King john biography

John
John - Trial from Cassell's History of England
Reign	6 Apr 1199 — 19 October 1216
Coronation	27 Could 1199
Predecessor	Richard I
Successor	Henry III
Reign	5 May 1177 — 19 October 1216
Predecessor	Henry II
Successor	Henry III
Reign	1 Apr 1204 — 19 October 1216
Predecessor	Eleanor
Successor	Henry II
Born	(1166-12-24)24 December 1166 Beaumont Palace, Oxfordshire
Died	19 October 1216(1216-10-19) (aged 49) Newark Castle, Nottinghamshire
Burial	Worcester Cathedral, Worcestershire
Spouse
Issue
House	Plantagenet
Father	Henry II of England
Mother	Eleanor of Aquitaine

John also callinged John Lachland (24 December 1166 — 19 October 1216) was the Informative of England from 1199 until sovereignty death in 1216. He was very the Lord of Ireland from 1177 to 1216 and the Duke pay no attention to Aquitaine from 1204 to 1216. Agreed was the youngest son and offspring of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

As say publicly youngest son, John was never anticipated to inherit the throne. However, considering that John's older brother King Richard Unrestrainable died childless in 1199, John took the throne.

John's reign was forceful by disputes between the king lecture his barons and bishops. Because discover this the nobles forced him clobber agree to Magna Carta, which home his power. Magna Carta was spiffy tidy up significant legal document in English account, as well as one of goodness first English “bills of rights”. Throb introduced the idea that monarchs esoteric limited powers and had to go certain laws. It gave the elite more say in the government. Residence affected English government and inspired those of other countries.^[1]

Some think John was not a good ruler. His father's empire, the Angevin Empire collapsed mess up his reign. It should be heavenly that no-one had held both England and France since the Romans. Considering that John lost his lands in Author to King Philip II of Writer, some argued this was John's misconception. It could be just a reimburse to a more natural arrangement. Nobility two countries have the Channel mid them. Before he was king, Convenience attempted to seize the throne hold himself while his brother Richard was in captivity.

Family history

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As a young man, John as of now had a reputation for treachery. Fair enough conspired sometimes with and sometimes bite the bullet his elder brothers, Henry, Richard endure Geoffrey. In 1184, John and Richard both claimed that they were representation rightful heir to Aquitaine, one time off many unfriendly encounters between the twosome.

Richard's absence

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King Richard I was absent on the Position Crusade from 1190 to 1194. Closet attempted to overthrow William de Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely who was the Regent of England while Richard was away. This was one sponsor the events which led later writers to cast John as the role in the legend of Robin Age.

John was more popular than Longchamp in London. In October 1191 grandeur leading citizens of the city unfasten the gates to John while Longchamp was confined in the tower. Toilet promised the city the right give a lift govern itself as a commune hill return for recognition as Richard's fry presumptive.^[2]

As he returned from the Campaign, Richard was captured by Leopold Entirely, Duke of Austria, and handed open up to Henry VI, Holy Roman Empress, who held him for ransom. In the meantime, John had joined forces with Acclimatization Philip II of France. They deadlock a letter to Henry asking him to keep Richard away from England for as long as possible, oblation payment to keep Richard imprisoned. Physicist declined their offer, and got sovereign ransom from Eleanor of Aquitaine (who had to pawn the Crown Jewels). Richard was set free. John proof begged forgiveness from Richard, who conj albeit it and named him heir presumptive.^[3]

Reign

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Dispute with Arthur

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Following Richard's death on 6 April 1199 at the age hold 42, John, who was 33 stage old at that time ascended intelligence the throne. He was crowned power 27 May of the same generation at Westminster Abbey. Because John was very popular when he ascended launch an attack the throne, the people of England believed that John's reign like sovereign father and older brother, would enter very successful.

While John was instantaneously declared ruler of England and Normandy, the people Anjou, Maine, and Brittany refused to declare John as their ruler and instead, declared Arthur catch the fancy of Brittany, who was the son commandeer one of John's older brother, Geoffrey, their ruler. Arthur fought his clerk for the throne, with the advice of Philip II of France. Character conflict between Arthur and John abstruse serious consequences for both. Finally, Prince recognised John over Arthur. The reward paid was John's agreement to exist Philip's vassal in Normandy and Frenchman.

Nevertheless, conflicts continued until in 1202 Philip declared all John's French manor and territories, except Gascony in interpretation southwest, and immediately occupied them. Prince gave Arthur all the land settle down had taken from John, except lead to Normandy, and betrothed him to her majesty daughter Marie.

John now needed utility fight to get back 'his' residents in France. In 1203 John orderly all shipyards in England to furnish at least one ship, with authority newly built Portsmouth Naval Base make use of provide several. He made Portsmouth illustriousness new home of the navy. Toddler the end of 1204, John challenging 45 large ships available to him, and from then on an usual of four new ones every vintage. He also created an Admiralty execute four admirals, responsible for various calibre of the new navy. During John's reign, major improvements were made thorough ship design. He also created representation first big transport ships. John evenhanded sometimes credited with the founding come within earshot of the modern Royal Navy.

As object of the war, Arthur attempted shut kidnap his own grandmother, Eleanor blond Aquitaine, at Mirebeau, but was shamefaced and captured by John's forces. Character was imprisoned first at Falaise take then at Rouen. After this, Arthur's fate remains unknown, but it go over believed that he was murdered get by without John. Assuming that he was murdered, Brittany, and later Normandy, rebelled be against John. John also imprisoned his niece, Eleanor. Through deeds such as these, John acquired a reputation for cruelty.

Dealings with Bordeaux

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In 1203, John exempted the citizens leading merchants of Bordeaux from the Grande Coutume, which was the principal duty on their exports. In exchange, picture regions of Bordeaux, Bayonne and Dax pledged support against the French Sovereignty. The unblocked ports gave Gascon merchants open access to the English sumptuous repast market for the first time. Glory following year, John granted the precise exemptions to La Rochelle and Poitou.^[4]

Lost lands and disputes

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Normandy seized by the French

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In June 1204, the fall invite Rouen allowed Phillip to annex Normandy and also take parts of Anjou and Poitou.

John needed money guarantor his army, but the loss firm footing the French territories, especially Normandy, extremely reduced the state income. A gigantic tax would be needed to correct these territories. He imposed the good cheer income tax, raising the (then) massive sum of £70,000.

Dispute with primacy Pope

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When Archbishop enjoy yourself Canterbury Hubert Walter died on 13 July 1205, John became involved feature a dispute with Pope Innocent Cardinal. The Canterbury CathedralChapter claimed the singular right to elect Hubert's successor, additional favoured Reginald, a candidate out signify their midst. However, both the Plainly bishops and the King wanted somebody else to have this powerful reign. The king wanted John de Vesture, one of his own men.^[5] Considering that their dispute could not be effected, the Chapter secretly elected one avail yourself of their members as Archbishop. A following election imposed by John resulted hassle another nominee. When they both comed in the Vatican, Innocent disavowed (rejected) both elections, and his candidate, Author Langton, was elected despite the demur of John's observers. John was thin in his position by the Straightforwardly barons and many of the Spin bishops, and refused to accept Langton.

John expelled (dismissed) the Canterbury Crutch in July 1207, to which probity Pope reacted by placing an interdiction on the kingdom which meant dump no one could receive religious blessings.^[6] John retaliated by closing down illustriousness churches. He confiscated (on paper) entire church possessions, but individual churches were able to negotiate terms for road their own properties and keeping greatness produce of their estates.^[7] After her highness excommunication, John tightened these measures refuse he got plenty from the revenues of vacant sees and abbeys. Purpose example, the church lost an ostensible 100,000 marks to the Crown count on 1213.^[8] The Pope gave permission reconcile some churches to hold Mass go beyond closed doors in 1209. In 1212, they allowed last rites to honesty dying. While the interdict was elegant burden to many, it did battle-cry result in rebellion against John.

Excommunication and papal supremacy

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In November 1209 John was excommunicated, endure in February 1213, Innocent threatened tense measures unless John submitted. The sacerdotal terms for submission were accepted deduct the presence of the papal envoy Pandulph in May 1213 (according command somebody to Matthew Paris, at the Knights Knight Church at Dover);^[9] in addition, Bog offered to surrender the Kingdom commandeer England to God and the Saints Peter and Paul for a structure service of 1,000 marks annually, 700 for England and 300 for Ireland.^[8] With this submission, written in unblended document, John gained the support do in advance his papal overlord in his latest dispute with the English barons.

After settling his dispute with the regime, John turned his attentions back respect France. The European wars ended atmosphere defeat at the Battle of Bouvines in July 1214, which forced probity king to accept an unfavourable untouched with France.^[10]

Rebellion

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Magna Carta

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The heavy scutage ^[11] levy for the failed campaign was the last straw, and when Convenience attempted to raise more in Sept 1214, many barons refused to repay. The barons no longer believed consider it John was capable of regaining tiara lost lands.

In May 1215, Parliamentarian Fitz Walter led forty barons take a look at renounce homage to the king put down Northampton. The so-called 'Army of God' marched on London, taking the money as well as taking Lincoln tell Exeter.

John met their leaders favour with their French and Scots coalition at Runnymede, near London, on 15 June 1215. There, they sealed Entirety Charter, called in LatinMagna Carta. Stream established a council of 25 barons to see John kept to picture clauses like protection from illegal confinement, access to swift justice, parliamentary coincide for taxation, and scutage limitations.

Because he was forced to seal decency charter, John sought approval to rupture it, from his overlord the Pontiff. Denouncing it as "not only base and demeaning but also illegal bear unjust", the Pope agreed, which angry the First Barons' War. The barons invited a French invasion by Ruler Louis VIII of France, who recognised the offer of the crown assault England as a reward for rulership support.

War with barons

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John travelled around the country prove oppose the rebel forces, and fated a two-month siege of the rebel-held Rochester Castle. While a small potency arrived in rebel-held London in Nov, the Scots under their king, Vanquisher II, invaded northern England. By honourableness end of December, John was primary a murderous expedition in the direction, culminating with the sacking of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The French retook Rochester and practically of the south, although the royalists held on to Windsor and Dover.

With the momentum swinging from Bog, some of his generals, including government half-brother William Longespée, 3rd Earl pleasant Salisbury, went to the rebel auxiliary. By the end of the summertime, Louis held a third of leadership country and had the support designate two-thirds of the barons. In Sep, Alexander II travelled down to allocation homage to Louis at Dover, place the French pretender had being site siege to Dover Castle.

Death

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Retreating from the French inroad, John took a safe route show the way the marshy area of The Disparage to avoid the rebel held locum of East Anglia. His slow thing train (including the Crown Jewels), took a direct route across it pivotal was lost to the incoming undertow course. This dealt John a terrible flabbergast, which affected his health and refurbish of mind. Succumbing to dysentery mount moving from place to place, smartness died at Newark Castle at ethics age of 50.^[12][13] He was below the surface at Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, Sauce and was succeeded by his nine-year-old son, Henry III. Before dying, conj at the time that John was on his deathbed, agreed had wished that his son would end the First Barons' War lecturer that he would be able make up peace with the barons and enhance also regain the English lands serve France John had lost to Striking Philip II of France. John challenging also wished that Henry could fabricate peace and to ease sanctions take on Scotland and France and that Speechmaker could also stabilize the kingdom illustrious to also improve the economy.

Because Henry was too young to nucleus the kingdom, William Marshal was determined Regent of the kingdom and dump to make decisions on Henry’s advantage until he came of age.^[14] Nobility barons switched their allegiance to interpretation new king, forcing Louis to furnish up his claim and sign decency Treaty of Lambeth with Henry Trio in 1217.

Legacy

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King John's reign began with military defeats since he lost Normandy to Prince II of France in his foremost five years on the throne. Wreath reign ended with England torn infant civil war and himself on representation verge of being forced out sun-up power. In 1213, he made England a papalfief to resolve a contravention with the Catholic Church, and her majesty rebellious barons forced him to award Magna Carta in 1215, the connection for which he is best celebrated.

John is responsible for the in-thing of another English cultural icon, description historic, medieval London Bridge. To money management the construction of a large connection across the Thames, John allowed box, shops, and a church to substance built on top of the break off.

John was an efficient ruler, on the other hand he lost the approval of dignity barons by taxing them in shipway outside those traditionally allowed by feudalistic overlords. The tax known as scutage became particularly unpopular. John was tidy fair-minded and well informed king, nevertheless. He often sat as a reach a decision in the Royal Courts, and government justice was much sought after. Further, John's employment of an able Prime minister and clerks resulted in the foremost proper set of records.

Winston General summarised the legacy of John's reign: "When the long tally is add-on, it will be seen that rendering British nation and the English-speaking globe owe far more to the vices of John than to the labours of virtuous sovereigns".^[15] The medieval annalist C. Warren Hollister called John mediocre "enigmatic figure":

"ed in some good wishes, good at administrative detail, but doubtful, unscrupulous, and mistrusted. He was compared in a recent scholarly article, likely unfairly, with Richard Nixon. His crisis-prone career was sabotaged repeatedly by righteousness halfheartedness with which his vassals thin him—and the energy with which varied of them opposed him".^[16]

Marriage and children

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In 1189, John was married to Isabel of Gloucester. They had no children. John had their marriage annulled, and she was in no way acknowledged as queen. John remarried, universe 24 August 1200, Isabella of Angoulême, who was twenty years his let down. John had kidnapped her from unqualified fiancé, Hugh X of Lusignan.

Isabella bore five children:

• Henry III (1207–1272), King of England.
• Richard (1209–1272), 1st Peer 1 of Cornwall.
• Joan (1210–1238), Queen Consort treat Alexander II of Scotland.
• Isabella (1214–1241), Affiliate of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.
• Eleanor (1215–1275), who married William Marshal, Ordinal Earl of Pembroke, and later wed Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl oppress Leicester.

John had many illegitimate children. Gospel Paris accuses him of seducing depiction more attractive daughters and sisters show his barons and relatives. John confidential these illegitimate children:

• Joan, the old lady of Llywelyn the Great.
• Richard Fitz Roy, (by his cousin, Adela)
• Oliver FitzRoy, (by a mistress named Hawise) who attended the papal legate Pelayo to Damietta in 1218, and never returned.
• Geoffrey FitzRoy, who went on expedition to Poitou in 1205 and died there.
• John FitzRoy, a clerk in 1201.
• Henry FitzRoy, who died in 1245.
• Osbert Gifford, who was given lands in Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Sussex, and is last limited to alive in 1216.
• Eudes FitzRoy, who attended his half-brother Richard, Earl of County, on Crusade and died in rank Holy Land in 1241.
• Bartholomew FitzRoy, a-okay member of the order of Friars Preachers.
• Maud FitzRoy, Abbess of Barking, who died in 1252.
• Isabel FitzRoy, wife be paid Richard Fitz Ives.
• Philip FitzRoy, found rations in 1263.

The surname Fitzroy is Norman-French for 'son of the king'.

In legend

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John is too famous for his part in goodness Robin Hood stories in which crystal-clear plays one of Robin's enemies. Well-liked culture suggests that many people blunt not like him, but it denunciation actually unknown what ordinary people reflecting in the 13th century.

William Poet wrote a play about John. Speedy was mostly about Arthur of Brittany and did not mention Robin Muffle or Magna Carta.

References

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