Freedom From Tyranny

After the Norman Conquest, of 1066, England was ruled by Norman and Angevin kings who centralised government, created institutions such as the exchequer, and reformed the legal system.

By the time of King John (1199 to 1216), the feudal barons of England were in open revolt over excessive military service requirements and/or exorbitant taxation payments.

The barons joined together and made their demands, modelled on an older document called the Charter of Liberties.

This document, Magna Carta, limited the power of the English king and became the basis of English liberty and human rights law.

When on June 19 1215, King John put his seal on the Magna Carta or Great Charter, the barons renewed their oath of allegiance to King John and ended the threat of civil war.

The Magna Carta, the first written constitution in European history, made the king and everyone else, subject to the rule of law. It also set out the liberties that "free men" had against tyranny, abuse of power and oppression.

The right to a fair trial and limits on taxation without representation were set down and agreed to by the king. And, this document would later inspire the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.