King John Coins

King John History

King John of England was the favourite son of Henry II because of a failed revolt in 1173-74 by his surviving brothers Henry the Young King, Richard I, and Geoffrey II, as well as his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine. King Henry II swept to victory over the course of 18 months of conflict, with the barons advising the young Henry taking the blame for the spat. They were punished, while the King's family members were brought back into the fold.

Following Henry's death, Richard I became King of England - a decision that no doubt frustrated the younger John who, due to his distance from the throne, was nicknamed John Lackland. After failing to overthrow Richard while he was abroad in the Crusades (an attempt chronicled in the tale of Robin Hood), John finally came to power in 1199.

There was a short peace with Philip II of France, before conflict renewed in 1202. Historians believe John's reign as King to have been poor, with bad financial management and suspect military gambits leading to a lack of faith in the monarch, as well as a disenfranchised public who were paying higher taxes to the crown. King John was excommunicated in this period by the Pope, and eventually died in 1216.