• General Notes

  TITLE:  King of ENGLAND
  NICK:  "Lackland"
  DIED:  Dysentery, fever, chills, exhaustion after crossing Wash of Lincoln & Norfolk.
  NOTE:
  Source: 'The World Book Encyclopedia', 1968, p J110. 'Royalty
  for ommoners', Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 38.: Reigned
  1199-1216. Signed Magna Carta in 1215 at Runnymede. His reign
  saw renewal of war with Phillip II Augustus of France to whom
  he lost several continental possesions including Normandy by
  1205. He came into conflict with his Barons and was forced to
  Sign the Magna Carta. His later repudiation of the charter led
  to the first barons war 1215-17 during which John died. Burke
  says he was born in 1160. John 'Lackland' King Of England was
  known as one of England's worst kings; however, modern analysis
  notes he was actually much better than his infamous reputation
  allows. His barons forced him to grant the famous charter of
  liberties, Magna Carta, in 1215. He was often cruel, but he
  showed both administrative and military ability. John
  succeeded his brother Richard the Lion-Hearted as king of
  England and duke of Normandy in 1199. His rule began badly. By
  inept politics and the murder of his nephew Arthur, he lost the
  allegiance of many of his French barons. King Philip Augustus
  of France then declared war. In 1205 John was beaten, and lost
  all the English holdings in France except Aquitaine. John
  persued a policy in England that brought him into conflict with
  Pope Innocent III. In 1208 the pope placed England under an
  interdict, which banned church services. The following year
  John was excommunicated. The king then showed his capacity for
  strong rule. He forced Scotland into a subordinate position,
  kept the Welsh princes in check, and held a firm grip on
  Ireland. But his foreign favorites, professional troops, and
  autocratic financial policy stirred up discontent among the
  English barons. When John failed to reconquer the lost French
  territories in 1214, most of the barons and many of the clergy
  revolted. On June 15, 1215, the king was forced to approve the
  Magna Carta at Runnymede meadow beside the River Thames.
  A few months later, John fought the barons. They were aided by
  Prince Louis of France, heir to Philip Augustus, and appeared
  certain to win. But John penned his enemies in London and the
  adjacent counties. He died suddenly in 1216, but his throne was
  saved for his son, Henry III. Buried in Worcester Cathedral
  Concubine at Kings Manor House, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
  Divorced Isabel Fitzrobert 29 August 1189.
  REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William the
  Conqueror requested a large number of Jews to move to England
  after his conquest. They spoke Norman & did well under his
  reign. They continued to thrive under William's grandson Henry
  II. When Richard was coronated, he did so "in a bath of Jewish
  blood." John merely taxed them very heavily, "bled them white".
  REF: British Monarchy Official Website: Richard's success (at
  retrieving all of his French possessions taken by Philip
  Augustus) was short lived. In 1199 his brother, John, became
  king and Philip successfully invaded Normandy. By 1203 John had
  retreated to England, losing his French lands of Normandy and
  Anjou by 1205. John (reigned 1199-1216) was an able
  administrator interested in law and government but he neither
  trusted others, nor was trusted by them.
  Heavy taxation, disputes with the Church (John was
  excommunicated by the Pope in 1209) and unsuccessful attempts
  to recover his French possessions made him unpopular. Many of
  his barons rebelled and in June 1215 they forced the King to
  sign a peace treaty accepting their reforms. This treaty, later
  known as Magna Carta, limited royal powers, defined feudal
  obligations between the king and the barons, and guaranteed a
  number of rights. The most influential clauses concerned the
  freedom of the Church; the redress of grievances of owners and
  tenants of land; the need to consult the Great Council of 

Details of (King) John Plantagenet's family with Agatha DE FERRERS