Which rights did the Magna Carta protect for free men?

The Magna Carta of 1215 established the foundational principle that the sovereign is subject to the rule of law, protecting the liberties of "free men" against arbitrary royal authority.123

The most significant protection for free men is found in clause 39, which states that no free man shall be arrested, imprisoned, disseised (dispossessed of property), outlawed, exiled, or victimized, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land. This provision serves as the historical basis for the modern concept of due process.452

Beyond this, the charter included various provisions aimed at:
* Reforming law and justice.3
* Providing for a free church.3
* Controlling the behavior of royal officials.3
* Setting limits on feudal payments, such as inheritance duties known as reliefs.5

Ultimately, the document functioned as a guarantee that government power would be limited by written law, serving as a vital defense against oppression and a cornerstone for future constitutional governance.423