Historian Perspective

Dr Alexandra Xanthaki, a Reader in Law at Brunel University, discusses categories of rights.

It is important to understand the nature, function and categories of rights when creating a charter of rights, which is the subject of our interview with Dr Jonathan Seglow of Royal Holloway.

Professor Nicholas Vincent, one of the leading authorities on Magna Carta, advisor to the British Library on their Magna Carta exhibition and Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia, kindly gave us the opportunity to talk to him about the charter at the British Academy. Professor Nicholas Read more…

David Carpenter is one of the country’s leading authorities on Magna Carta and in this interview he explores the background to the baronial revolt, the Plantagenet style of government and the social and political significance and meaning of the charter and its clauses.

Greg Jenner is the Historical Consultant / ‘Chief Nerd’ to BBC Horrible Histories. In this interview we explore the reputation of King John, Magna Carta’s eight century long political career and the challenges of commemoration and engaging the public with an 800 year old document. Thanks to Surrey History Centre Read more…

Linda Colley, Professor of History at Princeton University, examines Magna Carta’s legacy in this interview with Professor Champion, President of the HA. Please note that unlike the other videos on this page this interview was recorded by the Historical Association.

Professor Ted Vallance, of Roehampton University and author of ‘The Radical History of Britain’, discusses how Magna Carta has been employed for legitimacy and authority by a wide range of groups with often widely divergent readings of the charter.  Ted is author of A Radical History of Britain (published by Abacus, Read more…

Professor Justin Champion of Royal Holloway is an expert on the early modern period and the history of ideas. In this article Justin explores the evolving Magna Carta tradition and how the charter has been employed as a political symbol by varied groups down the centuries.

In this interview Dr Graham Smith from Royal Holloway examines the varied uses of Magna Carta in more recent times and explores its relationship with imperialism and national identity.

In this film Professor Nigel Saul from Royal Holloway outlines the story of Magna Carta, the background to the baronial revolt and the events just before, during and after the negotiations at Runnymede.