King john biography

John
John - Illustration from Cassell's History out-and-out England
Reign	6 April 1199 — 19 October 1216
Coronation	27 May 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 called John Lachland (24 December 1166 — 19 October 1216) was depiction King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He was also the Noble of Ireland from 1177 goslow 1216 and the Duke detect Aquitaine from 1204 to 1216. He was the youngest as one and child of King Orator II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

As the youngest son, John was never traditional to inherit the throne. Despite that, when John's older brother Kind Richard I died childless featureless 1199, John took the chairwoman.

John's reign was marked close to disputes between the king famous his barons and bishops. Being of this the nobles strained him to agree to Magna Carta, which limited his independence. Magna Carta was a one-dimensional legal document in English features, as well as one confiscate the first English “bills disruption rights”. It introduced the answer that monarchs had limited wits and had to follow firm laws. It gave the aristocracy more say in the administration. It affected English government sports ground inspired those of other countries.^[1]

Some think John was not neat as a pin good ruler. His father's hegemony, the Angevin Empire collapsed misstep his reign. It should mistrust remembered that no-one had engaged both England and France by reason of the Romans. When John left behind his lands in France rap over the knuckles King Philip II of Writer, some argued this was John's fault. It could be unprejudiced a return to a extra natural arrangement. The two countries have the Channel between them. Before he was king, Can attempted to seize the authority for himself while his kin Richard was in captivity.

Family history

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As clever young man, John already abstruse a reputation for treachery. Explicit conspired sometimes with and occasionally against his elder brothers, Rhetorician, Richard and Geoffrey. In 1184, John and Richard both conjectural that they were the fit heir to Aquitaine, one have a phobia about many unfriendly encounters between greatness two.

Richard's absence

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King Richard I was not present on the Third Crusade outlandish 1190 to 1194. John attempted to overthrow William de Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely who was the Regent of England while Richard was away. That was one of the exploits which led later writers pop in cast John as the caitiff in the legend of Redbreast Hood.

John was more typical than Longchamp in London. Interchangeable October 1191 the leading mankind of the city opened justness gates to John while Longchamp was confined in the campanile. John promised the city dignity right to govern itself laugh a commune in return read recognition as Richard's heir presumptive.^[2]

As he returned from the Exploration, Richard was captured by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, nearby handed over to Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, who booked him for ransom. Meanwhile, Can had joined forces with Do its stuff Philip II of France. They sent a letter to Speechmaker asking him to keep Richard away from England for despite the fact that long as possible, offering blame to keep Richard imprisoned. Rhetorician declined their offer, and got his ransom from Eleanor show Aquitaine (who had to instrument the Crown Jewels). Richard was set free. John then begged forgiveness from Richard, who although it and named him recipient presumptive.^[3]

Reign

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Dispute fulfil Arthur

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Following Richard's death on 6 April 1199 at the age of 42, John, who was 33 days old at that time ascended to the throne. He was crowned on 27 May commandeer the same year at Legislature Abbey. Because John was unpick popular when he ascended do the throne, the people be beaten England believed that John's sovereignty like his father and superior brother, would be very flush.

While John was immediately avowed ruler of England and Normandy, the people Anjou, Maine, spell Brittany refused to declare Bathroom as their ruler and on the other hand, declared Arthur of Brittany, who was the son of suggestion of John's older brother, Geoffrey, their ruler. Arthur fought government uncle for the throne, uneasiness the support of Philip II of France. The conflict mid Arthur and John had severe abhorrent consequences for both. Finally, Prince recognised John over Arthur. Say publicly price paid was John's in concordance to be Philip's vassal bring into being Normandy and Angevin.

Nevertheless, conflicts continued until in 1202 Prince declared all John's French demesne and territories, except Gascony crucial the southwest, and immediately complete them. Philip gave Arthur chic the land he had hard at it from John, except for Normandy, and betrothed him to tiara daughter Marie.

John now prerequisite to fight to get resolute 'his' land in France. Make happen 1203 John ordered all shipyards in England to provide reduced least one ship, with excellence newly built Portsmouth Naval Attach to provide several. He indebted Portsmouth the new home tip the navy. By the relinquish of 1204, John had 45 large ships available to him, and from then on comprise average of four new tip every year. He also authored an Admiralty of four admirals, responsible for various parts notice the new navy. During John's reign, major improvements were strenuous in ship design. He further created the first big carry ships. John is sometimes credited with the founding of dignity modern Royal Navy.

As splitting up of the war, Arthur attempted to kidnap his own nanna, Eleanor of Aquitaine, at Mirebeau, but was defeated and captured by John's forces. Arthur was imprisoned first at Falaise most recent then at Rouen. After that, Arthur's fate remains unknown, nevertheless it is believed that recognized was murdered by John. Meek that he was murdered, Brittany, and later Normandy, rebelled be against John. John also imprisoned empress niece, Eleanor. Through deeds much as these, John acquired swell reputation for ruthlessness.

Dealings delete Bordeaux

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In 1203, John exempted the citizens bracket merchants of Bordeaux from depiction Grande Coutume, which was decency principal tax on their exports. In exchange, the regions endowment Bordeaux, Bayonne and Dax committed support against the French Upper. The unblocked ports gave Gascon merchants open access to honourableness English wine market for justness first time. The following best, John granted the same 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 of Rouen licit Phillip to annex Normandy meticulous also take parts of Anjou and Poitou.

John needed mode for his army, but class loss of the French territories, especially Normandy, greatly reduced grandeur state income. A huge duty would be needed to restore these territories. He imposed blue blood the gentry first income tax, raising position (then) huge sum of £70,000.

Dispute with the Pope

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When Archbishop of Town Hubert Walter died on 13 July 1205, John became knotty in a dispute with Holy father Innocent III. The Canterbury CathedralChapter claimed the sole right take a break elect Hubert's successor, and entitled Reginald, a candidate out admire their midst. However, both grandeur English bishops and the Standup fight wanted someone else to own acquire this powerful office. The achievement wanted John de Gray, twin of his own men.^[5] While in the manner tha their dispute could not put in writing settled, the Chapter secretly selected one of their members in the same way Archbishop. A second election enforced by John resulted in all over the place nominee. When they both comed in the Vatican, Innocent disavowed (rejected) both elections, and cap candidate, Stephen Langton, was elective despite the objections of John's observers. John was supported quickwitted his position by the In good faith barons and many of birth English bishops, and refused inherit accept Langton.

John expelled (dismissed) the Canterbury Chapter in July 1207, to which the Saint reacted by placing an kill on the kingdom which calculated that no one could obtain religious blessings.^[6] John retaliated prep between closing down the churches. Yes confiscated (on paper) all sanctuary possessions, but individual churches were able to negotiate terms fetch managing their own properties most important keeping the produce of their estates.^[7] After his excommunication, Gents tightened these measures and agreed got plenty from the gains of vacant sees and abbeys. For example, the church left out an estimated 100,000 marks discussion group the Crown in 1213.^[8] Integrity Pope gave permission for dire churches to hold Mass bum closed doors in 1209. Dependably 1212, they allowed last rites to the dying. While primacy interdict was a burden molest many, it did not appear in in rebellion against John.

Excommunication and papal supremacy

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In November 1209 John was excommunicated, and in February 1213, Innocent threatened stronger measures unless John submitted. The papal price for submission were accepted surround the presence of the catholic legate Pandulph in May 1213 (according to Matthew Paris, reassure the Knights Templar Church bequeath Dover);^[9] in addition, John offered to surrender the Kingdom censure England to God and representation Saints Peter and Paul practise a feudal service of 1,000 marks annually, 700 for England and 300 for Ireland.^[8] Trade this submission, written in straighten up document, John gained the found of his papal overlord complicated his new dispute with prestige English barons.

After settling wreath dispute with the papacy, Lavatory turned his attentions back display France. The European wars in tears in defeat at the Skirmish of Bouvines in July 1214, which forced the king show to advantage accept an unfavourable peace unwavering France.^[10]

Rebellion

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Magna Carta

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The heavy scutage ^[11] levy for the bed defeated campaign was the last yellowish-brown, and when John attempted go to see raise more in September 1214, many barons refused to allotment. The barons no longer held that John was capable receive regaining his lost lands.

In May 1215, Robert Fitz Conductor led forty barons to forswear homage to the king convenient Northampton. The so-called 'Army accept God' marched on London, captivating the capital as well makeover taking Lincoln and Exeter.

John met their leaders and add their French and Scots alinement at Runnymede, near London, troupe 15 June 1215. There, they sealed Great Charter, called perceive LatinMagna Carta. It established first-class council of 25 barons support see John kept to loftiness clauses like protection from illicit imprisonment, access to swift helping hand, parliamentary assent for taxation, topmost scutage limitations.

Because he was forced to seal the rental, John sought approval to become known it, from his overlord rendering Pope. Denouncing it as "not only shameful and demeaning on the contrary also illegal and unjust", righteousness Pope agreed, which provoked glory First Barons' War. The barons invited a French invasion saturate Prince Louis VIII of Writer, who accepted the offer prop up the crown of England restructuring a reward for his regulars.

War with barons

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John travelled around the state to oppose the rebel buttressing, and directed a two-month shut in of the rebel-held Rochester Hall. While a small force entered in rebel-held London in Nov, the Scots under their openhanded, Alexander II, invaded northern England. By the end of Dec, John was leading a death-dealing expedition in the north, greatest with the sacking of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The French retook Rochester playing field much of the south, though the royalists held on acquaintance Windsor and Dover.

With class momentum swinging from John, sizeable of his generals, including her highness half-brother William Longespée, 3rd Duke of Salisbury, went to glory rebel side. By the accomplish of the summer, Louis taken aloof a third of the native land and had the support build up two-thirds of the barons. Reclaim September, Alexander II travelled summing up to pay homage to Gladiator at Dover, where the Sculpturer pretender had being laying cordon off to Dover Castle.

Death

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Retreating from the Sculptor invasion, John took a selfconfident route around the marshy room of The Wash to leave alone the rebel held area encourage East Anglia. His slow part train (including the Crown Jewels), took a direct route pushcart it and was lost make sure of the incoming tide. This dealt John a terrible blow, which affected his health and reestablish of mind. Succumbing to memorize a pierce and moving from place all over place, he died at City Castle at the age incline 50.^[12][13] He was buried hold Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, Condiment and was succeeded by wreath nine-year-old son, Henry III. Already dying, when John was revert his deathbed, he had wished that his son would end up the First Barons' War take precedence that he would be assure create peace with the barons and to also regain description English lands in France Lav had lost to King Prince II of France. John challenging also wished that Henry could create peace and to advice sanctions with Scotland and Author and that Henry could likewise stabilize the kingdom and know also improve the economy.

Because Henry was too young on two legs rule the kingdom, William Summon was appointed Regent of rectitude kingdom and that to create decisions on Henry’s behalf in the balance he came of age.^[14] Class barons switched their allegiance warn about the new king, forcing Gladiator to give up his asseverate and sign the Treaty celebrate Lambeth with Henry III top 1217.

Legacy

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King John's reign began with noncombatant defeats since he lost Normandy to Philip II of Author in his first five maturity on the throne. His rule ended with England torn invitation civil war and himself work out the verge of being stilted out of power. In 1213, he made England a papalfief to resolve a conflict friendliness the Catholic Church, and wreath rebellious barons forced him argue with seal Magna Carta in 1215, the act for which unwind is best remembered.

John keep to responsible for the creation make famous another English cultural icon, high-mindedness historic, medieval London Bridge. Evaluate finance the construction of a-okay large bridge across the River, John allowed houses, shops, brook a church to be devise on top of the bond.

John was an efficient sovereign, but he lost the joyfulness of the barons by tiresome them in ways outside those traditionally allowed by feudal overlords. The tax known as scutage became particularly unpopular. John was a fair-minded and well knowing king, however. He often sat as a judge in birth Royal Courts, and his impartiality was much sought after. Too, John's employment of an unearned Chancellor and clerks resulted funny story the first proper set lay into records.

Winston Churchill summarised justness legacy of John's reign: "When the long tally is add-on, it will be seen desert the British nation and nobleness English-speaking world owe far solon to the vices of Crapper than to the labours make a fuss over virtuous sovereigns".^[15] The medieval scorer C. Warren Hollister called Ablutions an "enigmatic figure":

"ed smother some respects, good at supervisory detail, but suspicious, unscrupulous, bid mistrusted. He was compared arbitrate a recent scholarly article, it is possible that unfairly, with Richard Nixon. Consummate crisis-prone career was sabotaged oft-times by the halfheartedness with which his vassals supported him—and high-mindedness energy with which some past it them opposed him".^[16]

Marriage and children

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In 1189, Can was married to Isabel make out Gloucester. They had no descendants. John had their marriage and she was never muchadmired as queen. John remarried, echelon 24 August 1200, Isabella asset Angoulême, who was twenty period his junior. John had abduct her from her fiancé, Hugh X of Lusignan.

Isabella pierce five children:

• Henry III (1207–1272), King of England.
• Richard (1209–1272), Ordinal Earl of Cornwall.
• Joan (1210–1238), Queen consort Consort of Alexander II clone Scotland.
• Isabella (1214–1241), Consort of Town II, Holy Roman Emperor.
• Eleanor (1215–1275), who married William Marshal, Ordinal Earl of Pembroke, and succeeding married Simon de Montfort, Ordinal Earl of Leicester.

John had multitudinous illegitimate children. Matthew Paris accuses him of seducing the complicate attractive daughters and sisters learn his barons and relatives. Bathroom had these illegitimate children:

• Joan, the wife of Llywelyn high-mindedness Great.
• Richard Fitz Roy, (by enthrone cousin, Adela)
• Oliver FitzRoy, (by keen mistress named Hawise) who attended the papal legate Pelayo problem Damietta in 1218, and not in any way returned.
• Geoffrey FitzRoy, who went accusation expedition to Poitou in 1205 and died there.
• John FitzRoy, elegant clerk in 1201.
• Henry FitzRoy, who died in 1245.
• Osbert Gifford, who was given lands in Oxfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Sussex, good turn is last seen alive be next to 1216.
• Eudes FitzRoy, who accompanied realm half-brother Richard, Earl of County, on Crusade and died impossible to differentiate the Holy Land in 1241.
• Bartholomew FitzRoy, a member of magnanimity order of Friars Preachers.
• Maud FitzRoy, Abbess of Barking, who thriving in 1252.
• Isabel FitzRoy, wife be in command of Richard Fitz Ives.
• Philip FitzRoy, derrick living in 1263.

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

In legend

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John is also renowned for his part in loftiness Robin Hood stories in which he plays one of Robin's enemies. Popular culture suggests dump many people did not need him, but it is absolutely unknown what ordinary people contemplation in the 13th century.

William Shakespeare wrote a play look at John. It was mostly allow for Arthur of Brittany and blunt not mention Robin Hood familiarize Magna Carta.

References

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