Defeat in the war with France Flashcards
(20 cards)
What military measure did John attempt in 1205 to regain Normandy?
He planned an expedition, ordering each shire to send 1 knight out of every 10; the others paid 2 shillings a day instead — indicating a lack of support.
This reflects John’s difficulties in rallying sufficient military support for his campaigns.
How did William Marshal avoid committing to John’s French campaigns?
In 1205, he made a private deal: he would defend England if invaded by Philip but not support John’s invasion of France.
This highlights the lack of trust and support from key nobles.
What key Angevin fortresses were lost in 1205?
Chinon and Loches both surrendered — significant symbolic and strategic losses for John.
These losses weakened John’s position in the region.
Why was John’s 1212 French campaign delayed?
A Welsh rebellion and the Northern Conspiracy (plot to kill John) forced him to delay. He demanded hostages from both groups to secure loyalty.
What were the achievements and failures of John’s 1206 French campaign?
He captured Montauban in 15 days and reached Angers, reclaiming Aimeri de Thouars, but his Poitevin allies refused to fight Philip, forcing a two-year truce that John failed to exploit.
Why was John’s visit to Angers in September 1206 symbolic?
Angers was the heart of the Angevin empire. Holding court there showed symbolic aspiration to restore Plantagenet dominance.
What was John’s strategy with Niort in 1206?
He travelled via Niort to strengthen ties and ensure loyalty among local defenders, attempting to rebuild loyalty.
What naval victory did John’s forces achieve in May 1213?
William Longsword defeated a French fleet at Damme, destroying or seizing over 1,700 ships. Philip burned the rest to prevent capture.
What alliance did John form in 1207, and why did it fail?
He allied with Otto of Brunswick, who became Holy Roman Emperor (1209). However, Otto attacked Italy, lost Innocent III’s support, and Innocent allied with Philip II and Frederick of Hohenstaufen.
How did John end up alienated diplomatically by 1210?
He found himself on the opposite side of Pope Innocent III, aligning with Otto while Innocent supported Philip and Frederick.
Where did John land for his 1214 campaign, and what did he initially capture?
He landed at La Rochelle (February 1214) and captured Mervant and Vouvant from the Lusignans.
How did John try to secure Lusignan loyalty?
He arranged a marriage alliance: his daughter Joan married Hugh de Lusignan’s son.
Why did the 1214 campaign falter despite early success?
The Poitevin barons were hesitant; Aimery de Thouars refused to commit. Feeling isolated, John retreated to La Rochelle.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Bouvines (27 July 1214)?
Philip II decisively defeated John’s allies, Otto IV and William Longsword. It marked the end of John’s hopes to reclaim Normandy.
What happened when John tried to besiege Roche-au-Moine?
He was forced to abandon the siege, as William de Roches was inside and local support collapsed — demonstrating his complete failure to win loyalty.
Why was Normandy so strategically and symbolically important to John?
It was the ancestral core of the Angevin Empire, crucial for continental influence and coastal security.
What was the long-term effect of the Battle of Bouvines (1214) on John’s reign?
It destroyed John’s continental hopes, collapsed his alliance with Otto, and left him isolated and weakened — leading directly to baronial unrest in England.
How did John’s failure to regain Normandy affect his domestic support?
His barons resented the high taxes (esp. scutage), saw him as a failed war leader, and began to question their loyalty — especially after 1214.
What major constitutional crisis followed John’s military collapse?
The Magna Carta crisis: barons seized London, John was forced to agree to the Magna Carta (15 June), he then rejected it, leading to civil war.
How did the loss of Normandy contribute to the First Barons’ War (1215–1217)?
Normandy’s loss symbolised John’s military and diplomatic incompetence, discredited his rule, and was a key cause of their open rebellion and the subsequent civil war.
