Harvard’s Magna Carta Copy Turns Out to Be an Original
For 80 years, Harvard Law School believed the Magna Carta it bought for $27.50 was a reproduction.
Now, British researchers think the document is a genuine version—one of a few still in existence.
The Magna Carta was originally written in 1215 and agreed on by King John of England. It was periodically reissued by monarchs over the next century. The one that Harvard has appears to date to 1300, during the reign of Edward I.
A seminal document in legal history, the Magna Carta asserts that the king is subject to the law, and recognizes limits in his power. It has influenced constitutions globally, including the U.S.’s founding documents.
Hear that King Trump?
Now, British researchers think the document is a genuine version—one of a few still in existence.
The Magna Carta was originally written in 1215 and agreed on by King John of England. It was periodically reissued by monarchs over the next century. The one that Harvard has appears to date to 1300, during the reign of Edward I.
A seminal document in legal history, the Magna Carta asserts that the king is subject to the law, and recognizes limits in his power. It has influenced constitutions globally, including the U.S.’s founding documents.
Hear that King Trump?
