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Secondary sourcePhotograph1216 (document); photograph modern

Magna Carta of 1216 (Vercelli)

Cichin · 1216 (document); photograph modern

A photograph of the 1216 reissue of Magna Carta, sealed under the regency of the young Henry III, now displayed in Vercelli, Italy.

Shows a 1216 reissue of Magna Carta, part of the charter's own history of revision and reissue.

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A dimly lit exhibition room with a red wall displaying the gold lettering 'MAGNA CHARTA LIBERTATUM'. Beneath it, in a glass case on a white pedestal, lies an aged parchment document with visible handwritten text.
Photograph of the Magna Carta of 1216 on display, ARCA, former church of San Marco, Vercelli. Photo by Cichin.

About this source

What it is

This photograph shows an exhibition case in Vercelli holding a 1216 reissue of Magna Carta. It was sealed by the papal legate Guala during the regency government that ruled for the boy king Henry III after King John's death.

Why it matters

This reissue was more moderate than the 1215 original, showing how the charter was reshaped soon after it was first agreed, as the new regime tried to make peace and keep support for the young king. It shows that Magna Carta was not a single fixed text but a living agreement that was reworked over time.

Look closer

  • Why might a document agreed in England end up kept in Italy?
  • What does it suggest that the charter was reissued so soon after 1215?
  • What can you tell about its importance today from how it is displayed?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Magna Carta on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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