WHY DID THE NOBLES TRANSFER THEIR SUPPORT TO PHILIP II

• The most obvious reason was that Philip appeared to be the better option
• John was seen as unpredictable and tainted by the suspicion that he had murdered arthur

WHAT FACTORS FAVOURED PHILIP II?

• His quarral with the church ended in 1201 with the death of his wife Agnes
• He found good fortune in the nuetralisation of his eastern and northern forces which left Otto IV the emporer of Germany and Johns nephew unable to lend assistance
• Philip acted quickly to secure the loyalty of Arthur, who came to paris and performed homage to Philip who recognised him as Johns heir to all his fiefs except Normandy which he intended to take for himself
• Philip followed his favourite tactic of besieging castles on the Norman frontier and avoiding open battle which he might use.

WHY WAS JOHN UNABLE TO BENEFIT FROM HIS VICTORY AT MIREBEAU?

• John summoned his English vassals to Portsmouth supposedly to join his army
• Instead he relieved them of their money and supplies and used this to fund his more experienced forces
• His mother at the time was being persued by Arthur and his forces 
• John marched to her rescue joining up with William Roches in anjou and takeing their opponents completely by surprise in the castle of Mirabeau
• Philip broke off…