John

John


House / Group: Plantagenet
Born / died: 1166-1216
Reign: 1199-1216


The 5th son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, his father's youngest but favourite son.
John first married Avisa (daughter and heiress of the Earl of Gloucester), but later had the marriage annulled. They had no children. After taking the throne, he married Isabelle of Angoulême (20 years his junior) and they had 5 children (Henry (III), Richard, Joan, Isabella and Eleanor). John also had numerous mistresses and illegitimate children.
Both John and his brothers were treacherous and rebellious and John's reign was not successful. He lost most of the French possessions, offended the catholic church (resulting in excommunication and eventual submission on papal terms) and offended the Barons, resulting in Magna Carta, limiting his power.
The Barons encouraged Prince Louis of France to invade and take the throne and John retreated to East Anglia. There he lost the Crown Jewels and his sanity and died later in Newark. He is buried in Worcester Cathedral.