June 15

Magna Carta Signed — Limits on Royal Power Established

King John of England sealed the Magna Carta under pressure from rebellious barons, agreeing to limit royal power and acknowledge that even kings were subject to the law. The barons had effectively declared war on John before he relented.

The Magna Carta established the foundational principle that rulers are bound by law — the cornerstone of constitutional government, habeas corpus, and Western democratic tradition.