I had the same impression for him, but last year I read The Evolution of the Medieval World by David Nicholas and the author descibes him as a "great reformer" and also says that history was unfair to him, mostly because of how he's depicted in the adventures of Robin Hood, so now I'm kind of torn.
"When Richard became king and went off on the Third Crusade, John proceeded to betray him as well. With Philip’s connivance, he planned to usurp the throne of England and the vast Angevin estates on the continent. Their plot failed when Richard was released from prison in Austria, and came racing back to crush John’s supporters in England. Soon afterwards John offered his surrender, and was forgiven - humiliatingly - on the grounds that he was a child, led astray by evil counsellors."
Much of this is depicted in virtually every Robin Hood movie.
It says a lot that Britain has never had another King named John since his death.
What’s your source for Louis being crowned and anointed? As far as I was aware he was elected but never crowned. And since there was a live king who had the Pope’s full backing, deposition really wasn’t an option.
I had the same impression for him, but last year I read The Evolution of the Medieval World by David Nicholas and the author descibes him as a "great reformer" and also says that history was unfair to him, mostly because of how he's depicted in the adventures of Robin Hood, so now I'm kind of torn.
"When Richard became king and went off on the Third Crusade, John proceeded to betray him as well. With Philip’s connivance, he planned to usurp the throne of England and the vast Angevin estates on the continent. Their plot failed when Richard was released from prison in Austria, and came racing back to crush John’s supporters in England. Soon afterwards John offered his surrender, and was forgiven - humiliatingly - on the grounds that he was a child, led astray by evil counsellors."
Much of this is depicted in virtually every Robin Hood movie.
It says a lot that Britain has never had another King named John since his death.
True, although we might have done - Edward I named his eldest son John!
Yeah, but after that it really fell out of royal favor.
The phoney king of Eeeenglaaand:)
What’s your source for Louis being crowned and anointed? As far as I was aware he was elected but never crowned. And since there was a live king who had the Pope’s full backing, deposition really wasn’t an option.