PODCAST: Magna Carta National Archive

· John seen as tyrannical, untrustworthy and militarily incompetent

· Two nicknames Lackland – no land and Softsword – peace instead of war

· Question his morality – seduced wives and daughters of barons

· Matthew Paris – Hell is defiled by John

How he got the throne:

· Richard died without a direct heir

· Two candidates Arthur of Brittany age 15 and John 33

· No clear consensus of who had better claim

· Brittany supported Arthur but William the Marshall and AB of C voted for John

· 25th April 1199 made Duke of Normandy at Rouen 27th May 1199 made King at Westminster Abbey

· John 4th and younger son, Arthur son of third son

· Inherited realm that stretched from borders of Scotland to the Pyrenees

· King of England and Wales, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, Count of Anjou and Poitou, Overlord of Brittany, Vassal of the King of France (Phillip II)

· Many English barons were based in Normandy (crossed states)

· Most of 12th Century Capetian rule was weak could only collect taxes etc. From inside the Isle de France

· Many counties nominally belonged to Capetians but frequently rebelled

John’s Inheritance:

· Exercised general supervision, personal government

· No central centre, each province had own administration with own official – made ruling difficult

· Orders conveyed by writ

· Peripatetic in nature

· Faced a financial crisis depleted treasury Henry II left a huge treasury but Richard spent it crusades etc, ransom fee, supplies, knights, food, weapons, ships and transport

· Lost lands needed re-conquering, cost money and all the castles e.g. Chateau Gaillard, inflation crisis

· Gaillard = £11,000 Richard

· 22nd May 1200 John came to an agreement with Phillip at Le Goulet (Poitou) neither side could afford war, French accepted John as heir, Phillip had guardian of Arthur

· John had to give homage to Phillip

Angouleme Marriage:

· 1189 John married to Isabella of Gloucester heiress to Gloucester marriage arranged by Henry II not particularly happy, no children

· JULY 1200 John divorced her, married instead Isabella of Angouleme heiress to a strategic county in the centre of Aquitaine. Stretched across trade routes between Poitiers and Bordeaux key crossroads. Age 14

· Isabella A already betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan, John married her anyway august 1200 without compensating the Lusignans

· Hugh decides to rebel, John orders officials to confiscate county of Le Marche, without the judging of his court, so Hugh appealed directly to Phillip II of France

· Phillip = Hugh’s overlord

· Phillip also John’s overlord (vassal of France)

· Second coronation 8th October 1200 Westminster

· Phillip declares against John calling him a consumatist? Vassal

· Fiefs of Aquitaine Poitou and Anjou are confiscated

· Phillip then attacks Normandy, then declares Normandy forfeited

· John breaks the siege at Mirebeau and captures Arthur at the battle

· Arthur goes into John’s custody offending William des Roaches

· Murders Arthur – alienated much of English nobility

· Supporters switch allegiance to Phillip so John turns to Mercenaries

· Bretons attacks Anjou and Phillip attacks Normandy

· 5th December 1203 John flees to England with the treasury

· March 1204 Chateau Gaillard falls after a long siege

· 24th June 1204 Rouen surrenders, Normandy is lost to John

Consequences of Loss of Duchy:

· Shock (equivalent to fall of Jerusalem 1187)

· John never accepted loss of Normandy tried to recapture it

· Finding ready cash

· Distrust of Norman barons led to distrust of English barons

How did he raise money:

· Stopped selling privileges, so revenues went to him

· Generous repayment terms for debts were called in

· John exploited feudal rights

· Relief fares for heirs were heightened

· Guardianship of widows or heiress were sold

· William de Mowbry paid 2000 marks to have a case ruled in his favour, it still wasn’t ruled in his favour

· Issued demands for scutage payments

· Tallages imposed upon states and cities

· Attempt to control nobles using debt – made barons dependent on his good will

· 1207 tax met with lots of subterfuge and anger

Church:

· 1205 Hubert Walter AB of C died

· John wanted his candidate John de Gray to be elected, monks elected their sub prior elected both appealed to Rome

· Pope elects Stephen Langton, John prevents his landing in England

· John was excommunicated and England placed under interdict – viewed as papal war

· Used empty churches to get more funds, confiscated clerical properties and funds and profits

· 6 year stalemate, made peace with pope England became papal state – prevent Phillip from attacking him

· Seen as humiliation however it was a master stroke of politics

· Papal Bull October 1213 ordered France and Ireland to offer fealty to John

William the Marshal:

· Earl of Pembroke, Lord of Lenistone

· 1204-1205 made an oath of loyalty to Phillip II to keep the Norman states he held

· This angered John

· 1206 John ordered a tax on his Irish estates

· Returned to Royal favour 1210-1212

· By 1214-1215 he was viewed as a loyal supporter of John

· 1215-1216 fought loyally with John against the Barons

· His loyalty led him to become regent of England 1216-1219 when John died

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	Created by marialidd almost 10 years ago

BA Hons Medieval History (What led John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215) Note on National Archives Podcast Notes, created by marialidd on 16/05/2014.