John Interesting Facts

1 The first English King to commit murder?

Only Richard III is more despised than Bad King John. It is believed by some historians that he murdered Prince Arthur of Brittany, Richard’s original heir. He disappeared during his time in captivity at Rouen castle in 2002. John is accused of killing him whilst in a violent rage.

2 Robin Hood’s enemy

This is the King John who appears as a baddy alongside the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Tales of Robin Hood. Robin Hood is the baron who objected to King John’s cripplingly high taxes. Robin robbed the rich to feed the poor while Bad King John robbed everybody for his own gain.

3 He lost the crown jewels

John had acquired many jewels during his reign, which he lost to the sea while crossing the Wash, in East Anglia, shortly before his death. He was in retreat from Prince Louis of France who was invited by the English nobility to take John’s throne from him.

4 Spoilt boy

John was his father’s youngest and favourite son. Although he wasn’t given lands as a baby, his father relented in later life and gave him Aquitaine, in France. This sparked the Great Rebellion of 1173, pitching John’s brothers against their own father. Although the row was caused by Henry taking land from Richard for John, John took Richard’s side. This act of rebellion and disloyalty from his favourite son helped to break Henry’s spirit.

5 Disloyal and treacherous

King John tried to take his brother’s throne while he out of the country. Richard I was fighting the Third Crusade when John plotted with King Philip of France to invade England. John spread the lie that Richard had died in battle to make becoming king easier.

6 Unusally cruel

King John was cruel even by the standards of the time. He imprisoned twenty two knights and starved them to death. A similar fate befell the wife and child of a former friend who unfortunately became his enemy. William de Briouze’s
wife, Matilda, could not pay an inhumanely high tax demand. With her husband exiled and impoverished, she and her eldest son were imprisoned in Corfe castle in Dorset where they died of starvation.

7 Two wives called Isabella

John married Isabella of Gloucester but the marriage was dissolved when she failed to produce an heir. Poor Isabella was forced to stay at Court and forbidden to remarry so that John could retain her lands. A decade later, he took a second wife, the heiress Isabella of Angouleme. She may have been as young as twelve at this time. They went on to have five children together.

8 The finer things in life

John loved jewels, high fashion, rich food and drink. He was witty, funny, immoral and cruel. He enjoyed the company of his friends’ wives and daughters. It is alleged that they did not enjoy his attentions and that he abused his power terribly.

9 A fearful or sorry end?

It seems that John was expressing remorse, guilt or fear shortly before his death. Rather than a crown, John chose to be buried in a cloth cap. This was a cap of unction which was central to a religious ritual. The sacred oils contained within it were said to wash away sin before the spirit departs.