Next week marks the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.
A charter agreed to by King John and a group of disgruntled barons on June 15, 1215, it is considered one of the most important legal documents in Western Civilization.
Famous 20th century lawyer Lord Denning called it “the greatest constitutional document of all times — the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot.”
It was a big influence on the U.S. Constitution, which borrowed some passages almost word for word.
“It was the foundation of the British Parliamentary system,” said Vancouver Island University history professor Timothy Lewis.
He stressed that he doesn’t specialize in political or British history, but said “in general knowledge terms, it was the beginning of the monarchy beginning to cede power, first to other nobles and eventually to the upper classes and the parliamentary system.”
Fellow VIU history professor Cheryl Warsh said, “Given that the Magna Carta was the basis of modern democracy and the rule of law, and that so many countries in recent years have tried, and failed, to attain full democratic structures, it is as relevant as ever.”
The British Bobby restaurant in Parksville had intended to mark the occasion with the grand opening of their expanded space, but owner John St.John said they won’t be ready by then.
St.John said with the large British population in the area and among their customers they may still try and mark the occasion with a menu special or something else.
