General Notes

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Source: 'The World Book Encyclopedia', 1968, p J110. 'Royalty forommoners', Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 38.: Reigned 1199-1216. SignedMagna Carta in 1215 at Runnymede.  His reign saw renewal of war withPhillip II Augustus of France to whom he lost several continentalpossesions including Normandy by 1205. He came into conflict with hisBarons and was forced to Sign the Magna Carta. His later repudiationof the charter led to the first barons war 1215-17 during which Johndied. Burke says he was born in 1160. John 'Lackland' King Of Englandwas known as one of England's worst kings; however, modern analysisnotes he was actually much better than his infamous reputation allows.His barons forced him to grant the famous charter of liberties, MagnaCarta, in 1215. He was often cruel, but he showed both administrativeand military ability.  John succeeded his brother Richard theLion-Hearted as king of England and duke of Normandy in 1199. His rulebegan badly. By inept politics and the murder of his nephew Arthur, helost the allegiance of many of his French barons. King Philip Augustusof France then declared war. In 1205 John was beaten, and lost all theEnglish holdings in France except Aquitaine. John persued a policy inEngland that brought him into conflict with Pope Innocent III. In 1208the pope placed England under an interdict, which banned churchservices. The following year John was excommunicated. The king thenshowed his capacity for strong rule. He forced Scotland into asubordinate position, kept the Welsh princes in check, and held a firmgrip on Ireland. But his foreign favorites, professional troops, andautocratic financial policy stirred up discontent among the Englishbarons.  When John failed to reconquer the lost French territories in1214, most of the barons and many of the clergy revolted. On June 15,1215, the king was forced to approve the Magna Carta at Runnymedemeadow beside the River Thames.
A few months later, John fought the barons. They were aided by PrinceLouis of France, heir to Philip Augustus, and appeared certain to win.But John penned his enemies in London and the adjacent counties. Hedied suddenly in 1216, but his throne was saved for his son, HenryIII. Buried in Worcester Cathedral Concubine at Kings Manor House,Oxford, Oxfordshire, England Divorced Isabel Fitzrobert 29 August1189.

REF: "Falls the Shadow" Sharon Kay Penman: William the Conquerorrequested a large number of Jews to move to England after hisconquest. They spoke Norman & did well under his reign.  Theycontinued to thrive under William's grandson Henry II.  When Richardwas coronated, he did so "in a bath of Jewish blood." John merelytaxed them very heavily, "bled them white".

REF: British Monarchy Official Website:  Richard's success (atretrieving all of his French possessions taken by Philip Augustus) wasshort lived. In 1199 his brother, John, became king and Philipsuccessfully invaded Normandy. By 1203 John had retreated to England,losing his French lands of Normandy and Anjou by 1205. John (reigned1199-1216) was an able administrator interested in law and governmentbut he neither trusted others, nor was trusted by them.
Heavy taxation, disputes with the Church (John was excommunicated bythe Pope in 1209) and unsuccessful attempts to recover his Frenchpossessions made him unpopular. Many of his barons rebelled and inJune 1215 they forced the King to sign a peace treaty accepting theirreforms. This treaty, later known as Magna Carta, limited royalpowers, defined feudal obligations between the king and the barons,and guaranteed a number of rights. The most influential clausesconcerned the freedom of the Church; the redress of grievances ofowners and tenants of land; the need to consult the Great Council ofthe Realm so as to prevent unjust taxation; mercantile and tradingrelationships; regulation of the machinery of justice so that justicebe denied to no one; and the requirement to control the behaviour ofroyal officials.