Painting of King John

King John

King John (c1167–1216) was king of England from 1199 until his death in October 1216 and is most famous for signing Magna Carta in 1215. Famously nicknamed ‘Bad King John’, he is said to have been cruel and tyrannical – it was widely rumoured that he had killed his nephew and rival, Arthur of Brittany, who contested the king’s claim to his inheritance until John captured him in 1202. King John was made to sign Magna Carta in 1215 after his barons rebelled and forced him to agree to limitations on his power, because he had demanded heavy taxes to fund his unsuccessful wars in France. King John died of dysentery in October 1216 and he was succeeded by his son Henry III

A 20th-century painting shows John applying his seal to the 1215 charter

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An English fleet defeats the French at the battle of Sluys in 1340. By now, Edward III’s war machine was reaping the benefits of a system of national taxation, approved by parliament (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images via Getty Images)

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How King John helped bring about a political miracle in medieval England. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The effigy of King John on his tomb in Worcester Cathedral

Medieval

Your guide to King John, the monarch who issued Magna Carta

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A c1850 satirical illustration of King John signing Magna Charta. (Photo by the Print Collector/Getty Images)

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King John hunting on horseback, 14th century. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

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Newark Castle flanked by the river Trent. To say that King John's death here in 1216 was little-lamented is something of an understatement. "With John's foul deeds all England is stinking, as does hell, to which he is now sinking," wrote the chronicler Matthew Paris. (Getty Images)

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The battle of Dover, 24 August 1217, (image c1880). (Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images)

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King John hunting on horseback

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Illustration of King John ripping up Magna Carta

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An illustration of the barons compelling King John to ratify Magna Carta, 1215. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

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The newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II

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King John out hunting

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Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle (Photo by Getty)

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A 15th-century map of the world illustrating a Latin edition of Ptolemy's the 'Geography'. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

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"It was in Ireland that King John revealed himself as a monster," writes Nicholas Vincent. (Image by Alamy)

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(Photo by Alamy)

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Why ‘Bad King John’ was actually good

An illustration from an 11th-century manuscript depicting a king and his minister doing justice, c1050. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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An illustration depicting King John signing Magna Carta in 1215. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

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Magna Carta

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MedievalvideoWatch: David Starkey on Magna Carta

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Parts of the Magna Carta

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