What did the Magna Carta accomplish when it was signed in 1215?

The signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 is a landmark event in history, primarily because it established the principle that the power of the monarchy was not absolute. By limiting the English monarch's power, the Magna Carta laid the groundwork for constitutional governance and the protection of certain rights for subjects. It addressed grievances against King John, particularly concerning taxation and arbitrary justice, ensuring that the king had to consult his barons and abide by certain laws.

This document included clauses that protected the rights of nobles and others, setting a precedent for the idea that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law. It encouraged later developments in governance, further influencing the evolution of parliamentary systems and the protection of individual rights over time. This makes the aspect of limiting royal power the critical achievement of the Magna Carta, reshaping the relationship between the monarchy and its subjects.