The Magna Carta turned 800 in June 2015, signed by King John “Lackland” Plantagenet in 1215, though, in fact, it was not dubbed as the “great charter” until a couple of years, and some changes, later. It was violated quickly and reinstated in an altered form a number of times.
From the British Library:
The Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law…
Most of the 63 clauses granted by King John dealt with specific grievances relating to his rule. However, buried within them were a number of fundamental values that both challenged the autocracy of the king and proved highly adaptable in future centuries. Most famously, the 39th clause gave all ‘free men’ the right to justice and a fair trial.
Some of Magna Carta’s core principles are echoed in the United States Bill of Rights (1791) and in many other constitutional documents around the world, as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the European Convention on Human Rights (1950).
Incidentally, it has been proven that every President of the United States, save for one, is related to King John. Do you know which one was not?
Here’s the English translation of the Magna Carta. One element still in effect: “To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.” It inspired those colonists who believed they were entitled to the same rights as Englishmen.
Read this contrarian view of the document’s import. But see also this article that asks how a failed treaty between medieval combatants came to be seen as the foundation of liberty in the Anglo-Saxon world.
Oh, that outlier President, not related to King John, was the 8th President, Martin Van Buren, who was Dutch.
Each week I visit I learn something new. This week was a history lesson for me. Thanks for sharing Roger…
Magna Carta is considered a most contentious document
in the UK, and King John regarded an evil and scheming man.
There has never been another King John since his reign.
interesting piece again Roger, hope you are recovering from your op and taking it easy.
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
This is very informative
I hope you forgive me for the fact that i don’t know what president you mean 😉
I agree.. everyone has to behave himself accordingly the law, nobody excluded.
President of the United States, all related except one.
I had read about this book in the school.
Thank you for bringing history alive.
I had completely forgotten what that was all about. When in High School some of these things just aren’t interesting enough to really remember…perhaps it has something to do with the teacher I had…
It’s been a while since I learned about this. How can all our presidents except one be related to King John? That’s a lot of inter-realteds
I’d now like to know which President. One of the most important documents in British history.
Excellent. I enjoy a post with CONTENT!
We had the postage stamps this year with the main rights from the mangna carts on them. I only learnt this year the U.S. has the full script engraved at Capitol Hill, my memory is hazy but it might have some gold about it.
YOu mean that even Obama is related? I thought it would have been him! Fascinating reading.
Leslie/aka “Misty”
Very interesting and informative M post.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
I remember reading about the Magna Carta, but it was many years ago. However, I had never heard that all the US Presidents, except for Van Buren, were distant relatives of King John. I guess the White House is not exempt of nepotism. LOL! Have a blessed week, my friend!
Interesting. I should have known this, but didn’t.
If you’re interested in another really fascinating bit of legal history and symbolic objects, check out the TED talk on the Cyrus Cylinder. Also a fascinating bit of history.
A very noble subject – it certainly turned the world around…I would be interested to know how it was proven that all those U.S. presidents were related to King John!|!!!! I suppose if you go far enough back we are all cousins of some sort or another.
GREAT POST! I loved this. It’s been a while since I revisited the Magna Carta. Been doing a lot with the US Constitution, but this actually is quite a gem. THANKS! Have a great week.
I don’t know why we don’t make a bigger fuss about knowing and understanding the Magna Carta. For that matter, the U.S. Constitution, too.
Very interesting! I recently finished reading some books about the Plantaganets.
Great post as always!
My goodness the American presidents have very important relatives in amongst their ancestors ! I bed they all came from the Mayflower too, Obama’s ancestor probably as a slave ? (:))
Actually, Obama’s lineage to King John came from his mother’s side. She was white.
How interesting about the US Presidents. Thanks for sharing.
Oh that’s an interesting bit of information. And reading through the comments gave me some more nuggets of information. Thanks for sharing.
PS: Hope you’re feeling well now.