Why was the Magna Carta Established?
Magna Carta Libertatum (Great Charter of Freedoms), commonly called Magna Carta, is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King and a group of rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown.
Why it matters
It laid the foundation for modern democracy, constitutional law, and civil liberties, influencing documents like the US Constitution.
1) Who signed the Magna Carta?
Rather than a physical signature, King John sealed it with his great seal, but the document was annulled by Pope Innocent III ten weeks later.
Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/magna-carta-does-it-still-matter
2) How many original copies from 1215 still exist?
Only four surviving original 1215 copies remain. Two are in the British Library, one is in Salisbury Cathedral, and one is in Lincoln Castle.
Source: bbc.co.uk/newsround/33110890
3) Where was the Magna Carta Signed?
The Magna Carta was signed at Runnymede, a meadow near the River Thames in Surrey, England.
Source: parliament.uk/magnacarta