Authenticated After Eight Decades: Harvard's Alleged Magna Carta Revealed as Genuine Artifact
A Harvard-owned Magna Carta previously classified as an unofficial copy for nearly eight decades has been declared an original, according to an announcement by the university. The document, from 1300, was issued by King Edward I, thus increasing the number of surviving copies of the foundational legal document that established the principle that no English monarch stands above the law to seven.
The discovery was made by David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King's College London, who identified the 1327 document through the Harvard Law School's online library. Carpenter expressed his surprise upon finding what appeared to be an original version of Edward I's confirmation of the Magna Carta.
To verify the document's authenticity, Carpenter, along with Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia, employed advanced imaging techniques such as ultraviolet light and spectral imaging to analyze the faded text. Vincent noted the importance of the handwriting, particularly the initial E of Edwardus, which shared a characteristic with other authorized copies of the Magna Carta.
The Magna Carta was initially issued by King John in 1215 to bring an end to his conflict with rebellious barons. Despite its initial failure to quell the unrest, the principles it upheld, including protection against illegal arrests, seizures of property, swift judicial process, and a limit on taxation, have endured, forming the basis for justifications in the American Revolution. Carpenter referred to the document as one of the world's most valuable, emphasizing its significance as a symbol of the fundamental principle that rulers are subject to the law.
The 1300 confirmation by Edward I is particularly noteworthy, as it represented the final and most authoritative official reissue of the Magna Carta. Harvard's online library notes that the document was purchased for $27.50 in 1946 and had previously changed hands, passing through the Lowthers, an influential 18th-century aristocratic family, before being acquired by Thomas Clarkson, an abolitionist. The path of ownership from Clarkson's estate to Forster Maynard, a World War I flying ace, is detailed in the library's records.
The reasons behind the century-long classification of Harvard's copy as unofficial remain unclear, with historian Nicholas Vincent suggesting that fatigue may have played a role in the oversight. The reclassification of the document makes it a rare and significant piece of constitutional history.
Engaging with the online education resources at Harvard Law School, David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history, discovered an original version of the Magna Carta's 1327 confirmation by King Edward I. In the process of verifying its authenticity, Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent employed advanced imaging techniques, highlighting the importance of the document's handwriting, particularly the initial E resembling that of authorized copies, as a key indicator.
