King John Traditional Cache

King John ruled in the time of Magna Carta

King John was born on Christmas Eve 1166, the 2nd son of Henry 11 and Eleanor of Aquitaine . He grew to be 5'5, barrel chested with dark red hair. He had a somewhat petty nature although he was an avid reader. He collected jewels. In 1209, John had been excommunicated in a dispute over the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He had used this as an excuse to confiscate church property and sell it back to his bishops at a profit. Part of the money raised by these exactions was used to create a fledgling English Navy. In their efforts to break away from the harsh Angevin régime created by Henry II, the Barons were harking back to the same 'Golden Age' that he had used to justify his actions. Their attempts to besiege Northampton Castle met with failure, but they scored a great coup when London opened its gates to them on 17 May, John wavered, engaging in protracted negotiations. It was these that eventually led to the signing of Magna Carta at Runnymede in June 1215. The Magna Carta was initially seen - both by the 'cowardly' King John and the rebellious Barons lined up against him - as simply a bargaining chip, and not of very great significance. History has told us otherwise. It was the beginning of a legal system and democracy in a country otherwise ruled by the landed and elite.