Richard I and the Third Crusade, 1189–99
- Richard I became king in 1189 and left on the Third Crusade (1189–92) with Philip II of France. He captured Acre (1191) and won at Arsuf (1191), but did not take Jerusalem; he made a truce with Saladin (1192).
- On the way home he was captured by Leopold of Austria and handed to Emperor Henry VI. England paid a huge ransom of 150,000 marks, and he was freed in 1194.
- Richard spent most of his reign fighting in France and died in 1199 from a crossbow wound at Châlus.
John and the loss of Normandy, 1199–1206
- John became king in 1199. His nephew, Arthur of Brittany, disappeared in 1203, probably murdered on John's orders.
- Philip II of France took Normandy in 1204, including Château Gaillard, Richard's great castle. John raised heavy taxes, such as scutage, to try to win it back.
John, the Pope and Magna Carta, 1205–16
- John quarrelled with Pope Innocent III over the choice of Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Pope placed England under an Interdict (1208–14) and excommunicated John (1209).
- After defeat at the Battle of Bouvines (1214), rebel barons forced John to agree to Magna Carta at Runnymede (June 1215). He soon broke it, civil war followed, and John died in 1216.
Key terms
- Crusade
- A religious war to take Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
- Ransom
- Money paid to free a prisoner.
- Scutage
- Money paid instead of military service.
- Interdict
- A ban by the Pope on church services in a country.
- Excommunication
- Being thrown out of the Church.
- Magna Carta
- The 1215 charter limiting the king's power.
Quick questions on The reigns of King Richard I and King John, 1189–1216
- Which crusade did Richard I lead?
- The Third Crusade: It lasted from 1189 to 1192.
- Which city did Richard capture in 1191?
- Acre: He never took Jerusalem.
- Who captured Richard on his way home?
- Leopold of Austria: He was handed to Emperor Henry VI.
- How much was Richard's ransom?
- 150,000 marks: It was a huge burden on England.
- How did Richard I die?
- From a crossbow wound at Châlus in 1199: John became king.
- What did John lose to Philip II in 1204?
- Normandy: Château Gaillard fell the same year.
- Why did the Pope place England under an Interdict (1208)?
- John refused to accept Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury: It lasted until 1214.
- Which defeat in 1214 weakened John?
- The Battle of Bouvines: The barons rebelled soon after.
Practise The reigns of King Richard I and King John, 1189–1216: 10 questions