Which king was forced to sign the Magna Carta, limiting the king's power and granting rights to nobles?

• A. King James I
• B. King Stephen
• C. King John of England
• D. King Henry II

Answer: (C)

Magna Carta represents a moment when royal power began to be checked by law and when nobles’ rights were formally recognized. In 1215, King John was forced by a rebellion of his barons to seal the charter at Runnymede. The document limited the king’s ability to levy taxes without broader consent, required that royal actions follow legal procedures, and protected certain liberties for the nobility and the Church. This act embedded the idea that the king, while powerful, is not above the law and that certain rights and due process should constrain royal rule.

That’s why King John of England is the right answer. The other figures belong to different times and contexts: James I ruled later and is tied more to 17th‑century constitutional limits; Stephen’s reign occurred during the Anarchy without Magna Carta; Henry II preceded John and is known for reforms and legal developments but not for signing Magna Carta.