The British Embassy to Luxembourg revealed on Friday that the Magna Carta, the agreement drawn up to protect the rights of free English subjects from King John, will be exhibited at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg from 5 to 9 October 2015 as part of worldwide celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the seminal legal document.

The Magna Carta, drawn up in 1215, was first drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a peace-making device between the then King and a group of rebel barons, as well as a promise for the protection of Church rights and liberties. It was formally sealed by King John on 15 June 1215, in the presence of his noblemen in the field of Runnymede on the outskirts of London.

This 1217 copy of the Magna Carta, owned for nearly six centuries by Hereford Cathedral, will be travelling to Luxembourg as part of a 65,000 mile journey to eight countries across four continents, including China and the United States. It will be displayed alongside the only surviving copy of the King's Writ, a letter announcing the terms of the Magna Carta sent by King John in 1215 to royal officials in every English county.

"I am thrilled to bring this marvellous historical artefact to Luxembourg," commented the British Ambassador to Luxembourg, Alice Walpole. "It will showcase, at the seat of European Justice, the United Kingdom's role at the heart of international legal advances and human rights, and our honoruable ancient domestic traditions of democracy and rule of law. The principles of Magna Carta remain relevant in today's world, and elements of it remain enshrined in modern British law".

The Ambassador went on to quote her favourtie texts from the document: "No free man shall be seized or imprisoned or stripped of his rights or possessions or outlawed or exiled or deprived of his standing, nor will we condemn him but by lawful judgement of his equals or by law of the land. No one shall be denied or delayed the right of justice".

Whilst the document will not be on open public display due to security restrictions at the European Court of Justice, arrangements are nevertheless being made for visits from schools and specialist interested groups to allow them to experience this piece of history.

"Magna Carta is recognised as one of the most important documents in the development of modern democracy and as the foundation for the rule of law in modern society," continued Foreign Office Minister, Hugo Swire, who has welcomed the tour. "As the document travels across different continents and time zones, there is no better was of celebrating the 800th anniversary this year by sharing this rich history across the world".

A Hereford Cathedral representative, who is due to accompany the Magna Carta on its visit to the Grand Duchy, added: "I am delighted that our copy of Magna Carta is embarking on this global tour, which will enable more people than ever from across the world a unique and exciting opportunity to see the document close up and learn about what it represents".

Members of the public can follow the progress of the Magna Carta Tour on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #MagnaCartaTour, or can find out more information on the document and its 800 year history at http://magnacarta800th.com/

 

Photo by British Library