Home > Navigation > History > Reigns > John

John (1167-1216) King of England (1199-1216):

Lackland, the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Perhaps the least popular monarch in English history. When his brother Richard I was in captivity in Austria, John tried to seize the crown. He was later forgiven and designated heir to the king, the legitimate successor being Arthur, the son of John's elder brother Geoffrey. Arthur was later murdered on John's orders. In 1204 John lost almost all his dominions on the Continent to Philip II of France. In 1206 he refused the appointment of Stephen Langton as Abp. of Canterbury. England was placed under the interdict and he himself excommunicated. In 1215 he had to sign Magna Carta at Runnymede granting considerable constitional reform to the barons. With his second wife, Isabella of Angoulême, John had five children. His eldest son, Henry, became king of England and Richard of Cornwall German Emperor.