Magna Carta - one of the most important documents from the medieval period. It’s still held up as a totem of democracy even in today’s turbulent world. But why did Magna Carta get written and sealed in the first place?

In the first of two very special episodes, Prof. Michael Livingston is heading to France to explore the sometimes forgotten continental side to the Magna Carta story.

Joining him will be world leading experts on Magna Carta and this thrilling period of medieval history - Dr. Caroline Burt from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Prof. David Carpenter from King’s College London. And medievalist and presenter Dan Jones.

Michael will travel through lands that were once known as the Angevin Empire. Lands that although were in France, were owned by the King of England. But as he will learn - that wouldn’t stay that way for long.
Michael will delve into the explosive relationship between King John of England and King Philip II of France as the French monarch set about dismantling the English territory - causing John a massive headache back home with his nobles who saw this as a great surrender.

Michael will then head to the site of the most important battle that you’ve never heard of, the Battle of Bouvines. A last ditch attempt by King John to save his lands in France and his own Kingdom in England too.

And as Michael will learn, the road from Bouvines to Magna Carta was very short indeed.