- No taxation without representation: The king could not levy certain taxes without the consent of his royal council, a precursor to the later concept of parliamentary consent.
- Protection of property rights: Barons were guaranteed protection from illegal seizure of their lands.
- Due process of law: Clause 39 famously states that no free man shall be imprisoned, exiled, or destroyed except through the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.
- Church rights: The Magna Carta confirmed the freedom and rights of the Church, ending the king’s interference in ecclesiastical matters.
- Limits on feudal payments: It regulated the payments and services that vassals owed to their lords.
- Access to swift justice: The charter promised that justice should not be delayed or denied to anyone.
Immediate Impact and Reactions
Despite its historic importance, the Magna Carta did not immediately bring peace. King John sought to annul it almost as soon as it was sealed, appealing to Pope Innocent III, who declared the charter null and void. This led to the First Barons’ War (1215–1217), a civil war that continued until King John’s death in 1216.
After John's death, his young son Henry III was crowned king. The Magna Carta was reissued several times during Henry’s minority and reign, with some modifications, to restore peace and support royal authority shutdown123