Kristen Briggs

John was born on December 24, 1167 in Oxford, England. He was the youngest son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. ewWhen John was born, his father had already divided his lands among John's older brothers, Geoffrey, Henry and Richard. John was given the nickname "lackland" because he literally lacked land. The King tried to transfer the duchy of Aquitaine from his son Richard to John, but this caused only civil war and tension between the brothers. Henry also granted him lordship of Ireland, but when John alienated the English colonists and was defeated by the Irish, his father was forced to recall him. Later, when Henry intended to give John the throne rather than Richard, Richard allied himself with Philip II of France and warred against his father. When Richard's victory was certain, John joined him, but this episode put further tension in their relationship. When King Henry died, Richard ascended to the throne.

During his reign, Richard gave many of his lands to John and married John to Isabella of Gloucester, but when he departed for the Crusades, Richard left William Longchamp in charge of England instead of John. John succeeded in replacing William, and when Richard was captured in 1192, John's allies tried to prevent his release. When King Richard returned he pardoned his brother for trying to steal the crown. On his deathbed, Richard named John heir to the throne.

John's reign was one oppression and unrest for England. In 1200 John divorced his wife and married Isabella of Angouleme, who had been betrothed to one of John's most powerful allies. John's failure in his war with France permitted Philip II to seize nearly all of the English possessions in France. John's murder of his nephew Arthur gave the people of England an even greater cause for discontent. Later, a dispute with the Pope caused the Pope to put England under interdict and to excommunicate John. Meanwhile, on the domestic front John exploited the clergy, nobles and Jews to gain money for his foreign ventures. In 1215 failed foreign expeditions led to civil war in England. When disaster was inevitable, the barons were able to force John to sign the Magna Carta, one of England's most famous documents. The Magna Carta forced the King to abide by accepted proceedure and states that the King is a subject and is not above the law. Although John intended to follow the Magna Carta, the people didn't trust him, and he warred with the rebels for the remainder of his life.

His second wife, Isabella of Angouleme, bore John two sons and three daughters: Henry III, Richard, Joan, Isabella, and Eleanor. John also had two illegitimate sons and a daughter: Richard, Oliver and Joan or Joanna. John took ill and died on October 19, 1216 in Newark. He was succeeded by his son Henry III.

Works Cited

Appleby, J.T. "John." The Encyclopedia Britannica.

University of Cambridge Press. "John." Collier's Encyclopedia. 1991 ed.