A detail of an illuminated manuscript - three medieval characters present a manuscript to seated king

DISPLAY

Magna Carta 1215 1225

21 December 2024 – 21 April 2025

Blackwell Hall, Weston Library

Free, no ticket required

About this display

Magna Carta ~~1215~~ 1225 celebrates the 800th anniversary of the definitive issue of Magna Carta in 1225.

Although Magna Carta is now closely associated with King John and the year 1215, John’s charter was a failure, soon annulled by the pope, and disregarded by both the king and his opponents.

It was the charter’s reissue by John’s son Henry III that ensured its survival.

Copies of the 1215, 1217 and 1225 versions are on display, accompanied by objects illustrating the changing meanings of Magna Carta from the thirteenth to the twenty-first centuries.

Find out more

Translations

Explore the contents of Magna Carta, and how these changed from 1215 to 1225, using the modern English translations provided by the National Archives

3D scans

Look in more detail at the 3D seals of Henry III and Edward I, captured by the Bodleian Libraries imaging studio.

To access the models press the play button and swipe with your mouse or finger, if using a mobile device, to move the model.

Seal of Henry III

This seal was attached to Henry’s ‘little charter’ (parva carta), a confirmation of Magna Carta issued in 1237.

https://sketchfab.com/models/15fda0c69ad24b48855f94e35ddfad3c/embed?ui_watermark_link=0

Seal of Edward I

This seal is attached to letters patent of Edward I issued in 1301 which stated that any statutes contrary to Magna Carta should be emended or annulled.

View more 3D models taken by our imaging studio on SketchFab.