Magna Carta

The life of the artist Charles Sims and his controversial, little-known mural in St Stephen’s Hall, Westminster depicting King John at Runnymede. 

Explaining some of the key clauses in the Great Charter.

In no country is Magna Carta held in greater reverence than in the United States, playing a crucial role in founding the republic’s political and legal system.

Just half a century on from Magna Carta, a radical noble, part idealist, part megalomaniac, came into conflict with King John’s son, Henry III. The result, argues Nigel Saul, was a form of assembly which shapes English political life to this day.

Magna Carta was born of the loss of King John’s French territories and his increasingly desperate – and expensive – attempts to regain them.

Nigel Saul marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta with a comprehensive overview of the landmark books that dominate the field.

For the cogent reasons explained here by Anthony Beadles, the revolt against King John was led largely by the Northern barons.

W.L. Warren makes an attempt to sift the facts from the lurid legend of an English monarch who has left a reputation for evil second only to Richard III’s. 

This essay was the winner of the 2012 Julia Wood essay prize.

Arthur Bryant examines the background to Magna Carta.