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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 0.00-26.32
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