King John & Borders

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SCOTLAND 1209-12 (1)

  • Causes of the conflict:
  • Relations between William the Lion and John were poor from the beginning.
  • William gained confidence after Richard released him from the 1174 Treaty of Faliase, so when Richard died, William sought to claim Cumbria and Northumbria in the succession dispute.
  • By 1209 John became suspicious that William and Philip were allied; believed one of William's daughter was intended to marry into the family so Philip would gain influence in Scotland; he thought William was turning barons against him. 
  • The Conflict:
  • August, 1209 - John gathered a large army and marched on the Scottish border; William submitted immediately.
  • They agreed the Treaty of Norham - John gained custody over William's daughters, with one agreed to marry his eldest son and another to marry an English nobleman. William paid John 15,000 marks to secure goodwill (and at least 10,000 of it was actually paid).
  • In 1212 a further treaty was agreed: William's heir, Alexander, would marry John's (legitimate) daughter Joan.
  • John later gave Alexander II a mercenary force to deal with Guthred MacWilliam (Scottish rebel).
  • By the end of 1212 any threat of Scottish rebellion was minimalised and peace was largely established.
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Scotland - Success? (2)

  • In 1200 William paid homage to John at Lincoln for Tynedale - suggests John had some control.
  • John was better at dealing with his borderlands than Henry II or Richard had been - had time to deal with them.
  • Scottish king had submitted and the threat of invasion was low - John saw it as a success.
  • Treaty of Norham reduced the threat from Philip in Scotland and also added money to the treasury.
  • The lasting peace secured through the 1209 and 1211 treaties meant John secured at least 1 border and had Scottish support should he have needed it.
  • But Alexander ended up paying homage to Louis and John failed to capture him when he attempted to do so in 1216, and Alexander also attempted to take land when John was distracted by the barons. 
  • Overall: Success.
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IRELAND, 1210 (1)

  • First recognised as Lord of Ireland in 1177, first failed campaign there in 1185. Didn's go back until 1210 but retained an active interest. William de Burgh attempted to control Connacht but was contested by John de Courcy and Walter & Hugh de Lacy. John worsened things by supporting the claims of William de Braose in Limerick.
  • Late 1200 - John appointed Meiler FitzHenry as chief justiciar in Ireland and he held the position until 1208 but couldn't limit the power of the barons there. After Normandy fell, the situation in Ireland grew worse.
  • Many barons who fled with John wanted new lands to compensate for their losses; looked to Ireland. But the native rulers were already there. When John de Courcy forfeited Ulster in 1205 Hugh de Lacy took it; unsettled balance.
  • Autumn 1208 - John replaced Meiler with John de Gray (loyal servant, preferred choice for ABC).
  • John then decided to take a personal role in Ireland in 1210; raised a fleet of 700 ships with men and mercenaries.
  • He did this to assert authority over the native rulers, to continue his hunt of William de Braose and to ensure his barons were still loyal to him (e.g. Walter and Hugh de Lacy had both been accused of harbouring fugitives).
  • Within 2 months in 1210 (20th June - 24th August) John punished those barons and several others, and gained the submission of the Irish natives. William de Braose had been forced to flee Ireland and John took hostages from William Marshall to ensure loyalty. 
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Ireland - Success? (2)

  • Ultra-loyal justiciars were imposed: John de Gray (1209-13) and Henry of London (1213-15).
  • A royal charter made clear that English laws and customs were to be imposed over baronial parts of Ireland.
  • 2/3rds of Ireland was now under direct Anglo-Norman rule. Dublin became the capital for governance and coinage.
  • The legacy of John's relations with native rulers was more mixed but they were not problematic for the rest of his reign.
  • Ireland provided John with mercenaries during the civil war (1215). 
  • Overall: Success.
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WALES - 1211-15 (1)

  • John initially wanted to increase the power of William Marshall and William de Braose in Wales; he made Marshall the earl of Pembroke and de Braose was given the lordship of Gower and 3 strongholds in Gwent, and his son was made bishop of Hereford. John also exploited divisions in Welsh dynasties to gain Cardigan.
  • Llywelyn of Wales (ruler of Gwynedd and Anglesey) had married Joan (John's illegitimate daughter) to gain John's support, which he had until 1212. John played off Llywelyn against Gwenwynwyn (ruler of Powys).
  • 1208 - William de Braose fell to John; gained Radnor, Builth, Brecon, Abergowenny and Gower. Gwenwynwyn was also captrued which meant Llywelyn's power increased - worried John.
  • 1209-10 - Llywelyn gave John forces for Scotland but had taken Aberystwyth - John didn't trust him.
  • 1211 - John marched into Wales with an army and invaded Deganwy, but eventually had to restreat or starve.
  • But within 3 months he returned so Llywelyn had no choice but to send Joan to make peace, the terms of which were humiliating for Llywelyn; John expected him to hand over hostages and give a tribute in cattle. John then annexed North Wales and installed Gerard d'Athee (+ 2 other mercenary captains) into the southern marches.
  • Llywelyn then united the Welsh princes against John and in Summer 1212 made an alliance with Philip of France.
  • In 1215 he marched on Shrewsbury and captured it with little resistance, extending his power base in South Wales.
  • Over the next 3 years, Llywelyn became the single most powerful figure in Wales.
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Wales - Success? (2)

  • John aimed to put down the Welsh princes in an expedition but wasn't very successful.
  • July 1212 - John hung 28 Welsh hostages - damaged his reputation.
  • After this he didn't have another chance to pacify Wales.
  • Henry III later confirmed Llywelyn's possessions in the 1218 Treaty of Worcester, demonstrating the power of the Welsh princes over the English king.
  • Overall: Failure
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