The Magna Carta ('Great Charter') was a charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in 1215.

It was a result of a rebellion by English barons who were angered by the King's abuse of power and high taxes.

The document's most important principle is that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law.

It established that the king could not levy new taxes without the 'common consent of the realm.'

A key clause, which later influenced the concept of habeas corpus, stated that no free man could be imprisoned or punished without a lawful judgment of his peers.

While it primarily protected the rights of the nobility, its principles were later extended to all citizens.

The Magna Carta was reissued several times by later kings, confirming its importance in English law.

It became a foundational document for the development of Parliament and constitutional monarchy in England.

Its principles had a profound influence on later legal and political documents, including the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The Magna Carta is celebrated as a major early milestone in the history of liberty and human rights.