Church Stephen. D. - King John : And the Road to Magna Carta

PRAISE FOR

King John

Stephen Church has written the most convincing account we have of Englands most reviled monarch. This lively, readable book will appeal both to general readers and to scholars.

Robert Stacey, Professor of Medieval History and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington

Deep, solid, and vivid, this book is as precise with facts as it is subtle in their interpretation. Stephen Church penetrates the complexity of Johns character; Church offers the keys to understanding his failures and his follies, and the cruel actions he took with his entourage. This fascinating book does not pretend to be an impossible rehabilitation of John, but is rather a successful attempt at comprehending his character, the aristocracy, townsmen, and clergy he had to deal with, and the troubled times he could never change.

Martin Aurell, Professor of Medieval History, University of Poitiers, Institut Universitaire de France

Very well written, with a clear and precise style. This is a notable work of research. King John will change many of our traditional negative views concerning one of the more underestimated kings of English history. Stephen Church has taken a great step forward in giving us a more balanced understanding of John, his personality and reign, and also of the Angevin dynasty.

Manuel Rojas Gabriel, Professor of Medieval History, University of Extremadura, Spain

King John

ALSO BY STEPHEN CHURCH

The Household Knights of King John

King John: New Interpretations (ED.)

Copyright 2015 by Stephen Church

Published by Basic Books,

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

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First published in 2015 by Macmillan

an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

Designed by Timm Bryson

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Church, S. D.

King John : and the road to Magna Carta / Stephen Church.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-465-04070-4 (e-book)

1. John, King of England, 11671216. 2. Great BritainKings and rulersBiography. 3. Great BritainHistoryJohn, 11991216. 4. Magna Carta. I. Title.

DA208.C55 2015

942.033092dc23

[B]

2014041884

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Ann Williams

CONTENTS

Angevin Acta Project The Angevin Acta Project at the University of East Anglia, ed. N. C. Vincent, J. C. Holt, R. Mortimer, M. Staunton and J. Everard (forthcoming). This work includes the acts of Henry II, Count Richard, and Count John and until publication is accessible from Prof. Vincent at the University of East Anglia

Annales Monastici Annales Monastici, 5 vols, ed. H. R. Luard, Rolls Series (London, 18649)

Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, 4 vols, ed. W. Stubbs, Rolls Series (London, 186871)

Chronicle of Richard of Devizes The Chronicle of Richard of Devizes, ed. J. T. Appleby (London, 1963)

Coggeshall Radulphi de Coggeshall Chronicon Anglicanum, ed. J. Stevenson, Rolls Series (London, 1875)

Curia Regis Rolls Curia Regis Rolls of the Reigns of Richard I, John and Henry III Preserved in the Public Record Office, (London, 1922, ongoing)

English Episcopal Acta English Episcopal Acta, cited by volume number and diocese, published by the British Academy (Oxford, ongoing)

EHR English Historical Review

Epistolae Cantuarienses Epistolae Cantuarienses in Chronicles and Memorials of the Reign of Richard I, 2 vols, ed. W. Stubbs, Rolls Series (London, 18645), volume i

Expugnatio Hibernica Giraldus Cambrensis, Expugnatio Hibernica. The Conquest of Ireland, ed. A. B. Scott and F. X. Martin (Dublin, 1978)

Foedera Foedera, Conventiones, Litterae et cuiuscunque generis Acta Publica, ed. T. Rymer, new edn, vol. I, part i, ed. A. Clark and F. Holbrooke (Record Commission, London, 1816)

Giraldus Cambrensis, Opera Giraldus Cambrensis, Opera, 8 vols, ed. J. S. Brewer, J. F. Dimock and G. F. Warner, Rolls Series (London 186191)

Gervase of Canterbury The Historical Works of Gervase of Canterbury, 2 vols, ed. W. Stubbs, Rolls Series (London, 187980)

Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi Benedicti Abbatis, 2 vols, ed. W. Stubbs, Rolls Series (London, 1867)

Gillingham, Richard I J. B. Gillingham, Richard I (New Haven, CT, 1999)

Histoire des Ducs de Normandie Histoire des Ducs de Normandie et des Rois dAngleterre, ed. F. Michel (Socit de lhistoire de France, Paris, 1840)

Historical Works of Ralph de Diceto The Historical Works of Master Ralph de Diceto, 2 vols, ed. W. Stubbs, Rolls Series (London, 1876)

History of William the Marshal History of William the Marshal, 3 vols, ed. A. J. Holden, S. Gregory and D. Crouch, Anglo-Norman Texts Society (London, 20026)

Itinerary of Richard I The Itinerary of King Richard I, ed. L. Landon (Pipe Roll Society, new series, 13, London, 1935)

Layettes du Trsor des Chartes Layettes du Trsor des Chartes, 4 vol. in4, tome I: 7551223, A. Teulet (Paris, 18631902)

Letters of Innocent III to England and Wales Letters of Innocent III Concerning England and Wales (11981216), ed. C. R. Cheney and M. Cheney (Oxford, 1967)

Liber Feodorum Liber Feodorum. The Book of Fees Commonly Called Testa de Neville, 3 vols (London, 192031)

Matthew Paris, Chron. Maj. Matthaei Parisiensis, Monachi Sancti Albani, Chronica Majora, 7 vols, ed. H. R. Luard, Rolls Series (London, 187283)

Memoranda Roll 1 John The Memoranda Roll for the Michaelmas Term of the First Year of the Reign of King John, 11991200, ed. H. G. Richardson (Pipe Roll Society, new series, 21, 1943)

Pipe Rolls Citations to Pipe Rolls are to the regnal years of the reigning kings and published by the Pipe Roll Society, London

Rigord Rigord, Gesta Philippi Augusti, in uvres de Rigord et de Guillaume le Breton, ed. H. F. Delaborde, i (Paris, 1882)