Teeth extracted from a medieval English King will be displayed as part of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.
Two molars belonging to King John, who granted the charter in 1215, will be displayed at the British Library alongside two copies of the document.
The library said the teeth were taken by an apprentice in 1797 when the monarch's tomb was opened.
King John, the youngest son of King Henry II, ruled England from 1199 to 1216.
Teeth extracted from King John to be displayed at British Library
26 February 2015
BBC News
It is believed an apprentice took King John's teeth in 1797 as a souvenir when his tomb was opened
Teeth extracted from a medieval English King will be displayed as part of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.
Two molars belonging to King John, who granted the charter in 1215, will be displayed at the British Library alongside two copies of the document.
The library said the teeth were taken by an apprentice in 1797 when the monarch's tomb was opened.
Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy which celebrates the roots of parliamentary democracy, opens on 13 March.
Curator of the exhibition Julian Harrison said: "John's tomb at Worcester Cathedral was opened for a brief period in 1797, and certain body parts removed as souvenirs... by William Wood, a stationer's apprentice."
With 170 million items including manuscripts, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, play-scripts, patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints, drawings and 14 million books, including every title ever published in Britain and Ireland, the British Library in St Pancras, central London, is the biggest library on Earth
A thumb bone, reputedly that of King John, which was returned to the cathedral in 1957, will also be displayed.
King John authorised the Magna Carta on 15 June 1215 at Runnymede to appease rebel barons in the heart of battle.
It is now considered one of the first steps towards parliamentary democracy and includes the principle that no one was above the law, including the king,
Earlier this month, the four surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta were united for three days at the British Library.
More than 40,000 people entered a public ballot for 1,215 tickets to see them.
The exhibition will also include King John's will and Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, as well as one of the original copies of the US Bill of Rights.
What was Maga Carta?
There are four originals of the 1215 Magna Carta in existence
Magna Carta outlined basic rights with the principle that no-one was above the law, including the king:
It charted the right to a fair trial, and limits on taxation without representation
It inspired a number of other documents, including the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Only three clauses are still valid - the one guaranteeing the liberties of the English Church; the clause confirming the privileges of the City of London and other towns; and the clause that states that no free man shall be imprisoned without the lawful judgement of his equals
King John 1166-1216
King John, the youngest son of Henry II, became king in 1199
He went into war with France and by 1206 had lost Normandy, Anjou, Maine and parts of Poitou to France, which still has them to this day. Determined to win them back he required money. Taxes soared, prompting the civil war of 1215
When the rebels seized London, John was compelled to accept Magna Carta
Later, King John said he had signed it under duress leading to further civil war, but his death in 1216 prompted compromise and the succession of his son Henry III
Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy | What's on | The British Library - The British Library
BBC News - Teeth extracted from King John to be displayed at British Library
Two molars belonging to King John, who granted the charter in 1215, will be displayed at the British Library alongside two copies of the document.
The library said the teeth were taken by an apprentice in 1797 when the monarch's tomb was opened.
King John, the youngest son of King Henry II, ruled England from 1199 to 1216.
Teeth extracted from King John to be displayed at British Library
26 February 2015
BBC News
It is believed an apprentice took King John's teeth in 1797 as a souvenir when his tomb was opened
Teeth extracted from a medieval English King will be displayed as part of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta.
Two molars belonging to King John, who granted the charter in 1215, will be displayed at the British Library alongside two copies of the document.
The library said the teeth were taken by an apprentice in 1797 when the monarch's tomb was opened.
Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy which celebrates the roots of parliamentary democracy, opens on 13 March.
Curator of the exhibition Julian Harrison said: "John's tomb at Worcester Cathedral was opened for a brief period in 1797, and certain body parts removed as souvenirs... by William Wood, a stationer's apprentice."
With 170 million items including manuscripts, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, play-scripts, patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints, drawings and 14 million books, including every title ever published in Britain and Ireland, the British Library in St Pancras, central London, is the biggest library on Earth
A thumb bone, reputedly that of King John, which was returned to the cathedral in 1957, will also be displayed.
King John authorised the Magna Carta on 15 June 1215 at Runnymede to appease rebel barons in the heart of battle.
It is now considered one of the first steps towards parliamentary democracy and includes the principle that no one was above the law, including the king,
Earlier this month, the four surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta were united for three days at the British Library.
More than 40,000 people entered a public ballot for 1,215 tickets to see them.
The exhibition will also include King John's will and Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, as well as one of the original copies of the US Bill of Rights.
What was Maga Carta?
There are four originals of the 1215 Magna Carta in existence
Magna Carta outlined basic rights with the principle that no-one was above the law, including the king:
It charted the right to a fair trial, and limits on taxation without representation
It inspired a number of other documents, including the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Only three clauses are still valid - the one guaranteeing the liberties of the English Church; the clause confirming the privileges of the City of London and other towns; and the clause that states that no free man shall be imprisoned without the lawful judgement of his equals
King John 1166-1216
King John, the youngest son of Henry II, became king in 1199
He went into war with France and by 1206 had lost Normandy, Anjou, Maine and parts of Poitou to France, which still has them to this day. Determined to win them back he required money. Taxes soared, prompting the civil war of 1215
When the rebels seized London, John was compelled to accept Magna Carta
Later, King John said he had signed it under duress leading to further civil war, but his death in 1216 prompted compromise and the succession of his son Henry III
Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy | What's on | The British Library - The British Library
BBC News - Teeth extracted from King John to be displayed at British Library
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