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
What did the Pope do about the 2 elections for the Archbishop of Canterbury
Pope squahed both and made the monks elect Cardinal Stephen Langton
What led to the interdict from the election of Stephen Langton
- John refused to give his assent for Stephens election
- By 1207 the Pope made it clear that he intended to consecrate Langton without royal assent and then did in June
- By March 1208 Innocent III placed England under interdict as John repeatedly refused to accept Langton
What did John do from the summer of 1208 to those who were loyal to the interdict
1) Seized property of priests
2) Fine to recover control of land
3) Held all of the mistresses of the clergy ransom
What was the effect of ransoming the mistresses of the clergy
- Impossible to appeal to Pope
- Many swiftly paid what the King demanded
What led to John’s excommunication in Novermber 1209
- In January 1209 Innocent III threatened more serious measures against John if he continued to reject Langton
- From July to August, negotiations gave no solution. Finally in November, John was excommunicated
Which Bishops had left John’s service by 1210 after his excommmunication
by 1210 the Bishops of Bath, Lincoln, Rochester and Salisbury had joined those of London, Ely and Worcester in Foreign exile.
Even though Joscelin of Bath and Hugh of Lincoln were former royal clerks, they found it impolitic to stay on his side
Which bishops remained loyal to John even after his excommunications
Peter des Roches of Winchester
John de Gray of Norwich
There is little evidence of ecclesiastical chaos from 1209-13
What happened between Langton and John from 1210-11
- In 1210 Langton refused Johns invitation to speak with him in England
- In Summer of 1211, John rejected papal term for reconciliation
What did John’s excommunication cause in 1212
- First in 1212 John faced an abortive assassinatiton plot by Robert FitzWalter and Eustace de Vesci, whom then fled and claimed to have been motivated by the Kings oppression of the Church
- Innocent III threatened that the next step would be the formal deposition of the King
- King John also strongly suspected Phillip would invade England
What deals did John and the Pope reach in 1213
- In February 1213 Innocent III repeated the terms he had offered in 1211 but also to take back rebel nobles who had fled into exile
- By May 1213 John agreed to all this but surrendered England and Ireland to the papacy, receiving them back as apolistic fiefs
What deals did John and the Pope reach in 1213
- In February 1213 Innocent III repeated the terms he had offered in 1211 but also to take back rebel nobles who had fled into exile
- By May 1213 John agreed to all this but surrendered England and Ireland to the papacy, receiving them back as apolistic fiefs
How did John succeed Richard
- He seized the treasury at Chinon
- William Marshal and Hubert Walter backed John along with his mum
What sealed John’ succession
The defection of the great Angevin baron William des Roches and Arthur fleeing to Phillips court sealed John’s victory
What was the Treaty of Le Goulet in 1200
- Recognised John as Richard’s legal heir
- Arthur held Brittany from John
- Phillip kept the Vexin (apart from Les Andelys) and received feudal relief of 20,000 marks
- John was forced to break all his alliances with French princes, notably the counts of Flanders and Boulonge
What was the significance of the Treaty of Le Goulet in 1200
- Normandy vulnerable as Phillip got most of the Vexin
- John’s inferiority in paying a a feudal due
- Richard’s stability based on alliances with French Princes
Who did John marry
Isabella of Angouleme
What was the benefits of John marrying Isabella of Angouleme
- Angouleme was a crucial territory to keep control of the Angevin’s souhternmost territories
- Count Aymer (Isabellas Father) had been a long term trouble maker and the marriage secured loyalty
What were the problems of John marrying Isabella of Angouleme
Isabella was already engaged to Hugh Le Brun, a senior noble of the Lusignan Family and John’s mistreatment of them led to the loss of all his French possessions
What justifies John’s mistreatment of the Lusignan Family
they were always a rebellious family
they had alledgely seized the disputed territory of La Marche by capturing Eleanor and extorting from her
How did John mistreat the Lusignan family
- Spring 1201 ordered confiscation of La Marche aand the Drincourt Castle of Hugh Lusignan’s kinsman Ralph of Exoudon
- Called for Ralph to be deprived of Eu
- Denied Lusignan’s appeals for justice, instead John accused them of treason and only allowed them a trial by combat
How did the revolt of the Lusignans lead to Phillips invasion in 1202
- John’s denial of the Lusignan’s appeals to justice let them appeal to Phillip
- Phillip summoned John to a feudal court in Paris to which John refused as the DUke of Normandy
- Philliip portrayed him as a contumacious vassal and declared his territories as forfeit
How did John capture Arthur
- Led his forces from Le Mans to Mirebeau (80+ miles) where they caught Arthur completely off and captured them all
What was the significant of John’s capture of Arthur shown by
- This was so significant that the news led Phillip to immediately abandon the siege of Arques
- John followed this up by occupying Tours and Angers as well as Le Mans
What turned John’s capture of Arthur from a decisive victory to a failure
- 22 of the prisoners starved to death at Corfe Castle after a failed breakour
- This alienated the families of the dead who otherwise may have been subservient
- William des Roches sought a say in what happened to Arthur but John angrily rejected this and removed him from office of Seneschal
- News of Arthur’s disappearance was spurred on by William des Roches and Aimery of Thouars who now rebelled against John and rapidly joined by Bretons who were outraged by the murder of their Duke
What was the scene of John’s efforts to protect his territories at the beginning of 1203
- impossible to maintain any control of the lands south of Normandy
- He also faced an invasion of eastern Normandy by Phillip
- widely being betrayed
What was the scene of John’s efforts to protect his territories at the beginning of 1203
- impossible to maintain any control of the lands south of Normandy
- He also faced an invasion of eastern Normandy by Phillip
- widely being betrayed
What shows the clear breakdown of John’s authority
A couple of mercenaries barely rescuing Queen Isabella demonstrates the collapse of Johns authority
What are examples of the widespread betrayal of John
e.g. Shortly after receiving John as a guest, the count of Alencon defected to the rebels.
The key fortress of Vaudreuil was suddenly and highly suscpiciously surrendered by its English castellan Robert FitzWalter in the Summer of 1203
Of the 38 known barons to desrt John in 1203, how many had English land he could confiscate
only 8, meaning he couldn’t threaten them as much and English barons didnt care as much
Apart from betrayal why was John forced to retreat to England in 1203
Johns use of mercenaries, the notorious Louvrecaire, caused complaints that they treated the normans far worse than the forced loyal to Phillip
Greater freedoms offered by Phillip to the more independent Norman Church
What was John’s plan with Chateau Galliard
Johns attempts to relieve Chateau Galliard with fresh supplies failed when his cunning plan for beating the blockade misfired
What were the 3 campaigns to regain Normandy from 1205-1213
- The Portsmouth Campaign 1205
- The Poitou Campaign 1206
- The Battle of the Damme 1213
What was the Portsmouth Campaign of 1205
- John mustered forces exceeding even Richard’s for the crusade
- However was cancelled when it was time to launch from Portsmouth
- John lacked support of barons and William Marshal opposed it out of self interest
What was the Poitou Campaign of 1206
- Smaller expedition than Portsmouth but with a large number of barons
- Captured impregnable Mountaubon and went onto the borders of Maine
- Regained support of Aimery of Thouars
- 2 year truce arranged with John having Gascony agaiin
What was the Battle of the Damme 1213
- John and flemish allies asssembled a fleet of 500 ships against the French invasion
- Earl of Salisbury caught the French off-guard and was able to capture or destroy most of the fleet
How did William the Lion take adavantage of Johns uncertain succession
- He tried to claim Northumbria and Cumbria while backing Arthur
- Destroyed English Frontier Castle at Tweedmouth
- John actively asserted control in the nORthh and made William come to Lincoln in 1200 to perform Homage
What prompted John to gather a large army and march to the Scottish border in 1209
- John became concerned William had been scheming with Phillip and planned to marry one of his daughters to Phillip
- Wanted to end tensions of the past 10 years over contested Northumbria and Cumbria
What was the 1209 Treaty of Norham
1) Williams daughters surrendered into Johns custody
2) Married one to his eldest son and another to a senior English noble
3) William also promised to pay John 15,000 marks
What was agreed in the 1212 treaty with Wiliam
William’s heir Alexander would marry Johns daughter
- John even gave Alexander an army to deal with Guthred MacWilliam so Alexander succeeded unchallenged in 1214
What was the picture of Ireland under Chief Justiciar of Ireland Meilier FitzHenry
He was unsuccessful in limiting the growth of the barons
How did the 1204 Loss of Normandy make the situation in ireland worse
- Norman barons who fled with John encouraged to seek out land in Ireland
- Existing barons were upsetting the delicate balance of power
e.g.Hugh de Lacy took Ulster in 1205
How did John respond to the worsening situation in Ireland in 1208
Replaced Meilier FitzHenry with his ultra loyal John De Gray
What are the main reasons for John’s quarrel with the De Braose Family
- Make an example of his large debts to the Exchequer
- His wife Matilda claiming Arthur was killed by John
What did John do to Ireland in 1210
He raised a 700 ship fleet as a result of either overmighty barons or personal feud with William de Braose
He punished those such as Walter de Lacy of Meath and Huugh de Lacy of Ulster while gaining submisison of the Native Irish Rulers
What was John’s legacy in Ireland
- Barlow says ‘Norman Ireland became peaceful, prosperous and loyal’ after John’s interventions and he extended royal authority and codified the law
- Others claim he had left Ireland more divided than when he first arrived
- Contempt for native Irish kings wasnt forgotten
Whom did John build up in Wales to assert his own influence
- John built up power of William Marshal, became Earl of Pembroke
William de Braose gained the lordship of Gower and in 1206, three major strongholds in Gwent - Skenfrith Castle, Grosmont Castle and White Castle.
Along with his son being position of Hereford, on the Welsh Marsh
Ranulf Earl of Chester in the North
What was John’s relationship with Llywelyn till 1210
played the threat of Llywelyn against Gwenwynwyn, ruler of Powys
He then matched his daughter to Llwelyn in 1204
1208 he conqeured Sotuhern Powys in Central Wales
1209 Llwelyn showed loyalty by serving in John’s army in Scotland
How did John respond to the fall of William de Braose in 1208 and what did this make Llyweyn do
- John seized Radnor, Builth, Brecon, Abergavenny, Gower and all of Williams other substantial lands
- He also captured Gwenwynwyn of Powys, but this gave the opportunity for Llywelyn an opportunity to expand himself
John didn’t trust him after he seized Aberystwyth so John invaded Gwynedd in 1211 as a direct response
What was Llywelyn’s 1211 treaty with John in 1211
Llywelyn accepted harsh terms of:
1) Giving away a large number of hostages
2) Tribitue in cattle
3) Territory Fourt Cantrefs between Snowdonia dn Chester. Also took Aberystwyth
What did John’s 1211 treaty with Llywelyn lead to
- Scale of John’s victory made it easier for Llwelyn to unite all the Welsh princes with the backing of Phillip in 1212 as they feared destruction of their national identity
- Llywelyn attacked with former allies of John such as Maelgwynn ap Rhys of Deheubarth and Dwenwynwyn of Powys to undo all of of Johns gains
How did John respond to Llywelyn’s invasion of 1212
- John killed all the hostages and planned an expedition to destory the Welsh princes once and for all
- Expedition cancelled by threat of an assassination attempt within his own army
How did Meiler Fitz Henry fail in Ireland
- John quarreled with Marshal but Meiler was unsuccessful in taking Offaly in Leinster so John reached a compromise in 1208 of Marshal given a new charter of Leinster but John held two of his sons and all his castles in England
- As a result of this failure Meiler fitz Henry was removed and replaced by Joan de Gray
What makes the personal fued with Matilda de Braose a compelling reason for John’s invasion
de Braose offered to pay a fine of 40,000 marks but John was convinced the his wife Matilda de Braose was the real head and wished to punish her; yet his debts made his offer seem more like a bluff
What was the power of the Anglo-Norman Barons in Ireland
- Barons such as William Marshal and William de Braose thought they could do what they liked once passing the Irish Sea
- They occupied vast estates: William Marshal Lord of Leinster. William de Braose Lord of Limerick. Hugh de Lacy Lord of Ulster and his brother Walter de Lacy Lord of Meath
- The Native Irish princes were unable to resist the Norman Barons who held down two-thirds of the country
What was the King’s power in Ireland like
- English only controlled the ‘Pale’ around Dublin and Waterford, thus the King’s Justiciar Meiler Fitz Henry lacked relative power to the barons and was a vassal of Marshal
- Thus John had to go himself to discipline the barons
What did John do to De Lacy Barons in Ireland
Walter de Lacy was completely dispossessed
his brother Hugh de Lacy tried to resist at Ulster but John out-flanked him and surrounded his stronghold at Carrickfergus
What was the effect of John’s proclomation about the fate of De Braose’s huge debts and disloyalty
resulted in half of the barons who witnessed the document to be found among the leaders of the rebels against the King in 1215
What was peace in Wales reliant on
Maintenance of a power balance:
Welsh princes could unite and overpower the King and Marcher Lords
* Welsshmen had guerilla tactics and had ideals of complete independence
* King couldn’t rely wholly on selfish Marcher Lords
What apart from Llywelyn motivated John’s attack on wales
His vitory in Ireland in just two months gave him great confidence
What happened in Johns invasions of Wales in 1211
- First was resisted by Llywelyn’s guerilla Celts
- In June John marched up the Conway River to Bangor forcing Llewelyn to peace
What did the 3 Campaigns of the march to the Scottish border, assault upon Ulster and the advance from Oswestry to Bangor in 1209-11 portray
- all showed John’s genius as a millitary commander
- He planned celverlty and acted with speed (like at Mirebeau)
- He was able to outflank his enemeis and exploited rivers (Ulster)
