King John of England
(1167-1216)
Duke of Normandy (1199-1204) and King of England (1199-1216)
Died aged 48
Wikidata WikipediaJohn (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216) was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of the Angevin Empire and contributing to the subsequent growth in power of the French Capetian dynasty during the 13th century. The baronial revolt at the end of John's reign led to the sealing of Magna Carta, a document considered an early step in the evolution of the constitution of the United Kingdom. John was the youngest of the four surviving sons of King Henry II of England and Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was nicknamed John Lackland because he was not expected to inherit significant lands. He became Henry's favourite child following the failed revolt of 1173–1174 by his brothers Henry the Young King, Richard, and Geoffrey against the King. John was appointed Lord of Ireland in 1177 and given lands in England and on the continent. He unsuccessfully attempted a rebellion against the royal administrators of his brother, King Richard, whilst Richard was participating in the Third Crusade, but he was proclaimed king after Richard died in 1199. He came to an agreement with Philip II of France to recognise John's possession of the continental Angevin lands at the peace treaty of Le Goulet in 1200. When war with France broke out again in 1202, John achieved early victories, but shortages of military resources and his treatment of Norman, Breton, and Anjou nobles resulted in the collapse of his empire in northern France in 1204. He spent much of the next decade attempting to regain these lands, raising huge revenues, reforming his armed forces and rebuilding continental alliances. His judicial reforms had a lasting effect on the English common law system, as well as providing an additional source of revenue. An argument with Pope Innocent III led to John's excommunication in 1209, a dispute he finally settled in 1213. John's attempt to defeat Philip in 1214 failed because of the French victory over John's allies at the battle of Bouvines. When he returned to England, John faced a rebellion by many of his barons, who were unhappy with his fiscal policies and his treatment of many of England's most powerful nobles. Although both John and the barons agreed to the Magna Carta peace treaty in 1215, neither side complied with its conditions. Civil war broke out shortly afterwards, with the barons aided by Louis VIII of France. It soon descended into a stalemate. John died of dysentery contracted whilst on campaign in eastern England during late 1216; supporters of his son Henry III went on to achieve victory over Louis and the rebel barons the following year. Contemporary chroniclers were mostly critical of John's performance as king, and his reign has since been the subject of significant debate and periodic revision by historians from the 16th century onwards. Historian Jim Bradbury has summarised the current historical opinion of John's positive qualities, observing that John is today usually considered a "hard-working administrator, an able man, an able general". Nonetheless, modern historians agree that he also had many faults as king, including what historian Ralph Turner describes as "distasteful, even dangerous personality traits", such as pettiness, spitefulness, and cruelty. These negative qualities provided extensive material for fiction writers in the Victorian era, and John remains a recurring character within Western popular culture, primarily as a villain in films and stories depicting the Robin Hood legends.
DbPedia
Family tree
Commemorated on 10 plaques
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King John (1167-1216) Granted Lynn a charter in 1204 at the request of the Bishop of Norwich who retained the lordship of the town. Lynn was raised to borough status with the rights of local jurisdiction and government including a merchant gild to oversee commerce and soon a mayor. The royal charter was a milestone in the history of Lynn, reflecting its rapid growth over the previous century to become the fourth port of the Kingdom by 1204. King John began his last fateful journey from Lynn in October 1216 when his baggage train was lost in the Wash as he travelled via Wisbech to Newark where he died. Though the 1204 charter gave the town a degree of political independence it was 'Bishops Lynn' until 1537 when another charter from Henry VIII created 'King's Lynn' ousting 'Our Lord of Norwich'.
Guildhall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, United Kingdom where they granted a charter (2012)
Near to this site stood the King's Houses later known as Beaumont Palace. King Richard I was born here in 1157 and King John in 1167
Beaumont Street, Oxford, United Kingdom where they was born (1167)
The Swan Hotel King John is reputed to have stayed at a hostelry in 1216 and King Charles I in 1646 (after his defeat at Naseby)
The Swan Hotel, 29 High Street, Downham Market, United Kingdom where they reputedly stayed
Hall of the Guild of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Rebuilt in 1422 on earlier foundations, it has a stone floor. The arms of Elizabeth I and James I are over the entrance porch. Assembly rooms were added in 1767, used as a town hall until 1895 when the adjoining building was occupied.In the Regalia room are displayed the King John's cup, the Red Register which is the oldest paper book in the world, a unique collection of charters, a sword of state and four maces.
Guildhall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, United Kingdom where they left a cup and sword (1216)
Guildhall. King John's Cup. King John's Sword. Regalia. Red Register.
Guildhall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, United Kingdom where they left a cup and sword (1216)
Near this spot on the 20th November A.D. 1214, Cardinal Langton & The Barons swore at St Edmund's altar That they would obtain from King John the ratification of Magna Charta.
Ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund - Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom where they was (1214)
This stone is erected to commemorate the 10 visits to Christchurch by King John during his reign and the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta on 15th June 2015
Castle Street, Christchurch, United Kingdom where they was
Market Hall (1857) The centre piece of the historic market granted its charter by King John 1204
Chesterfield Market Hall, Chesterfield, United Kingdom where they was (1204)
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In Saxon times this town was called Agmodesham The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Elmodesham with three water mills in use along the banks of the Misbourne In the year 1200 King John granted Aversham the right to hold a market and fair every year for ever Amersham was a Borough for several centuries returning two Members of Parliament for periods between 1300 and 1832 Amersham was an active centre of dissent from the 14th century onwards and some inhabitants suffered martyrdom During the Civil War Amersham strongly adhered to the Parliamentary cause. Oliver Cromwells wife lived here In the 17th century Amersham was the home of prominent Quakers who suffered great persecution Amersham was renowned at the end of the 18th century as a centre of the black lace making industry This stone was erected by the Amersham Society 1972
Old Amersham Market Hall, 19 Market Square, Amersham, United Kingdom where they was (1200)
Site of castle where King John resided whilst in Waterford
Saint Francis Place, Waterford, Ireland where they lived