Mind map
How far was the personality of King John responsible for the loss of Normandy in 1204?
Map content
How far was the personality of King John responsible for the loss of Normandy in 1204?
Summer 1204: John lost control of Normandy, Phillip II of France invaded the duchy and took control of it
March 1204: After a seven month siege Chateau Gaillard was taken by Phillip II and his army
June 1204: Rouen, capital of Normandy, surrendered to Phillip despite having held out against him in 1193
December 1203: John had fled to England, and so missed all of this action inf France and did little to remedy it
John lacked military, political and diplomatic skills (compare with Richard)
John was perceived as devious and untrustworthy, not good qualities in an age of PERSONAL KINGSHIP
- PERSONAL KINGSHIP: Where personality and characteristics are an important part of being a king
His marriage to Isabella of Angouleme offended some of his most important Barons: The Poitiven Lusignans
After John's victory at Mirebeau in 1202 he lost suppport of Aimeri of Thouars and William des Roaches
Rumour's of John's murder of his nephew Arthur of Brittany led many of John's Barons to renounce their fealty to him
By 1202 John's personality led to the collapse of his network of alleigences forged by Richard
John's disputed succession in 1199 provided opportunities for Phillip II who exploited the John-Arthur relationship and extort the terms in the treaty of Le Goulet
Phillip was an able opponent he transformed the finances of the Capetian domain
John inherited lads drained of cash (Richard used it all), he couldn't retain the allegiance of his Barons
William the Marshall "Sire, you have not enough friends"