How far was the personality of
King John responsible for the loss
of Normandy in 1204?
Summer 1204: John lost control of Normandy, Phillip II of
France invaded the duchy and took control of it
March 1204: After a seven month siege
Chateau Gaillard was taken by Phillip II and his
army
June 1204: Rouen, capital of Normandy, surrendered to
Phillip despite having held out against him in 1193
December 1203: John had fled to England, and so
missed all of this action inf France and did little to
remedy it
John lacked military, political and
diplomatic skills (compare with
Richard)
John was perceived as devious and untrustworthy, not good
qualities in an age of PERSONAL KINGSHIP
PERSONAL KINGSHIP: Where personality
and characteristics are an important part of
being a king
His marriage to Isabella of Angouleme offended some of his
most important Barons: The Poitiven Lusignans
After John's victory at Mirebeau in 1202
he lost suppport of Aimeri of Thouars and
William des Roaches
Rumour's of John's murder of his nephew
Arthur of Brittany led many of John's Barons
to renounce their fealty to him
By 1202 John's personality led to the collapse of his
network of alleigences forged by Richard
John's disputed succession in 1199 provided opportunities for Phillip II who
exploited the John-Arthur relationship and extort the terms in the treaty of Le
Goulet
Phillip was an able opponent he transformed the finances
of the Capetian domain
John inherited lads drained of cash (Richard used it all), he
couldn't retain the allegiance of his Barons
William the Marshall "Sire, you have not
enough friends"