6. John and Magna Carta

Many historians put Magna Carta or the “Great Charta” as one of the turning points in English history which put England on the road to a democratic state and introduced the lawyers in England to the concept of Human Rights. It really put England ahead of the rest of Europe and probably the world in social justice and fair government. Norman and Plantagenet Kings ruled like dictators ignoring the safeguards which had been developed by the Anglo-Saxon Kings with their parliament called the Witan. In King John’s case, he demanded excessive taxes from the Barons which had to be collected also from the Baron’s territories and people to finance his unsuccessful wars in France. These wars were of extreme importance to the Barons as in many cases it was their land the English forces were defending.

Two important agreements were made:

 The King could no longer act as a dictator but had to discuss and agree on all new taxes and indeed all important issues with a council of 25 chosen Barons. If the King could not agree with his Barons they had the right to declare war on him.

 The King could only ask for money for himself, if he was kidnapped and ransomed, at the knighthood of his eldest son and the marriage of his eldest daughter.