Dan and leading medieval historians explain everything you need to know about Magna Carta...and the story is more dramatic than you might think. Magna Carta sprang from an England on the brink of civil war; the feeble king John left grappling for control after a disastrous defeat in France in the early 13th century and a baron's rebellion in England. It was forged at a standoff on the banks of the Thames in 1215 and still provides the basis of law for most of the English-speaking world today.

With thanks to Dr Michael Livingston, Dan Jones and Dr Jess Nelson.

This episode was produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore with additional production from Mark Edger.

Click here to listen to Dan's explainer on William the Marshal.

Click here to listen to Dan's explainer on Richard the Lionheart.

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