King John, Revised EditionKing John is a study not only of a king and his political misfortunes, but also of a period—a period of profound changes in society at large, and hence one of unprecedented stressed. John's personality, so distorted by chronicles such as Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris, is investigated through his acts: but he is seen also against the background of his predecessors on the throne, of the society in which he lived and of the problems that were posed for a rule by that society. John was the fourth son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine to survive to manhood. In his younger days he was irresponsible, selfish and disloyal, but from 1194 he began to emerge as much more like his father than any of the brothers whose prowess he had formerly sought to rival. Only Henry II himself is comparable to the later John in his powers of organization and the ability, invaluable in a ruler, to bend his energies to points of administrative detail. The account of John's reign is fascinating, revealing and extremely readable. Dr. Warren's analysis of the contemporary situation explains the true significance of the struggle for the Magna Carta. he is unsparing in his criticism of John's failing but gives due recognition to his remarkable activities. |
Contents
GAINING A KINGDOM | 17 |
a lost opportunity 11859 | 33 |
5 Richards heir 1199 | 48 |
KING OF ENGLAND | 100 |
2 Suspicion and discontent | 109 |
4 The defence of Aquitaine 1206 | 116 |
5 The birth of the royal navy | 120 |
7 Personal government | 135 |
KING VERSUS POPE | 154 |
KING JOHN AND HIS BARONS | 174 |
THE ROAD TO RUNNYMEDE | 206 |
THE ROAD TO NEWARK | 241 |
APPENDIX | 263 |
APPENDIX C | 278 |
105 | 303 |
8 Meeting the cost | 145 |
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Common terms and phrases
abbey abbot administrative Angevin Anjou Aquitaine archbishop army Arthur baggage train Barnwell annalist Biog bishop Bretons Briouze brother Canterbury castles charter chroniclers Church Claus clause clergy Coggeshall count court Crown crusade Curia Regis custom Diceto earl Eleanor election England English Eustace de Vesci Exchequer expedition father feudal fiefs FitzWalter France French Geoffrey Gerald of Wales Gervase Gesta Henrici hand heir held Henry Henry II hold homage Howden Hugh Ibid Innocent Interdict Ireland John's reign judgement justice justiciar King John King Philip king's kingdom knights land Langton letters liberties London lord Louis Lusignans Magna Carta March marriage medieval mercenaries monks Newburgh Norman Normandy oath papal Paris peace Pipe Roll Poitou pope Powicke realm rebels Richard Rigord Rolls Series royal Salisbury scutage sheriff ships siege Stephen Langton Stubbs vassals wardship Wellstream Welsh Wendover William Marshal William the Breton Wisbech writ