The historical document signed in 1215 to limit the powers of the king in England is known as the Magna Carta, or "Great Charter." The Magna Carta was agreed upon by King John of England at Runnymede and is considered a cornerstone of modern democracy and legal principles. It established the idea that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law and set forth rights that included protection from unlawful imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown. The Magna Carta laid the groundwork for the development of constitutional law and influenced many future democratic documents, including the United States Constitution.