Question 1
Using these four sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view that King
John showed the qualities needed by a king in the period 1200–1202.
Source A: A monk of St Alban’s gives an account of events in 1200.
After divorcing his wife, the daughter of the Earl of Gloucester, King John married Isabella, daughter of the Count of Angoulême, formerly betrothed to Hugh, known as ‘le Brun’, earl of March. This marriage was afterwards very damaging to the king and to the kingdom of England. Not long after this, Arthur did homage to the King of England for Brittany and his other possessions, but, as he feared treachery on the part of King John, he remained under the care of the French king.
Roger of Wendover, History of England, written before 1236
Source B: King John writes to his English barons, after his victory at Mirebeau.
Know that, by the grace of God, we are safe and well and God’s mercy has worked wonderfully well for us. On Tuesday before the feast of St Peter ad Vincula [1 August], when we were on the road to Chinon, we heard our lady mother was closely besieged at Mirebeau. We hurried there as fast as we could, arriving on the feast day. There we captured our nephew Arthur and Geoffrey de Lusignan and Hugh le Brun and all our other Poitevin enemies who were there, totalling upwards of two hundred knights. None escaped.
King John, Letter, 1202
Source C: A monk explains how rebellion broke out against King John in 1202.
William des Roches, a powerful member of the Angevin nobility, with other nobles from Brittany, petitioned the king to hand Arthur, whom he was carefully keeping in custody, over to them. When John refused, they conspired together and launched a rebellion against him, collecting a large army from other regions which should have been under the King’s authority. They devastated the land, pillaging and burning and they attacked many castles. The counsellors of the king, realising that no firm peace could be made while Arthur lived, suggested to the King that he order Arthur to be blinded and castrated, thus rendering him incapable of rule, so that the opposition would submit to the king.
Ralph of Coggeshall, Chronicle, written before 1208
Source D: A French author gives his opinion about the events of 1202.
The King’s arrogance grew, and pride makes its subjects blind to reason and is their downfall. The King never kept his promise to the lord des Roches to hand over Arthur to him and des Roches made him pay for it, as he went and sided with the French king. King John made a big mistake in not keeping faith. It was a bad and unworthy move. It was through Sir William des Roches that he was to lose Anjou, Maine and Poitou. The Poitevins, in their turn, deceived the King. They gave him their word that they would be loyal, but they did not keep their promises.
History of William the Marshal, written before 1219
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Answer
