King John is an infamous monarch of Medieval England renowned for his role in the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.. Born on Christmas Eve 1166, John was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and was famously overshadowed by his brother Richard. King John is most famous as the king who was forced to agree to Magna Carta - a set of laws he had to follow giving rights to the people. His tomb features the Plantaganet badge of three lions (or strictly leopards! John was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. John (December 24, 1166 – October 19, 1216) was the King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He had no intention of keeping to the letter of the law as set out in Magna Carta. This required money, so his government became increasingly ruthless and efficient in its financial administration. Between 1202 and 1204 the king of France managed to capture most of the lands in France held by John. Arthur, backed by Philip II, was recognized as Richard’s successor in Anjou and Maine, and it was only a year later, in the Treaty of Le Goulet, that John was recognized as successor in all Richard’s French possessions, in return for financial and territorial concessions to Philip. Because King John had been excommunicated by the Pope the French king, Philippe, had the right to invade England and remove John from the throne. Indeed, he has lodged his official claim, with supporting documentation, with the Queen, the Prime Minister, the Pope, Presidents of US and Russia and other world leaders. He was unsuccessful and, when Richard returned in early 1194, was banished. His reign was marked by disputes between John and his barons and bishops. Omissions? In the general war that followed his failure to answer this summons, John had a temporary success at Mirebeau in August 1202, when Arthur of Brittany was captured, but Normandy was quickly lost (1204). King John I has a negative historiography, perhaps only surpassed by that of ‘Bloody’ Mary, her history being penned by the contemporaries of Foxe’s ‘Book of Martyrs’ and Puritan England. King John was King of England from 1199 to 1216. But John wasn’t murdered. King John of England (aka John Lackland) ruled from 1199 to 1216 CE. Mother. Read more. In addition, many of the pre-Norman kings assumed extra titles, as follows:  © Plans were put forward at the Council of Soissons in early April. The son of Henry II of England (r. 1154-1189 CE) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1122-1204 CE), John succeeded his elder brother Richard I of England (r. 1189-1199 CE) as king. He was also granted the lordship of Ireland (1177), which he visited from April to late 1185, committing youthful political indiscretions from which he acquired a reputation for reckless irresponsibility. When John, the last child of the great Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine was born on Christmas Eve, 1167 at Beaumont Palace in Oxfordshire, his father jokingly nick-named him Sans Terre or Lackland, as there was no land left to give him. Corrections? This factor, coinciding with the death (1205) of the chancellor and archbishop of Canterbury, Hubert Walter, gave his government a much more personal stamp, which was accentuated by the promotion of members of his household to important office. Because King John had been excommunicated by the Pope the French king, Philippe, had the right to invade England and remove John from the throne. Empress Matilda. John was a king of England who is most famous for signing the Magna Carta. John (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216), also known as John Lackland (Norman French: Johan sanz Terre), was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death in 1216. In England, after a revolt of the barons, he was forced to seal the Magna Carta (1215). His first wife, Isabella of Gloucester, was never crowned, and in 1199 the marriage was dissolved on grounds of consanguinity, both parties being great-grandchildren of Henry I. John then intervened in the stormy politics of his county of Poitou and, while trying to settle the differences between the rival families of Lusignan and Angoulême, himself married Isabella (August 1200), the heiress to Angoulême, who had been betrothed to Hugh IX de Lusignan. This politically conceived marriage provoked the Lusignans into rebellion the next year; they appealed to Philip II, who summoned John to appear before his court. Most Popular #20839. Oxford-Wikipedia John, byname John Lackland, French Jean sans Terre, (born c. 1166—died October 18/19, 1216, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England), king of England from 1199 to 1216. Taxes soared and he began to exploit his feudal rights ever more harshly. It failed as a peace treaty and would perhaps have failed overall if John’s demise and death had not occurred in the following year in which it was sealed. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Updates? John achieved v… 1194: Richard returns to England and forgives John; 1199: Richard is killed in France. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-king-of-England, English Monarchs - Biography of King John, The Home of the Royal Family - Biography of John Lackland, John - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), John of England - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). On his father's death in 1189 his brother, Richard, became king. It is 800 years since one of England's most reviled monarchs, King John, died from dysentery. The two were soon reconciled and, when Arthur was captured by Philip II in 1196, Richard named John heir. Within five years of John becoming king, the French … Author of. A rebellion broke out and John was ordered to appear before his overlord, Philip II of France. When the rebels seized London, John was compelled to negotiate further and, on 19 June at Runnymede on the River Thames, he accepted the baronial terms embodied in the Magna Carta, which limited royal power, ensured feudal rights and restated English law. This was after many conflicts with barons and the Church. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. John, the treacherous king of England, was one of the most controversial monarchs in the nation’s history. John Lackland, John Softsword, the phoney king…. John received titles, lands and money, but this was not enough. Emeritus Professor of Medieval History, University of Cambridge. 1547 – 1553. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. John continued to wage war vigorously, but his death in October 1216 enabled a compromise peace and the succession of his son Henry III. Prince Louis of France then invaded at the barons' request. It was the act of a hero: bravely undertaken for the greater good. Father. Name: King John Born: December 24, 1166 at Beaumont Palace : Oxford Parents: Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine Relation to Elizabeth II: 21st great-grandfather House of: Angevin Ascended to the throne: April 6, 1199 aged 32 years Crowned: May 27, 1199 at Westminster Abbey Married: 1) Isabella of Gloucester, (annulled 1199), (2) Isabella, Daughter of Count of Angouleme ), and has the oldest royal effigy in England. His reign was marked by a string of unsuccessful military campaigns, a prolonged struggle with the … He married twice with the first being a political move to a distant cousin Isabel of Gloucester; this was annulled. King John (r. 1199–1216) is best remembered for granting Magna Carta in June 1215, although he sought its annulment almost immediately. BBC News examines how this gut-wrenching condition has claimed the lives of … Find out more about how the BBC is covering the. Read more. Grant of lands and liberties to the Gilbertine monks : manuscript, 1199 Sept. 7. King John (24 December 1166 – 19 October 1216) was the son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. In a war with the French king Philip II, he lost Normandy and almost all his other possessions in France. John’s son, Henry III visited his father’s tomb and became an important benefactor of the Cathedral. John had master-minded his own muddled political mess and would engineer relationships and alliances and drop them as quickly as he forged them. Henry’s son … To this day, it’s not completely certain how … He was the third of the five sons of King Edward III of England who survived to adulthood. Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, England. This settlement was soon rendered impractical when John claimed it was signed under duress. Henry’s plan (1173) to assign to John, his favourite son (whom he had nicknamed Lackland), extensive lands upon his marriage with the daughter of Humbert III, count of Maurienne (Savoy), was defeated by the rebellion the proposal provoked among John’s elder brothers. He was reconciled to Richard in May and recovered some of his estates, including Mortain and Ireland, in 1195, but his full rehabilitation came only after the Bretons had surrendered Arthur to Philip II in 1196. The deaths of his older brothers left John in a position to become King of England, a title he assumed after the 1199 death of Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart). Born at Beaumont Palace in Oxford, England on December 24, 1167, King John of England was the fourth surviving son and the youngest of the eight children of King Henry II of England and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right. But John’s actions were now dominated by the problem of the succession, in which his nephew, the three-year-old Arthur I, duke of Brittany, the son of his deceased elder brother Geoffrey, was his only serious rival. John of Gaunt (6 March 1340 – 3 February 1399) was an English prince, military leader, and statesman. On receiving the news in January 1193 that Richard, on his way back from the Crusade, had been imprisoned in Germany, John allied himself with King Philip II Augustus of France and attempted unsuccessfully to seize control of England. His determination to reverse the Continental failure bore fruit in ruthlessly efficient financial administration, marked by taxation on revenues, investigations into the royal forests, taxation of the Jews, a great inquiry into feudal tenures, and the increasingly severe exploitation of his feudal prerogatives. 12 Oct 1537 – 6 Jul 1553. For obscure reasons, John deserted Henry for Richard. Plantagenet / Angevin. In 1199 the doctrine of representative succession, which would have given the throne to Arthur, was not yet generally accepted, and, following Richard’s death in April 1199, John was invested as duke of Normandy and in May was crowned king of England. John tries and fails to seize the crown. Plans were put forward at the Council of Soissons in early April. The renewal of war in France was triggered by John’s second marriage. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In England, after a revolt of the barons, he was forced to seal the Magna Carta (1215). He married Countess Isabella of Gloucester on 29 August 1189, in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. 21st. By 1206, Anjou, Maine, and parts of Poitou had also gone over to King Philip. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). On Richard’s accession in July 1189, John was made count of Mortain (a title that became his usual style), was confirmed as lord of Ireland, was granted lands and revenues in England worth £6,000 a year, and was married to Isabella, heiress to the earldom of Gloucester. He was forced into meeting the Barons at Runnymede and agreed to their terms only for the purpose of expedience. Various provisions were made for him in England (1174–76), including the succession to the earldom of Gloucester. John, King of England, 1167-1216. In October 1190, Richard recognised his nephew, Arthur, as his heir. John, King of England. Capricorn Royalty #3. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He lost many of his family’s Angevin lands on the continent and was forced to concede numerous rights to his barons in the Magna Carta , which has led to John being considered a colossal failure. Negotiations between John and his barons failed and civil war broke out in May 1215. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Downfall. This led Richard to recognize John as his heir. He also had to promise (March 1190) not to enter England during Richard’s absence on his Crusade. House. Pope Innocent took his side and in the ensuing civil war John laid waste to the northern counties and the Scottish border. In a war with the French king Philip II, he lost Normandy and almost all his other possessions in France. This bred increasing baronial discontent. It seems ironic then, that John … John, King of England Is A Member Of . He became King of England after the death of his brother Richard I (Richard the Lionheart). John was born around Christmas in 1166 or 1167 in Oxford, the youngest and favourite son of Henry II. These measures provided the material basis for the charges of tyranny later brought against him. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. John I © John was a king of England who is most famous for signing the Magna Carta. William, Earl of Salisbury. The youngest son of Henry II (r. 1157–1189), John succeeded his brother, Richard I who is known as Richard the Lionheart (r. 1189–1199), as King of England in 1199. War with France was renewed, triggered by John's second marriage. John, King of England Popularity . These failures were a damaging blow to his prestige and he was determined to win them back. These failures, foreshadowed under Henry II and Richard, were brought about by the superiority of French resources and the increasing strain on those of England and Normandy. His mother was around 44 years old at the time of his birth. Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou. In 1199, Richard died and John became king. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. John, byname John Lackland, French Jean sans Terre, (born c. 1166—died October 18/19, 1216, Newark, Nottinghamshire, England), king of England from 1199 to 1216. John was one of the worst kings – arguably the worst king – ever to sit on England’s throne. It was the first formal document stating that the monarch was as much under the rule of law as his people, and that the rights of individuals were to be upheld even against the wishes of the sovereign. English Royalty. Henry’s continued favour to him contributed to the rebellion of his eldest surviving son, Richard I (later called Coeur de Lion), in June 1189. In April 1193 he was forced to accept a truce but made further arrangements with Philip for the division of Richard’s possessions and for rebellion in England. King John is buried in a place of honour in front of the High Altar. He lost most of his father’s continental empire. Magna Carta Libertatum (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter of Freedoms"), commonly called Magna Carta (also Magna Charta; "Great Charter"), is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. John died on the evening of October 18, 1216. Not names one would want to be known by, especially as a monarch ruling over lands that stretched from Scotland to France. His name is Joseph Gregory Hallett, Greg to his friends, and he says he has a legitimate claim to the throne of England – with all that this implies. John was born around Christmas in 1166 or 1167 in Oxford, the youngest and favourite son of Henry II. https://familypedia.wikia.org/wiki/John_of_England_(1167-1216) Popularly regarded as the “flawed king,” John started his reign in England after the death of his elder brother, Richard I. John was known to have an unstable temper. John had seven siblings: William IX, Count of Poitiers (1153 – 1156), died in childhood Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. Afterward, John was given the nickname soft sword. The standard title for all monarchs from Æthelstan until the time of King John was Rex Anglorum ("King of the English"). On Richard’s return, early in 1194, John was banished and deprived of all his lands. By 1206, John had lost Normandy, Anjou, Maine and parts of Poitou. John I By killing his king, the anonymous monk released England from the clutches of a tyrant, and opened the way to a new settlement, a permanent shift in the balance of power between the king and his people. When John I King of England was born on 24 December 1166, in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, his father, Henry II King of England, was 33 and his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and Queen of England, was 44. Nevertheless, they were a damaging blow to John’s prestige, and, equally important, they meant that John resided now almost permanently in England. He was King of England from 6 April 1199, until his death. Henry II died in 1189 and John's older brother became King Richard I. Richard I of England (reigned 6 July 1189 – 6 April 1199) and John, King of England (reigned 6 April 1199 – 19 October 1216) the sons of Henry II of England, were both born at Beaumont Palace in Oxford, on 8 September 1157 and 24 December 1166 respectively. Manuscript illustration of King John of England hunting a stag, 14th century. As king of England John proved to be a failure. King #12. His failure to do so resulted in war. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. Philippe wanted to put his son Louis in John's place. King of England from 1199 to 1216. While asked to mediate between the rival families of Lusignan and Angoulâme, he married the Angoulâme heiress Isabella, who had been betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan. John takes the throne; 1202: Richard's nephew Arthur is murdered and many believe John is responsible leading to a rebellion; 1204: John's army is defeated fighting the rebellion in Brittany Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Three years later, when Richard was imprisoned in Germany, John tried to seize control. Henry II (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189), also known as Henry Curtmantle ( French: Court-manteau ), Henry FitzEmpress or Henry Plantagenet, was King of England from 1154 until his death in 1189. King Richard was killed in 1199 and his brother John became king of England. When Richard recognized Arthur as his heir (October 1190), John immediately broke his oath and returned to England, where he led the opposition to Richard’s dictatorial chancellor, William Longchamp. John was the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and youngest brother of Richard "the Lionheart". Philippe wanted to put his son Louis in John's place. 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