Charter of Liberties

England [1100]

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June 30, 2026

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The Charter of Liberties, issued by King Henry I in 1100, was a royal edict that made concessions to nobles and clergy upon his coronation. This charter, along with subsequent ones issued by King Stephen and Henry II, established a tradition of strengthening the king's coronation oath with written promises. These early charters laid the groundwork for the Magna Carta, which was sealed by King John in 1215. The Magna Carta guaranteed English liberties, declared the sovereign subject to the rule of law, and documented the rights of "free men," forming a foundation for individual rights in Anglo-American jurisprudence.123

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Henry I
Reign
He issued an ingenious Charter of Liberties, which purported to end capricious taxes, confiscations of church revenues, and other abuses of his predecessor. By his marriage with Matilda, a Scottish princess of the old Anglo-Saxon royal line, he established the foundations for peaceable relations with the Scots and support…
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He issued an ingenious Charter of Liberties, which purported to end capricious taxes, confiscations of church revenues, and other abuses of his predecessor. By his marriage with Matilda, a Scottish princess of the old Anglo-Saxon royal line, he established the foundations for peaceable relations with the Scots and support…
Read More