John Biography

Birth of John, 4th eldest son of Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine

Succeeds as King of England

Betrothed to Isabella daughter of the Earl of Gloucester, great-grandchild of Henry I

John becomes third in line to the throne after the death of his brother Prince Henry

Appointed Lord of Ireland

Richards refusal to hand over Aquitaine leads to an armed clash, Richard is victorious

Death of Geoffrey of Brittany, but his son Arthur inherits the dead brothers lands

Richard gives John Mortain & the revenue of 6 English counties

Richard I reaches Sicilly & signs the Treaty of Messina. Richard I names Arthur of Brittany his succesor if he should die without issue

Challenges the power of Longchamp & sets up his own Court

Enters into an alliance with Philip II

Richard sends in the Archbishop of Rouen to re-establish his power

Pays homage to Philip II in return for a ransom to release Richard I from Henry VI

Flees to France upon hearing of the release of Richard I & his return to England

Agrees with Philip II to marry his half-sister Alice

John gains a pardon from Richard I, who blames Johns company for his misdemeanors

Richard I nominates John as his heir

The only title John keeps is Lord of Ireland. John is forbidden to hold any castles in England. John appeals to Richards mercy but is stripped of all possessions & titles

John is restored as Count of Mortain & Earl of Gloucester

Named by Richard I as his successor just before his death

In Brittany with Richards nephew Arthur of Brittany when he hears of Richards death

Invested as the Duke of Normandy

Crowned King of England

Receives the homage of William the Lion, King of Scotland

Recognized as overlord of his English lands in France

Cedes Vexin & Evreux to Philip II under the Treaty of Le Goulet

Cedes Vexin & Evreux to Philip II under the Treaty of Le Goulet

Marries Isabella of Angouleme in Aquitaine, the marriage produces 2 sons & 3 daughters

John & Isabel are crowned together at Westminster Abbey

Richard Is wife Berengaria dies, John makes an alliance with her brother Sancho VIII

Death of Berengaria, John concludes an alliance with her brother Sancho VIII

The peace of Le Goulet is preserved & the rebellion suppressed. Met by Philip II who controls the rebellion & hosts a visit by John in Paris. Arrives in Normandy to subdue rebellion

The peace of Le Goulet is preserved & the rebellion suppressed. Met by Philip II who controls the rebellion & hosts a visit by John in Paris. Arrives in Normandy to subdue rebellion

Reconcilled with his half-brother Geoffrey the Archbishop of York

Follows up his victory at Mirabeau by occupying Tours, Angers & Le Mans

Philip captures the castles of Boutevant, Gournai & Arques

Philip captures the castles of Boutevant, Gournai & Arques

Philip captures the castles of Boutevant, Gournai & Arques

Follows up his victory at Mirabeau by occupying Tours, Angers & Le Mans

Follows up his victory at Mirabeau by occupying Tours, Angers & Le Mans

Sets up headquarters in Le Mans to defend Normandy & Aquitaine

Follows up his victory at Mirabeau by occupying Tours, Angers & Le Mans

After Johns trial Philip invades Normandy

Philip captures the castles of Boutevant, Gournai & Arques

Succeeds as Count of Angouleme

Charges the Lusignans with treason, they appeal to Philip II who confronts John

Sentenced to have all of his French Crown lands forfeited. Philip demands Johns a trial in Paris for his treatment of the Lusignan brothers. John refuses to stand trial before Philip II. John is tried in his absence

After Johns trial Philip invades Normandy

Phillip II grants Johns French lands, except Normandy, to Arthur of Brittany. Philip II captures Johns French lands

Phillip II grants Johns French lands, except Normandy, to Arthur of Brittany

Crosses the Loire to defend Mirabeau from Arthur of Brittany the Lusignan brothers

After the Battle of Mirabeau rumour circulates that, drunk & possessed, John had slain Arthur & thrown his body into the Seine

Ignores the pleas of William & Aimeri, & treats his captives cruelly by ensuring 22 noblemen die in harsh conditions. After the Battle of Mirabeau rumour circulates that, drunk & possessed, John had slain Arthur & thrown his body into the Seine

Captures Arthur & other rebel Barons. Arthur of Brittany is captured during the Battle of Mirabeau by William de Braose

John speeds south to surprise the rebels unprepared outside Mirabeau, not a single rebel escaped. John captures over 200 knights & all the leaders of the rebellion, including Arthur and Hugh le Brun. Arthur of Brittany is captured during the Battle of Mirabeau by William de Braose

Captures Arthur & other rebel Barons

John raises a siege & rescues his mother Queen Eleanor

John stays in Dol for a year & rebuilds a Gothic cathedral. John lays siege to Dol in Brittany razes it to the ground & burns its Cathedral

John lays siege to Dol in Brittany razes it to the ground & burns its Cathedral

Brittany rebels against John

Brittany rebels against John

Stays in Dol for a year & rebuilds a gothic cathedral. John lays siege to Dol in Brittany razes it to the ground & burns its Cathedral

Philip I besieges Chateau-Gaillard, the fortress built by Richard I to protect Rouen

Philip I besieges Chateau-Gaillard, the fortress built by Richard I to protect Rouen

John has Arthur of Brittany killed to prevent Arthur from claiming the English throne

John has Arthur of Brittany killed to prevent Arthur from claiming the English throne

John returns to England seeking baronial support after yielding to the French.

Surrenders to the French in & returns to England to seek the support of the Barons

Summons a Council who raise enough money to launch another campaign in Normandy

Summons a Council who raise enough money to launch another campaign in Normandy

Normandy is finally lost to France after Philip II takes its capital Rouen

John is left with just the Channel Islands after his other French possessions are lost

John is left with just the Channel Islands after his other French possessions are lost

Normandy is finally lost to France after Philip II takes its capital Rouen

Normandy is finally lost to France after Philip II takes its capital Rouen

Forces the election of Bishop Gray of Norwich

The castles of Chinon & Loches, both in Touraine, fall into the hands of Philip II

The castles of Chinon & Loches, both in Touraine, fall into the hands of Philip II

Every male over the age of 12 & every knight has to bear arms

Prepares England for an invasion by Philip II

The castles of Chinon & Loches, both in Touraine, fall into the hands of Philip II

The castles of Chinon & Loches, both in Touraine, fall into the hands of Philip II

Recaptures Angers in Anjou

Captures the strategic castle of Mountauban in Gascony

Lands in La Rochelle to defend Aquitaine

Captures the strategic castle of Mountauban in Gascony

Begins a campaign to defend Aquitaine

Signs a 2 yar truce with Philip II. Preserves much of his mothrers inheritance in Aquitaine under the Peace of Thouars. John signs a 2 yr truce with Philip II

The Pope forbids the English clergy to administer the sacraments. Opposes innocent IIIs nomination for the Archbishop of Canterbury

Excommunicated by Pope innocent III

John invades Scotland

King William agrees with John I to renounce Scottish claims to Northumberland

Captures Walter de Laceys castle at Trim, County Meath, Ireland

Begins construction of Aberystwyth Castle

Forces Llywelyn to swear his lands will revert to the King should he die without heir

Commences the Invasion of north Wales

Knights Alexander & renews his 1209 agreement with William of Scots

Signs the Treaty of Lambeth with the Count of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Agrees not to make peace with Philip II of France

Before invading Wales orders 28 Welsh hostages to be hanged in Chester

Before invading Wales orders 28 Welsh hostages to be hanged in Chester

A plot to assassinate the King is exposed, its leaders flee into exile

The English Parliament has its beginnings in the Council of St Albans

John is absolved by Langton, England & Ireland become papal fiefs

Meets the barons after the intervention of Stephen Langton & makes some concessions

The French king, Philippe IIs vindictive raid into Flanders causes the comte de Flanders, Ferrand, to request help from the English King, John immediatley sends a ready fleet, after the French had been defeated, from Portsmouth. About 500 English ships, under the command of the earl of Salisbury, catches the French fleet by surprise off Damme

Prepares a fleet for the invasion of France

The papal interdict of 1208 against England is lifted

Agrees to Pope innocent IIIs demands that England & Ireland become a papal fiefdom

The French invasion fleet is defeated by a sudden raid by the English fleet

The French invasion fleet is defeated by a sudden raid by the English fleet. The French fleet is prepared to invade England in Damme harbour on the Flemish Coast

Makes a truce with Llewelyn of Wales

During 1211 and 1212, John had forged a coalition with counts of Flanders and Boulogne-sur-Mer, and with the deposed emperor Otto IV, John financed most of the coalition and devised the campaign of 1214 to defeat Philippe II

The German Emperor, Otto IV, with his Flemish and English contingents were to invade France from the Flemish frontier, and drive toward Paris.

The plan calls for John to launch an invasion into France from the southwest as an advance to reclaim lost Angevin lands, or a strategic diversion into the Loire valley with the goal of drawing the French army south.

Demands a high rate of scutage which contributes to the baronial rebellion of 1215

Lands at la rochelle & begins a campaign in western France

Captures Angers after a succesful campaign in Poitou

The Pope raises the Papal interdict against John

John & Philip make a truce by the peace of Chinon

Returns to England from France

Faced by baronial resistance to the rate of scutage to pay for his campaign

Appeals to the Pope for the abolition of the Magna Carta. Allows London to annually elect a Mayor

Appeals to the Pope for the abolition of the Magna Carta

Barons demand the charter of Henry I & the laws of Edward the Confessor

Succeeds as King of England. Some of the nobles attempt to place the French Dauphin on the English throne

The Barons demand confirmation of the Laws of Edward the Confessor , John delays. The Barons demand confirmation of the charter of Henry I

Makes an Oath to the Pope as a Crusader to gain the support of Innocent III

The Pope writes to the Barons asking them not to rebel. The Pope writes to John supporting in support of the Barons

The Pope writes to the barons telling them to pay the scutage owed to the King

Rebellious barons seize Northampton

John orders his mercenaries into London after the Battle of Northampton. After the barons attack Northampton John offers concessions

Arbitrates with 4 representitives from each side & the Popes deputy in the chair

Offers a full pardon to the rebellious Barons but the offer is turned down

Orders that the estates of the rebellious barons be seized, starting the civil war

The barons take London before the arrival of Johns mercenaries

The Tower of London is held by the royalists

Offers the Barons a truce

Imports foreign mercenaries to fight the barons

The Magna Carta remains the basis of English feudal justice

John gets Pope Innoccent III to issue a Papal bull against the Magna Carta

The Magna Carta remains the basis of English feudal justice

John gets Pope Innoccent III to issue a Papal bull against the Magna Carta. John gets Pope Innoccent III to issue a Papal bull against the Magna Carta. John gets Pope Innoccent III to issue a Papal bull against the Magna Carta

John gets Pope Innoccent III to issue a Papal bull against the Magna Carta. John gets Pope Innoccent III to issue a Papal bull against the Magna Carta

The Magna Carta confirms priveliges in the accession charter signed by Henry I. John meets the Barons & agrees the 1st draft of the "Charter of Liberties"

The Magna Carta confirms priveliges in the accession charter signed by Henry I. John meets the Barons & agrees the 1st draft of the "Charter of Liberties"

The Magna Carta confirms priveliges in the accession charter signed by Henry I. John meets the Barons & agrees the 1st draft of the "Charter of Liberties". The Magna Carta confirms priveliges in the accession charter signed by Henry I. The Magna Carta confirms priveliges in the accession charter signed by Henry I

The Magna Carta confirms the rights of the Church & Barons. 25 barons are appointed to oversee the working of the Magna Carta

The Magna Carta standardises weights & measures. The Magna Carta confirms the rights of the Church & Barons. 25 barons are appointed to oversee the working of the Magna Carta

The Magna Carta standardises weights & measures

The Barons resent the Justiciar appointed by John to rule during his absence

Barons resent the costs to lift the Papal interdict. Barons resent a scutage on those who did not accompany John to Poitou

Rebel Barons capture Newark

Rebel Barons capture Nottingham

Louis Coeur de Lion lands in England to help John fight the rebellious English barons

Philips son Louis lands in England with a French Army

Goes down with dysentry after crushing resistance in the north

Death of John, poisoned by his own supporters

Death of John, poisoned by his own supporters. Death of John, at Newark Castle, succeeded by 9 yr old son Henry

Forces Richemonts brother, the Duke of Brittany, to submit to the English