Book Review: King John England's Evil King?
As a kid I really liked the movies and the tv series about Robin Hood. There
Richard Lionheart was described as the good King and his brother John I
as the bad one. But is he really that evil as it is declared by historians?
Book review
The book King John, England's evil King? was written by Ralph V Turner
and edited by History Press Limited in 2009.
It contains 240 pages devided in clear chapters and the writer gives an
excellent idea of who King John of England was.
The chapters were written chronological which I really like. The book
gives lots of interesting information and it is easy going to read.
In short, this book is really worth to pay attention.
Who was King John of England?
John of England was born on 24 December 1166 as the youngest son of
King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor (Duchess of Aquitaine).
John was thus a member of the noble House of Plantagenet/Angevin.
Reign
As the youngest son, John wasn't supposed to become a King, however
the unexpected happened and on 27 May 1199, John was the new
King of England.
During his reign he had a lot of troubles in England and on the royal
domains on the continent:
He had continuing financial problems due to the cost of warfare,
repressions and rebellions.
He lost Normandy and he couldn't recover it.
Last but not at least he had many struggles with Pope Innocent III.
He even was excommunicated therefore in 1209.
Love & Marriage
King John of England married twice:
1/Isabella, Countess of Gloucester
2/ Isabella of Angoulême.
He would have 7 children (5 legal and 2 natural).
- Henry III, King of England,
- Richard, 1st. Earl of Cornwall,
- Joan, Queen of Schotland,
- Isabella, Holy Roman Empress,
- Eleanor, Countess of Pembroke,
- Richard FitzRoy,
- Joan, Lady of Wales
Death
John died on 19 October 1216 at Newark Castle in Nottinghamshire.
Source pictures:
1/ bookcover
2+3/ wikipedia
On youtube, I found a little moovie about King John of England, check
this link.
Book review
The book King John, England's evil King? was written by Ralph V Turner
and edited by History Press Limited in 2009.
It contains 240 pages devided in clear chapters and the writer gives an
excellent idea of who King John of England was.
The chapters were written chronological which I really like. The book
gives lots of interesting information and it is easy going to read.
In short, this book is really worth to pay attention.
Who was King John of England?
John of England was born on 24 December 1166 as the youngest son of
King Henry II of England and Queen Eleanor (Duchess of Aquitaine).
John was thus a member of the noble House of Plantagenet/Angevin.
Reign
As the youngest son, John wasn't supposed to become a King, however
the unexpected happened and on 27 May 1199, John was the new
King of England.
During his reign he had a lot of troubles in England and on the royal
domains on the continent:
He had continuing financial problems due to the cost of warfare,
repressions and rebellions.
He lost Normandy and he couldn't recover it.
Last but not at least he had many struggles with Pope Innocent III.
He even was excommunicated therefore in 1209.
Love & Marriage
King John of England married twice:
1/Isabella, Countess of Gloucester
2/ Isabella of Angoulême.
He would have 7 children (5 legal and 2 natural).
- Henry III, King of England,
- Richard, 1st. Earl of Cornwall,
- Joan, Queen of Schotland,
- Isabella, Holy Roman Empress,
- Eleanor, Countess of Pembroke,
- Richard FitzRoy,
- Joan, Lady of Wales
Death
John died on 19 October 1216 at Newark Castle in Nottinghamshire.
Source pictures:
1/ bookcover
2+3/ wikipedia
On youtube, I found a little moovie about King John of England, check
this link.
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