A recently uncovered original Magna Carta at Harvard Law School had been misclassified as a copy for decades. Discovered by British scholars David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent, the parchment had been purchased in 1946. Dating back to King John's era, it is pivotal to legal history, influencing the U.S. Constitution and human rights. This find underscores how significant documents can remain overlooked, revealing the importance of thorough archival research and the legacy of the Magna Carta in shaping Western legal principles.
"I thought, OMG," Carpenter told The Washington Post in a telephone interview. "This is an original." That startling realization came from HLS MS 172, misidentified as a mere copy.
The curators at Harvard Law had no idea what they had in their storage cabinets until Dec. 13, 2023, when a remarkable discovery was made.
Magna Carta Libertatum, or the Great Charter of Freedoms, has been described by scholars as one of the most important documents in the Western world.
First penned for King John of England during an open revolt by his barons in 1215, the charter famously declares that even the king must follow the rules.
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