General Notes

Kin John was not a good king... A. A.  Milne
Reddish hair


John 1199-1216 Younger son of Henry II. Called "Lackland" because he was the third son and should not have inherited anything. But his two elder brothers died without issue (well, brother Geoffrey did have a son, but he died at a tender age. Uncle John's complicity in this was never proven). John was a sleeze in many ways, but he did try to curb baronial and ecclesiastical power, which brought about civil war. Forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, which limited the powers of the king (and had a lot to do with the English monarchy surviving into the 20th century.)

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 has
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.
King of Ireland 1177, Count of Mortain 1189, Earl of Gloucester.