King John

The Birth of King John

Dec 24, 1167

King John was born on December 24th, 1167 in Beaumont Palace, Oxford, United Kingdom. His parents were Eleanor of Aquitaine (Mother) and Henry II of England (Father). He had three brothers: Henry the Young King (1155–1183), Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany (1158–1186) and Richard the Lionheart. His three sisters were Matilda, Duchess of Saxony (1156–1189), Leonora of England (1161–1214) and Joan Plantagenet (1165–1199).

King John's Lifespan

Period: Dec 24, 1167 to Oct 19, 1216

King John Becomes King

Apr 6, 1199

John became King in 1199 when his brother, King Richard I, died. On May 27, 1999, was the coronation of King John. To many John was cruel, greedy and ultimately a failure as King. He fell out with both his father and his brother in family feuds. He argued with his nephew, Arthur, over succession.

Capture of Arthur I, Duke of Brittany

Aug 1, 1202

At Richard the Lionhearted’s death, there were two possible candidates….Richard’s youngest brother John or Richard’s nephew, Arthur I Duke of Brittany. Over time, people were conflicted on who should be the king. Some said John and some said Arthur (who was 12 at the time.) Richard’s youngest brother John was known to be a rebel. When Richard went to fight in the Crusades, John tried to take his crown so John was willing to do anything to be king. So on August 1, 1202 Arthur was captured in bat

Death of Arthur, Duke of Brittany (Part 1 Summary)

Apr 3, 1203

John had captured Athur and held him prisoner fro some time, under the care of Hubert de Burgh. John demanded that Arthur should be blinded and castrated so Arthur would be of no threat to John, but Hubert felt pity towards Arthur so he did not comply to John’s orders. Instead, he kept Arthur safe and lied saying Arthur died. Word spread that Arthur “had been killed,” and everyone blamed John for it and Hubert confessed that Arthur was still alive.

Death of Arthur, Duke of Brittany (Part 2 Summary)

Apr 3, 1203

I HIT CHARACTER LIMIT ON PART 1, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART 1 FIRST, PLEASE DO SO!!!!
John still felt that Arthur was a threat to his power so John took Arthur under the care of Robert de Vieuxpoint in the Rouen Castle. During the end of March 1203, Arthur spontaneously disappeared. No one knew exactly how Arthur died but a later source (Annals of Margam, early 13th century) claimed that in early April, that John slew Arthur, tied a heavy stone to the body and cast in the Seine.

Interdiction of King John

Mar 24, 1208

King John refused to accept Stephen Langton as Archbishop so Pope Innocent III threatened to place King John and England under an Interdict. This meant that no religious services would be conducted. No marriages, burials, or baptisms could be performed. So, in 1208, the Pope served the Interdict on England. For many years the bells of the churches across England were not rung and people were not buried but King John still refused to accept Langton. The Pope then served John with Excommunication.

Signing of the Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

The Magna Carta is a document that was written by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful Barons of England. King John was forced into signing the charter because it greatly reduced the power he held as the King of England and allowed for the formation of a powerful parliament. The purpose of the Magna Carta was to curb the King and make him govern by the old English laws that had prevailed before the Normans came.

Death of King John

Oct 19, 1216

John died in 1216 of infectious diarrhea, in the midst of a civil war which had been instigated by Magna Carta and involved an invasion of England by French troops. He was buried in Worcester Cathedral, Worcester, United Kingdom.