PODCAST: Magna Carta National Archive

· John seen as tyrannical, untrustworthy and militarily incompetent

· Two nicknames Lackland – no land and Softsword – peace instead of war

· Question his morality – seduced wives and daughters of barons

· Matthew Paris – Hell is defiled by John

How he got the throne:

· Richard died without a direct heir

· Two candidates Arthur of Brittany age 15 and John 33

· No clear consensus of who had better claim

· Brittany supported Arthur but William the Marshall and AB of C voted for John

· 25th April 1199 made Duke of Normandy at Rouen 27th May 1199 made King at Westminster Abbey

· John 4th and younger son, Arthur son of third son

· Inherited realm that stretched from borders of Scotland to the Pyrenees

· King of England and Wales, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, Count of Anjou and Poitou, Overlord of Brittany, Vassal of the King of France (Phillip II)

· Many English barons were based in Normandy (crossed states)

· Most of 12th Century Capetian rule was weak could only collect taxes etc. From inside the Isle de France

· Many counties nominally belonged to Capetians but frequently rebelled

John’s Inheritance:

· Exercised general supervision, personal government

· No central centre, each province had own administration with own official – made ruling difficult

· Orders conveyed by writ

· Peripatetic in nature

· Faced a financial crisis depleted treasury Henry II left a huge treasury but Richard spent it crusades etc, ransom fee, supplies, knights, food, weapons, ships and transport

· Lost lands needed re-conquering, cost money and all the castles e.g. Chateau Gaillard, inflation crisis

· Gaillard = £11,000 Richard

· 22nd May 1200 John came to an agreement with Phillip at Le Goulet (Poitou) neither side could afford war, French accepted John as heir, Phillip had guardian of Arthur

· John had to give homage to Phillip

Angouleme Marriage:

· 1189 John married to Isabella of Gloucester heiress to Gloucester marriage arranged by Henry II not particularly happy, no children

· JULY 1200 John divorced her, married instead Isabella of Angouleme heiress to a strategic county in the centre of Aquitaine. Stretched across trade routes between Poitiers and Bordeaux key crossroads. Age 14

· Isabella A already betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan, John married her anyway august 1200 without compensating the Lusignans

· Hugh decides to rebel, John orders officials to confiscate county of Le Marche, without the judging of his court, so Hugh appealed directly to Phillip II of France

· Phillip = Hugh’s overlord

· Phillip also John’s overlord (vassal of France)

· Second coronation 8th October 1200 Westminster

· Phillip declares against John calling him a consumatist? Vassal

· Fiefs of Aquitaine Poitou and Anjou are confiscated

· Phillip then attacks Normandy, then declares Normandy forfeited

· John breaks the siege at Mirebeau and captures Arthur at the battle

· Arthur goes into John’s custody offending William des Roaches

· Murders Arthur – alienated much of English nobility

· Supporters switch allegiance to Phillip so John turns to Mercenaries

· Bretons attacks Anjou and Phillip attacks Normandy

· 5th December 1203 John flees to England with the treasury

· March 1204 Chateau Gaillard falls after a long siege

· 24th June 1204 Rouen surrenders, Normandy is lost to John

Consequences of Loss of Duchy:

· Shock (equivalent to fall of Jerusalem 1187)

· John never accepted loss of Normandy tried to recapture it

· Finding ready cash

· Distrust of Norman barons led to distrust of English barons

How did he raise money:

· Stopped selling privileges, so revenues went to him

· Generous repayment terms for debts were called in

· John exploited feudal rights

· Relief fares for heirs were heightened

· Guardianship of widows or heiress were sold

· William de Mowbry paid 2000 marks to have a case ruled in his favour, it still wasn’t ruled in his favour

· Issued demands for scutage payments

· Tallages imposed upon states and cities

· Attempt to control nobles using debt – made barons dependent on his good will

· 1207 tax met with lots of subterfuge and anger

Church:

· 1205 Hubert Walter AB of C died

· John wanted his candidate John de Gray to be elected, monks elected their sub prior elected both appealed to Rome

· Pope elects Stephen Langton, John prevents his landing in England

· John was excommunicated and England placed under interdict – viewed as papal war

· Used empty churches to get more funds, confiscated clerical properties and funds and profits

· 6 year stalemate, made peace with pope England became papal state – prevent Phillip from attacking him

· Seen as humiliation however it was a master stroke of politics

· Papal Bull October 1213 ordered France and Ireland to offer fealty to John

William the Marshal:

· Earl of Pembroke, Lord of Lenistone

· 1204-1205 made an oath of loyalty to Phillip II to keep the Norman states he held

· This angered John

· 1206 John ordered a tax on his Irish estates

· Returned to Royal favour 1210-1212

· By 1214-1215 he was viewed as a loyal supporter of John

· 1215-1216 fought loyally with John against the Barons

· His loyalty led him to become regent of England 1216-1219 when John died

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BA Hons Medieval History (What led John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215) Notiz am National Archives Podcast Notes, erstellt von marialidd am 16/05/2014.

National Archives Podcast Notes