King John, 1199–1214 Flashcards
How do monastic chroniclers generally depict John as
lazy, greedy, inept and lecherous
What did Richard announce in Messina in 1190
Arthur was his designated heir rather than John
What was the reaction of many of the barons to the loss of Normandy 1202-4
they were largely indifferent
How did Roger de Lacy prove his loyalty to John
- Granted Pontefract Castle in 1199
- Held Chateau Galliard until March 1204 even as the rest of Normandy fell
How did Hugh de Burgh prove his loyalty to John
Held Chinon until 1205 even as all of Poitou fell
What happened at the Fortress of Vaudreil
Robert FitzWalter and Saer de Quincy had treacherously surrendered the key Norman castle of Vaudreuil to Phillip II
What did William Marshal and Hubert Walter do in ‘betrayal’ of John
- Marshal peformed homage to Phillip in private in 1204
- Both of them refused to participate in John’s attempts to retake land
What did William Marshal and Hubert Walter do in ‘betrayal’ of John
- Marshal peformed homage to Phillip in private in 1204
- Both of them refused to participate in John’s attempts to retake land
What did John’s lack of trust in barons and need for funds result in
He was keen to place his barons debt
How much did magnate indebtedness to the Crown increase from 1199-1208
by 380%
How much did magnate indebtedness to the Crown increase from 1199-1208
by 380%
What was a parvenu
an outside or foreigner who has recently acquired wealth and status but is not widely yet accepted as a member of the community
What are some examples of John’s reliance on parvenus (foreigners)
Barons resented this
- Peter des Roches, the loyal bishop of Winchester from touraine.
- Phillip Marc became sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
What are some examples of John’s reliance on parvenus (foreigners)
Barons resented this
- Peter des Roches, the loyal bishop of Winchester from touraine.
- Phillip Marc became sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
What happened with William Braose and John
- He initially was highly favoured; controlling land in South wales, marches and strongholds such as Glamorgan Castle
- By 1208 John tried to bankrupt his family after his wife accused of killing Arthur
- De Braose fled to Ireland and then France but his wife and eldest son were captured and starved to death
What happened with John and Northern Barons and what level did this reach
- John was enormously resented by the northern barons due to him enforcing royal administration much further north
- Reached a level that in August 1212 John learnt of a baronial plot intended either to murder him or leave him exposed to his foreign enemies on his Welsh campaign
Who were the plotters behind John’s assassination plot
Two plotters were identified: Robert Fitzwalter and Eustace de Vesci. Both accused John of seducing their wife
Why was England’s finances crucial
English finances were crucial to Johns war effort
How did the Royal Demense become much less profitable
1) Given away and alienated by Richard as part of raising money for his wars
2) Sherrifs paid a fixed price (farm) and inflation reduced the real value
How did John raise money from the royal demense
1) John auctioned off shrievalties
2) Expanded ‘incraments’; fixed payments on top of the firm
3) profits in extortion
What did John’s innovations in the royal demense raise him every year from 1207-12
between 1207-12 John gained £1400 every year from these innovations
How did John economically take advantage of the interdict
1) When bishops died, the lands and wealth of the vacant sees remained in royal hands
e.g. took over 7 bishoprics and even more abbeys
2) John confiscated the land of those who respected the interdict and ransomed their mistresses
After the interdict, how much of 100,000 marks did John pay back
33,000
How many scutages did John levy compare to his father
John levied 11 of these in just 16 years compared to his faher who had levied only 7 in his 34 year reign
What limit was placed on the amount that a tenant in chief had to pay
there was no limit
also add the Nicolas de Stutevill charged
e.g. charged Reginald of Cornhill 10,000 marks
What did the average payment for obtaining wardship rise from Henry’s to Johns reign
Average payment for obtaining wardship
rose from 101 marks under Henry II to 314 marks in Johns reign
How much did the average payment for baroniial widows for permission to marry increase from Henry to Johns reign
- Amounts offered increased from 110 marks in Henry II to 278 marks in Johns
How much revenue did a forest eyre under John’s laws provide compared to the average
a forest eyre provided john with nearly £5000, compared to the average of £2000
Why did Angevin government have to adapt under John compared to past kings
- Angevin government had developed to an absentee king but after the loss of normandy in 1204, John was almost entirely resident in England
What was the impact of John’s presence on the Chief Justiciar and the ‘Kings Bench’
- Chief Justiciar became less influential
- Kings Bench was closed from 1209-14
What did John’s presence in England allow him to do
- He could rule through the chamber, allowing him more personal control
- Impossible to distance himself from unpopular decisions
Who were John’s key members of government in the Chamber
Peter des Roches
Richard Marsh
William Brewer
What did Peter des Roches become during John’s absence in 1214
- Peter became chief justiciar and bishop of Winchester during Johns absence in 1214
How was John’s relationship with the Church from 1199-1205
Between 1199 and 1205 normal pattern of influence and cooperation demonstrated by his father and brother before him
Before 1207 how many appointments of his supporters did John secure
Before 1207 John secured the appointment of 8 supporters; 5 were royal clerks
e.g. Joscelin of Bath was a close advisor of John and became the bishop of Bath in 1206. . Giles de Braose became bishop of Hereford in 1200
What happened in the double election problem in Winchester
- A double election problem in Winchester was quashed by Innocent III and the next election chose Peter des Roches, the King’s candidate after all
How was John’s authority challenged in Normandy by the Church
- Lisieux: cathedral chapter showed signs of trying to elect without royal assent
- Sees: John’s nominee rejected and elected Silvester instead without royal assent
What contributed to the growing independence of the Norman Church
- Phillips promises of greater freedoms to Norman bishops
- Growing assertiveness of Innocent III
e.g. his backing of Silvester of Sees - Norman Church had always assimilated with the French Church more than English
Who was John’s choice to succeed Hubert Walter as Archbishop of Canterbury
John picked John de Gray; Bishop of Norwich
Who was the monks of Canterbury’s choice to elect
They picked Reginald and sent him to Rome for a papal blessing
This annoyed John and he forced the monks to set up a rival elecction of John De Gray
