John, King of England

Reign: 1199 – 1216
Life: 1166–1216

He lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of the Angevin Empire and contributing to the subsequent growth in power of the French Capetian dynasty during the 13th century. The baronial revolt at the end of John reign led to the sealing of Magna Carta, a document considered a foundational milestone in English and later British constitutional history. He was nicknamed John Lackland (Norman: Jean sans Terre, lit. 'John without land') because, as a younger son, he was not expected to inherit significant lands. Philip II of France agreed to recognise John possession of the continental Angevin lands at the peace treaty of Le Goulet in 1200. When war with France broke out again in 1202, John achieved early victories, but shortages of military resources and his treatment of Norman, Breton, and Anjou nobles resulted in the collapse of his empire in northern France in 1204.

During John, King of England's reign, Alfonso VIII of Castile ruled Spain, Minamoto no Sanetomo ruled Japan (Shogunate), and Sancho I of Portugal ruled Portugal.

Want to learn more? Further reading

King John by W. L. Warren

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From the library

Go deeper on John, King of England

Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.

King John

W. L. Warren

Warren's sympathetic but clear-eyed portrait changed how historians view 'Bad King John'.

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Magna Carta: The Birth of Liberty
Dan Jones
The charter that defined John's legacy, told with Jones's trademark narrative energy.
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