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A rare original royal charter from the first year of King John's reign has been discovered in Durham.
The document carries the seal of John, who reigned from 1199 until 1216, and was issued in York on 26 March 1200 - exactly 819 years ago.
It was found in the archives of Ushaw College Library, which is managed by Durham University.
Fewer than a dozen original charters have survived from the first year of King John's reign.
Dr Benjamin Pohl, a senior lecturer in Medieval History at Bristol University, came across the charter by chance while examining medieval manuscripts at Ushaw College.
He said the document was carefully prepared and written in what was known as a "court hand", probably by a member of the king's government department or chancery.
King's charter found in college library
That's kind of cool.
The document carries the seal of John, who reigned from 1199 until 1216, and was issued in York on 26 March 1200 - exactly 819 years ago.
It was found in the archives of Ushaw College Library, which is managed by Durham University.
Fewer than a dozen original charters have survived from the first year of King John's reign.
Dr Benjamin Pohl, a senior lecturer in Medieval History at Bristol University, came across the charter by chance while examining medieval manuscripts at Ushaw College.
He said the document was carefully prepared and written in what was known as a "court hand", probably by a member of the king's government department or chancery.
King's charter found in college library
That's kind of cool.
