The Story of King John

The death of King Richard the Lion-Hearted has left the realm of England and its French territories up for grabs. Richard’s youngest brother, John, has claimed the throne, supported by his fierce mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine.  But Arthur, the young son of Richard’s brother Geoffrey (next in line until his untimely death), also has a claim, supported by his mother Constance and the King of France.  France demands that John abdicate. John angrily refuses and war is declared.

Philip Falconbridge asks John to settle an issue of inheritance: His younger brother Robert has inherited the family estate, against the law of primogeniture.  Robert explains that his father disowned Philip as a bastard, conceived during his absence; Philip’s true father is Richard the Lion-Hearted. Eleanor embraces Philip as his grandmother and John knights him; Philip – now known as the Bastard – joins the king’s service.

War begins.  The armies of the King of France and the Duke of Austria, with young Arthur and his mother Constance, are laying siege to Angiers (Angers), part of England’s holdings in France, when John arrives with Eleanor and a large English army. Asked to choose which claimant is the true King of England, the people of Angiers refuse to decide, and the battle begins.  In mid-battle, they are asked again to choose and again refuse. Enraged,  John suggests that the two armies turn from fighting each other and  destroy Angiers as retribution; France and Austria agree. To avert this calamity, Hubert, a citizen, proposes a way to peace:  a marriage between the Lady Blanche, John’s niece who is traveling with Eleanor, and Louis, the Dauphin, heir to the French throne. Eleanor endorses the idea, since it will rob Arthur and Constance of France’s support, and John and the French king soon have a deal.  The couple will be married right away. Constance is devastated by the news.

Immediately after the wedding, however, Cardinal Pandulph arrives to accuse John of rebelling against Papal authority by refusing to accept the Pope’s appointee as Archbishop of Canterbury.  John intemperately replies that he is supreme head of the English church, not the Pope. Pandulph excommunicates him and tells France not to make peace but  declare war against the heretic.  Constance is delighted, Blanche is devastated and the armies of England and France renew the war.  England wins the battle, however, and Arthur is captured. John appoints Hubert to bring Arthur to England, secretly instructing him to kill the boy.

Though all appears to be going well for John, troubles are brewing. Pandulph urges the Dauphin to invade England, basing his claim on his recent marriage to Blanche.

Touched by Arthur’s pleas, Hubert is unable to kill him, but fearing John, decides to send a false report that he is dead. Hearing this report, the nobles suspect John plotted Arthur’s death and turn against him. News arrives that both Eleanor and Constance are dead, and, more ominous, the Dauphin has landed in England with a large army. Beset by all these losses, John turns on Hubert and blames him for Arthur’s death; frightened, Hubert confesses his lie – Arthur really lives.  John joyfully sends for the nobles to tell them.  In the meantime, however, Arthur tries to escape from his prison and falls to his death. Angered, the nobles join the French against John.

Threatened by the French invasion John submits to the Pope’s authority, and Pandulph promises to end the war.  But the Bastard urges John to fight and the Dauphin refuses to give up.  During the ensuing battle, John is taken sick, poisoned by a monk; his son, Prince Henry, will have a clear right to be the next king of England.