King John

Acknowledgements; List of Figures; Chapter 1 Outline of the Reign; Chapter 2 John in the Shadows, 1167–1199; Chapter 3 An ‘Imperial’ Inheritance?; Chapter 4 War of Succession and the Loss of Continental Territories, 1199–1204; Chapter 5 Efforts to Regain the French Territories, 1205–1214; Chapter 6 The British Perspective: Scotland, Ireland and Wales, 1199–1214; Chapter 7 Sacerdotium and Regnum, 1199–1214; Chapter 8 Administration, Justice and Finance; Chapter 9 Civil War: A False Start, 1215; Chapter 10 Civil War Renewed, 1215–1216; Chapter 11 Conclusion: Will the Real King John Please Stand Up?; Appendix; Notes; Bibliography; Further Reading; Questions; Index

‘King John is one of the most interesting and controversial figures in English history, provoking extreme responses from both contemporaries and modern historians. The general opinion is that John was a bad king, perhaps the worst to have worn the English crown. In this volume Graham Seel reviews the sources for, and the historiography of, John’s reign in order to understand how this poor reputation has been acquired. He explores its key events and decisions, and attempts to place them within the context of contemporary expectations and norms. The result is a sympathetic reinterpretation that offers a well-informed yet accessible introductory survey, and which provides a readable and critical summary of all the main arguments. It will serve as a useful and attractive starting point for the general interest reader, students of A-level history, and first year undergraduates.’ —Professor Mark Bailey, University of East Anglia