Snapshots in History: June 15: Remembering Magna Carta

 

Magna Carta: Legacy from Beakus on Vimeo.

 

Professor Ailsa Henderson - Magna Carta and Canada from Magna Carta 800th on Vimeo.

 

 

 

On June 15 and beyond, we should take a moment to remember Magna Carta (“the Great Charter”) or Magna Carta Libertatum (“the Great Charter of the Liberties”) that was sealed by a reluctant King John of England on June 15, 1215 at Runnymede, near Windsor and outside of London. Imposed upon the unpopular King John by the Church and rebel barons, Magna Carta promised to protect church rights, to protect barons from unlawful imprisonment, to provide access to swift justice, and to limit feudal payments to the Crown. Magna Carta was supposed to be implemented by a barons’ council of 25 members. Unfortunately, neither King John nor the barons stood by the commitments of Magna Carta, and the document’s annulment by Pope Innocent III resulted in the First Barons’ War of 1215-1217. The regency rulers of young King Henry III reissued a watered down Magna Carta in 1216 with the removal of more radical parts, following the death of King John. This reissued version of Magna Carta (along with the Charter of the Forest) formed part of The 1217 Treaty of Lambeth that led to peace. King Henry III reissued Magna Carta in 1225 in exchange for the right to grant new taxes. King Edward I did the same thing in 1297 and reinforced Magna Carta as part of English statute law. Naturally, the interest in Magna Carta would increase and decrease at given moments over the centuries.

There are four (4) original, officially attested copies of Magna Carta in existence: two held by the British Library, and one each by the cathedrals of Lincoln and Salisbury. The British Library website offers interesting online content about Magna Carta, including Magna Carta and human rights, Magna Carta and kingship, and a section on “My Digital Rights”. For those travelling to London and the United Kingdom during summer 2015, the British Library in London is hosting an exhibition called “Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy” until September 1, 2015.

One of the original, officially attested copies of Magna Carta is currently visiting Canada. Click here for information about the Magna Carta Canada 2015 exhibition in Ottawa/Gatineau (June 12 to July 26, 2015), in Winnipeg (August 15 to September 18, 2015), in Toronto at the Fort York National Historic Site (October 4 to November 7, 2015), and in Edmonton (November 23 to December 29, 2015).

What significance does Magna Carta have for Canada and Canadians? Carolyn Harris, professor of history at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies, recently wrote the following 2015 title Magna Carta and its gifts to Canada: democracy, law, and human rights that is available for borrowing from Toronto Public Library collections. Professor Harris’ book looks at the influence that Magna Carta has had on key documents from Canadian history such as the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (that shaped the relationship of British colonies with First Nations peoples) and the more recent Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

 

Consider these other titles about Magna Carta for borrowing from Toronto Public Library collections:

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eBooks:

 

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio One listeners might be interested in listening to the radio program Ideas with Paul Kennedy and its recent episodes Much Ado About Magna Carta Part 1 and Part 2, in co-operation with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.