King John's downfall

Who John entrusted his kingdom to in his will

13 Barons who would restore calm over England

The most important Baron in England when John died

William Marshall

What was William Marshall asked to do in John's will?

Care for Henry and rule England until Henry was old enough to

Reason why William Marshall cared for Henry II

He was loyal to the Angevin empire and was a shrewd politician

Where Henry II crowned and why

Gloucester - Westminster held by rebel Barons

Why Henry II crowned quickly

To prevent rebel barons from crowning Louis

Why Louis good candidate for king

• adult

• warrior

• had kingdom of France

Why Henry paid homage to the pope

Put England under control of the church and undermined the rebels

Powers of protector

Take charge of government finances and campaigns against the rebels

Papal legate

Represented the Pope who could act on behalf of the pope

Had superior authority in England but never undermined Marshall

How papal legate strengthened the King’s side

No -one could go against the church and crown Louis

What was reissued under Marshall

revised Magna carta

Issues Marshall had to deal with

• No money → no taxes during war

• Scottish and Welsh seized territory

By 1217, what had Marshall succeeded in doing

Taking back key areas e.g. Lincoln and London, prince Louis back in France

Oct 1214

John returns from failures in France, Barons want to reinforce Henry II’s coronation charter

Jan 1215

John meets rebellion Barons in London, but no agreement reached. John refuses to confirm coronation charter

Mar 1215

John takes crusader vows - promises to go on crusade for the protection of the church

Apr 1215

The barons send John another list of demands → basis of future magna carta

May 1215

Barons renounce Oath of fealty and capture London

Jun 1215

Barons have control of a lot. John has to sign magna carta

What was the 1212 Plot

• A conspiracy to assassinate King John of England.

• Led by Eustace de Vesci & Robert Fitz Walter, with support from Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Prince of Wales).

• Discovered before it could be carried out, forcing the conspirators into exile.

Who were the main figures in the 1212 Plot

• King John – Target of the assassination attempt.

• Eustace de Vesci & Robert Fitz Walter – Discontented barons leading the plot.

• Llywelyn ap Iorwerth – Allied with the barons against John.

What happened after the 1212 Plot?

• John crushed the conspiracy, forcing de Vesci to flee to Scotland and Fitz Walter to France.

• John made some concessions to ease tensions.

• Discontent continued, leading to further baronial unrest and the eventual Magna Carta (1215).

How did the 1212 Plot lead to the Magna Carta?

• The failed plot showed growing baronial opposition to John’s rule.

• John’s harsh policies continued to alienate the nobility.

• By 1215, barons rebelled, forcing John to sign the Magna Carta, limiting royal power.

4 Fs

Finances, Fairness, Favourites and France

How to remember John’s loss of support

4Fs

Finances

John spent and taxed too much

• Sheriffs under pressure to collect more money

• 1207- 13th tax - no agreement from barons

• John took large sums of money from taxing cities

• calculated what each Baron owed and made on lump sum - took Baron’s land if he didn’t pay it back

• heavily restricted what people could do in royal forests, heaviest fines in Yorkshire and Northumberland

Favourites

John used his power unfairly and used harsh punishments to scare those who opposed him

• John used powers arbitrarily

• Some of John’s favourites were from France

Fairness

John rarely consulted with his Barons and instead has a small band of favourites to help him

• used arbitrary power

• selling justice

• amended justice system so only his approved judges could hear cases in Westminster

• John used Baron’s debt for power over them

• William and Lady de Braose

William de Braose

• Once one of John’s favourite Barons - rewarded with lands in lands in England, Wales and Ireland

• 1207 -08 John said he owed him money for his lands and told him to hand over his sons as hostages

• William de Braose escaped into exile with his son but his wife and on were captured and starved to death

France

John tried to invade France + wasted money trying to do so

• Battle of Bouvine

Battle of Bouvine

1214

- Combatants:

- French forces led by Philip II (Philip Augustus)

- Coalition forces including Otto IV (Holy Roman Emperor), King John of England, and Ferrand of Flanders

French victory

Crushed King John's hopes of reclaiming lost territories

1213

John sent envoys to Innocent to agree terms

Pope’s terms

- Langton would be allowed to come to England as archbishop of Canterbury

• All churchmen would be returned to their offices and their property would be restored

• John was to pay £8000 as an immediate compensation and £27,000 in total

• If John broke this he would never be allowed to appoint church officials

John’s terms

• Pays homage to Pope

• Pays 1000 marks per year

Consequences of reconciliation

• July 1213 Lanyon arrived in England

• Lanyon lifted interdict

• Bishops/abbots who fled England had property returned

• Innocent let John pick his own bishops

• During Baron’s rebellion, John had support of the pope

• Whole fiasco angered people and Barons

1205

Hubert Walter Archbishop of Canterbury died

John de Grayland

John choice for the new pope

Stephen Langton

Who the Pope picked as Archbishop of Canterbury

Reason’s John didn’t like Langton

• He had worked for France - “the enemy”

• He thought as king she should pick his own archbishop of canterbury

What John did in response to Langton

• refused to allow him into the Kingdom

• Expelled canterbury monks from their monastery

• Seized land held by Italian clergy in England

The Pope’s response to John

• sent 3 Bishops to persuade John to accept Langton

• when John wouldn’t give in, placed England under the interdict in 1208

Features of the Interdict

• denied people of England Christian big 3

• sermons only preached in courtyards

• sacraments not provided for dying

Changes to the Interdict by 1209

Churches allowed to hold services outside + give holy communion to dying

What John did about the interdict

Clergymen who supported the pope:

• Confiscated revenue from their properties

• Arrested monk’s mistresses

This was a new source of income → not motivated to reach an agreement

November 1209

Innocent excommunicated John

Features of John’s excommunication

• All Christians not obligated to obey him

• More of John’s Bishops left England - John confiscated properties

• England threatened by invasion by Prince Louis of France