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Famous as the king who signed the Magna Carta in 1215, John was the youngest and favourite son of Henry II. On his father's death in 1189 his brother, Richard, became king. John received titles, lands and money, but this was not enough. In October 1190 Richard recognized his nephew, Arthur, as his heir. Three years later, when Richard was imprisoned in Germany, John tried to seize control. He was unsuccessful and, when Richard returned in early 1194, was banished. The two were soon reconciled and, when Arthur was captured by Philip II in 1196, Richard named John heir.
Three years later Richard was dead and John was king. War with France was renewed, triggered by John's second marriage. While asked to mediate between the rival families of Lusignan and Angoulême, he married the Angoulême heiress Isabella, who had been betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan. The Lusignans were not amused. A rebellion broke out and John was ordered to appear before his overlord in France, Philip II. He never showed up; war followed.
A good start rapidly spiralled downhill and, by 1206, he had lost Normandy, Anjou, Maine and parts of Poitou. These failures were a damaging blow to John's prestige and he was determined to win them back. This required money. His government became increasingly ruthless and efficient in its financial administration. Taxes soared and he began to exploit his feudal rights ever more harshly.
This heavy taxation bred increasing baronial discontent. An unsuccessful plot to remove him made matters worse. Negotiations between John and his barons failed and civil war broke out in May 1215. When the rebels seized London, John was compelled to negotiate further and, on 19th June at Runnymede, he accepted the baronial terms embodied in the Magna Carta, which ensured feudal rights and restated English law.
This settlement was soon rendered impractical by the more stubborn barons and John's appeal to Pope Innocent. Innocent took his side and in the ensuing civil war John laid waste to the northern counties and the Scottish border. But he then had to face Prince Louis of France, who invaded at the barons' request. John continued to wage war vigorously but died, leaving the issues undecided. His death enabled a compromise peace that restored the rebels and the succession of his son Henry III.
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