Unraveling History: Top 13 Intriguing Fun Facts About the Magna Carta You Never Knew

1. Iron Gall Ink: The Secret to Magna Carta's Longevity

If Shakespeare were writing a play filled with gall and wormwood, he might have called it "The Inking of the Magna Carta" as a jab at his heavily inked rivals: The legendary Magna Carta, penned in 1215, was written using iron gall ink, a medieval mix of iron sulfate, oak galls, and water that's celebrated for its strength – and the reason why its parchment can still be read today, even after grappling with ink loss and parchment damage. The curious ink's composition was thoroughly investigated by the British Library's conservation team in preparation for the Magna Carta exhibition, ensuring its continued role in the drama of history.
Source => blogs.bl.uk

2. American Collectors: Magna Carta Chills with the Constitution

From founding fathers to ancient parchments, America has a thing for collecting: case in point, an original copy of England's most famed Magna Carta, chilling beside the Constitution, waiting for Beyoncé to write a catchy hit about it: the 1297 version, gifted by American philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, is one of the four surviving original copies and rests within the esteemed walls of the National Archives in Washington D.C., as an honorary member of the official Statute Rolls of England.
Source => archives.gov

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=> Fun Facts about The-Constitution

3. Magna Carta: The Mother of All "Terms & Conditions"

When King John crossed his fingers behind his back and reluctantly agreed to play nice with some rowdy barons, little did he know he was about to make the mother of all "Terms & Conditions" agreements: The Magna Carta, born in 1215, not only created peace between our moody monarch and his rebellious subjects but also laid the foundations for England's legal system and even inspired the United States Constitution. Its enduring status as both a symbol of liberty and a petrified antique serves to remind us that some fine print is definitely worth reading!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. VIP Club: Magna Carta's Limited Access Party

Who needs rights anyway, right? As it turns out, the Magna Carta was like an exclusive night club, only granting VIP access to the swankiest of English barons: The common folk weren't on the guest list, but the limited-government-party vibes eventually inspired the hip American cousins to fight for freedom and draft their very own Constitution.
Source => constitutingamerica.org

5. Pope Innocent III: The Ultimate Party Crasher

When the Pope plays party crasher: Pope Innocent III, seemingly not as innocent as his title suggests, swiftly gave Magna Carta the ecclesiastical equivalent of a thumbs-down, declaring it "null and void of all validity forever" just months after its 1215 sealing. However, like a stubborn party guest who wouldn't take the hint, the Magna Carta persisted and went on to make its legacy in British history, albeit mostly concerning the high and mighty of the time.
Source => blogs.bl.uk

6. Medieval Scribe Copier: Concocting the Magna Carta Cocktail

Did medieval scribes have a hoot when penning history? They might have, as they concocted an ancient cocktail with a twist of oak gall growths, a splash of honey, and a pinch of iron shavings for their masterpiece: In July 1215, at least 13 to 30 copies of the Magna Carta were produced, but only four original copies, penned in Latin with iron gall ink, exist today; two at the British Library, one at Salisbury Cathedral, and one at Lincoln Castle.
Source => parliament.uk

7. Royal Peer Pressure: King John's Reluctant Signature

Talk about royal peer pressure: King John was more or less bamboozled into the #TrendingTimes of 1215 when a bunch of disgruntled barons essentially handed him the medieval version of a pink slip. The serious reveal: Under substantial duress (and after they captured London), King John had no choice but to sign the Magna Carta on June 15, 1215, begrudgingly sealing a cornerstone of constitutional law.
Source => rightroyalroundup.com.au

8. Knock Knock: Noblewomen Widows at the Magna Carta Club

Knock, knock! Who's there? Noblewomen Widows! Noblewomen Widows who? Noblewomen widows getting clout in the Magna Carta: Despite having clauses protecting the rights of noblewomen widows, the Magna Carta was less focused on gender equality and more on curbing King John's power to make life groovy for English nobility.
Source => queensu.ca

9. Sir William Longespée: The Medieval Billy Mays of Liberties

Who would've thought Sir William "Sold-A-Lot" Longespée was the medieval Billy Mays of town rights, peddling charters of liberties like a medieval infomercial for a slap chop: Turns out this fearless knight and Crusader actually sold charters granting privileges like holding markets and tax exemptions to the towns of Poole and Wareham, all in an effort to fund his high-stakes adventure during the Seventh Crusade.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Habeas Corpus: The Legal Superhero Birthed from Magna Carta

Whoever said laughter was the best medicine clearly never heard of habeas corpus – the legendary elixir that cures unlawful detentions and overambitious jailers: The Magna Carta is credited with laying the groundwork for this legal superhero, setting the scene for the eventual birth of habeas corpus as we know it today. As the great-great-grandparent of the writ, the Magna Carta foreshadowed the concept with its protection of civil liberties – giving medieval prisoners hope and inspiring modern court proceedings everywhere from immigration cases to your favorite courtroom drama.
Source => teachingamericanhistory.org

11. Magna Carta Souvenir: Yours for $21.3 Million!

Feeling like splurging on a piece of ancient literature, perhaps nabbing yourself a high-priced medieval souvenir? Why not opt for a $21.3 million Magna Carta copy - the ultimate antique home decor!: In 2007, a copy of the Magna Carta reached a record-breaking price at auction, selling for a whopping $21.3 million, making it the most expensive page of writing ever sold, all while just being one of the many copies out there as there is no single original copy.
Source => daysoftheyear.com

12. Magna Carta: Not as Old as your Grandparents (but Older Than Uncle Sam)

Magna Carta, meet grandpa – or maybe not: Despite being well-aged at over 800 years old, the Magna Carta isn't quite as ancient as your beloved grandparents, mainly because it was drafted in 1215 while most grandparents waltzed into existence in the mid-20th century. But it does beat Uncle Sam to the punch since the United States wasn't founded until 1776, a whopping 561 years later!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

13. Magna Carta Turns 800: The Swankiest Birthday Bash in Town

Who says old parchments can't party? For its 800th birthday, the Magna Carta will be the toast of the town at a swanky Gray's Inn bash in London, with Canada's Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin P.C. leading the celebrations: She's set to deliver a keynote address in June 2015, marking the occasion with an exploration of the Magna Carta's extraordinary legacy as the foundation of limited government, and of its continuing impact on the influence of law. But get ready to shell out a Hamilton, as tickets for this historical soirée will set you back £10 a pop!
Source => biicl.org