General Notes

REFR
DATE 1199
RETO
DATE 1216
RELI Sources: Microsoft Encarta 1994 ed.Called John Lackland.  Also Lord of Ireland, and Count ofMortain, best known for signing the Magna Carta. Henry IIprovided for the eventual inheritance of his
lands by his oldersons before John was born. By 1186, however, only Richard I, theLion-Hearted, and John were left as Henry's heirs. In 1189, asHenry neared death, John joined Richard's rebellion
againsttheir father, and when Richard was crowned, he gave John manyestates and titles. John tried but failed to usurp the Crownwhile Richard was away on the Third Crusade: Upon returning toEngland,
Richard forgave him. When his brother died in 1199,John became king. A revolt ensued by the supporters of Arthur ofBrittany, the son of John's brother, Geoffrey. Arthur wasdefeated and captured in
1202, and John is believed to have hadhim murdered. King Philip II of France continued Arthur's waruntil John had to surrender nearly all his French possessions in1204. In 1207 John refused to
accept the election of StephenLangton as archbishop of Canterbury. Pope Innocent III thenexcommunicated him and began negotiating with Philip for aninvasion of England. Desperate, John surrendered
England to thepope and in 1213 receiv Merged General Note: Called JohnLackland.  Also Lord of Ireland, and Count of Mortain, bestknown for signing the Magna Carta. Henry II provided for theeventual
inheritance of his lands by his older sons before Johnwas born. By 1186, however, only Richard I, the Lion-Hearted,and John were left as Henry's heirs. In 1189, as Henry neareddeath, John joined
Richard's rebellion against their father, andwhen Richard was crowned, he gave John many estates and titles.John tried but failed to usurp the Crown while Richard was awayon the Third Crusade: Upon
returning to England, Richard forgavehim. When his brother died in 1199, John became king. A revoltensued by the supporters of Arthur of Brittany, the son ofJohn's brother, Geoffrey. Arthur was
defeated and captured in1202, and John is believed to have had him murdered. King PhilipII of France continued Arthur's war until John had to surrendernearly all his French possessions in 1204. In
1207 John refusedto accept the election of Stephen Langton as archbishop ofCanterbury. Pope Innocent III then excommunicated him and begannegotiating with Philip for an invasion of England.
Desperate,John surrendered England to the pope and in 1213 received itback as a fief. Trying to regain his French possession, he wasdecisively defeated by Philip in 1214. John's reign had
becomeincreasingly tyrannical; to support his wars he had extortedmoney, raised taxes, and confiscated properties. His baronsfinally united to force him to respect their rights andprivileges. John
had little choice but to sign the Magna Cartapresented to him by his barons at Runnymede in 1215, making himsubject, rather than superior, to the law. Shortly afterwardJohn and the barons were at
war. He died while still pursuingthe campaign, and was succeeded by his son, Henry III.--Other FieldsRef Number: 90751520
RELG @N2418@
HIST Y
ENGL Y
ROYL Y
DATE 2 AUG 2000