Magna Carta and King John

For the first time, the City of London’s 1297 copy of Magna Carta will be on public display at The London Archives.

Magna Carta is one of the most famous documents in English history, and the granting of a charter by King John at Runnymede has an almost mythical status. Magna Carta has been invoked at various points in British history – such as during the English Civil War – and was a foundational document in the creation of the American Constitution. The 1215 charter was reissued and confirmed several times in the thirteenth century and the City of London’s 1297 charter is one of these.

Also on display will be the mayoralty charter granted by King John in 1215 which granted Londoners the right to choose a mayor and thereby confirming a custom that had already developed.

The display opens on Monday 5 August and runs to Thursday 31 October during our normal opening hours.