law in much of the modern world. Originally issued under the rule of england s king john back in 1215 the magna carta outlined the basic rights of citizens and declared that no one was above the rule of law not even the king. Today magna carta has become a world class brand representing human rights democracy and free speech despite the fact that the original document makes no mention of these principles. How we did it.
First drafted by archbishop of canterbury stephen langton to make peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons it promised the. Great charter is a royal charter of rights agreed to by king john of england at runnymede near windsor on 15 june 1215. The manuscript at salisbury cathedral is the best preserved of four surviving original copies of magna carta which were written up shortly after a beleaguered king john met and agreed terms with. The interests of the common man were hardly apparent in the minds of the men who brokered the agreement.
Of its 63 clauses many concerned the various property rights of barons and.