The Petition of Rights was significant for limiting the powers of which English monarch?

The significance of the Petition of Rights lies in its role as a crucial constitutional document aimed at limiting the powers of King Charles I. Issued in 1628, the Petition was a response to the king's overreach in authority and abuse of power, particularly regarding issues such as taxation without parliamentary consent and unlawful imprisonment. This document not only sought to reaffirm the rights of subjects but also to assert parliamentary sovereignty over the monarchy, ensuring that the king could not unilaterally impose taxes or violate established legal rights.

In the historical context, King Charles I's reign was marked by tensions between the monarchy and Parliament, which ultimately led to the English Civil War. The Petition of Rights was one of the key steps in the evolution of constitutional monarchy in England, signifying a monumental shift towards the recognition of individual rights and the limitation of royal power.