Get this from a library magna carta manuscripts and myths claire breay magna carta is one of the most celebrated documents in english history and one of the most popular exhibits at the british library this work explores the context in which it was issued to discover . Magna carta is one of the most celebrated documents in english history and one of the most popular exhibits at the british library but despite this fame the reinterpretations made of it since 1215 have tended to obscure its real meaning for king john and his baronial opponents. Dr claire breay is the lead curator for medieval and earlier manuscripts at the british library where she has worked since 1998 in 2015 she curated with julian harrison an exhibition at the british library to celebrate the 800th anniversary of magna carta. Writing in magna carta manuscripts and myths claire breay tells us magna carta the great charter was not intended to be a lasting declaration of legal principles or theory it was a practical solution to a political crisis only four original magna carta documents from 1215 are known to survive the british library has two. Unfortunately magna carta has several myths attached to it here are six of the most common explained 1 it wasnt necessarily about rule of law with magna carta what we are essentially celebrating is the triumph of the rule of law over arbitrary power whether that power was abused by monarchs heads of state or politicians amounts to