Just how important is Magna Carta 800 years on?

This year people in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and plenty of other nations will mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. The document will be lauded for establishing one vital principle.

The charter was agreed between King John and a group of leading barons, led by Robert fitzWalter, exasperated at the king's arbitrary rule and high taxes. It was in effect a peace treaty designed to head off armed conflict. It failed. Only three clauses are still valid - the one guaranteeing the liberties of the English Church; the clause confirming the privileges of the City of London and other towns; and the clause that states that no free man shall be imprisoned without the lawful judgement of his equalsA deputation of 800 American lawyers will be visiting Runnymede, there is a new Magna Carta cycle trail, an audio-visual display will tour Kent towns with Magna Carta associations, like Faversham and Rochester, and a new...

And he claims that Magna Carta guaranteed Scotland's survival as an independent state by reversing efforts by John to assert feudal overlordship of the kingdom.In 1209 John had forced on William the Lion, King of Scots, a treaty at Norham whose text has been lost. Carpenter believes he has found a 14th Century document in the National Archives at Kew which preserves the terms of the treaty.

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Just Stop Oil protesters in their 80s smash Magna Carta display caseReverend Sue Parfitt, 82, and Judy Bruce, 85, smashed the glass around the historic document before gluing themselves to it.
Source: Glasgow_Times - 🏆 76. / 59 Read more »

Just Stop Oil protesters in their 80s target Magna CartaThe women used a hammer and chisel to try to break the glass case protecting the historic charter, which was the first document to put into writing the principle that the King and his government were not above the law.
Source: SkyNews - 🏆 35. / 67 Read more »

Just Stop Oil protesters in their 80s smash Magna Carta display caseReverend Sue Parfitt, 82, and Judy Bruce, 85, smashed the glass around the historic document before gluing themselves to it.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »

Just Stop Oil protesters target Magna Carta at London's British LibraryReverend Dr Sue Parfitt, 82, and Judy Bruce, 85, then glued their hands together, demanding an emergency plan to just stop oil by 2030.
Source: Metro Newspaper UK - 🏆 61. / 63 Read more »

Moment elderly Just Stop Oil eco-zealots use hammer & chisel to smash glass around Magna Carta...Moment elderly Just Stop Oil eco-zealots use hammer & chisel to smash glass around Magna Carta
Source: TheSun - 🏆 64. / 61 Read more »

Just Stop Oil protesters target Magna Carta at London's British LibraryReverend Dr Sue Parfitt, 82, and Judy Bruce, 85, then glued their hands together, demanding an emergency plan to just stop oil by 2030.
Source: Metro Newspaper UK - 🏆 61. / 63 Read more »