5 things you need to know about the Magna Carta

Nicole Morley

Published June 15, 2015 11:29am Updated December 11, 2019 11:31am

No, we don’t mean the Jay Z album.

The Magna Carta is a pretty important charter drawn up by the Archbishop of Canterbury who hoped for peace between King John of England and a group of rebel barons way back in 1215.

While neither party stuck to the commitments pledged in the 800-year-old contract, the Magna Carta remains iconic as it paved the way for fair trial and limits of taxation – as well as ruling that not even the king was to be considered above the law.

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The original document was almost 4,000 words long – because ain’t nobody got time for that, we’ve picked the five most interesting facts about the Magna Carta.

1. How the document got its name

The Magna Carta was originally called the ‘charter of liberties’ or the ‘charter of Runnymede’ due to the location (near Windsor) where the king agreed to it.

To differentiate it from similar documents at the time, it was called Magna Carta, which is Latin for ‘great charter’ and does sound a lot fancier, TBH.

Undated handout photo issued by British Library of the Salisbury Cathedral Magna Carta, one of four remaining manuscripts which are to be exhibited in a series of events marking the 800th anniversary. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday January 2, 2015. On June 15 1215 at a spot south west of London at Runnymede on the River Thames, King John was presented by barons with what became known as the Magna Carta (Great Charter). Exactly 800 years later, the Queen is due to attend an anniversary event at Runnymede to celebrate the signing of the Magna Carta, which has subsequently been seen as the beginning of civil rights for Britons including the right of trial by jury. See PA story HERITAGE MagnaCarta. Photo credit should read: British Library/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — One of the four remaining Magna Carter manuscripts
(Picture: PA)

2. The Magna Carta’s most powerful achievement

The charter ensured the reigning king was not above the law along with the rest of the riff-raff.

An excerpt reads: ‘If it was God’s law, then the king must be below it; he must obey the law himself, as well as enforce it.’

So there, HRH.

'King Henry VIII', c1538-1547, (c1900-1920). A print after a painting in the Royal Collection, Windsor Castle, from Art History and Literature Illustrations, by Jessie Noakes, Virtue and Co, (London, c1900-1920). Henry (1491-1547) succeeded his father, Henry VII, in 1509. Obsessed with passing the throne on to a male heir, he had six wives in the course of his reign, none of whom provided him with a son who survived. In divorcing his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in 1533, Henry severed the English church from Rome. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images) — Henry VIII didn’t abide by the charter (Picture: Getty Images)

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3. Some royals DGAF about the Magna Carta

While the charter aimed to make monarchs, noblemen and peasants alike abide by the law – some naughty royals decided it didn’t really apply to them.

Most notably, Henry VIII continued to torture and kill his enemies with the help of Sir Thomas Cromwell his trusted advisor. What was he like?!

4. Girl Power

Although Magna Carter was ground-breaking for its time, it wasn’t exactly a feminist document.

That said, it did enable widowed women to claim their full and fair inheritance.

It also prevented widows from being forced into second marriages against their wishes.

5. Lost your passport? Call on the Magna Carta

Clauses 41 and 42 of the Magna Carta guarantee the free movement of people and merchants in and out of the country, but unfortunately these clauses aren’t exactly enshrined in today’s laws.

You’re on your own when trying to explain that to customs at an airport.