National Archives Podcast Notes

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   0.00-26.32

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