Cranborne Chase
William Seymour describes how a large area of Dorset and Wiltshire, abounding in deer, was hunted by King John and granted to Robert Cecil by James I.
King John
What was Wrong with King John?
W.L. Warren makes an attempt to sift the facts from the lurid legend of an English monarch who has left a reputation for evil second only to Richard III’s.
Archbishop Stephen Langton
Deryck Abel reflects on a crucial figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III, which in turn led to the issuing of Magna Carta in 1215.
The Real Robin Hood
Sean McGlynn reconsiders the origins of the popular myth and suggests a new contender for the original folk hero; not an outlaw from Nottingham but a devoted royal servant from Kent, who opposed the French invasion against King John in 1216.
Magna Carta: A Bitter Indictment of King John's Rule?
This essay was the winner of the 2012 Julia Wood essay prize.
The Story of England: King John and the Charter
Arthur Bryant examines the background to Magna Carta.
Good King John
For centuries King John has been regarded as the embodiment of an evil ruler. But, says Graham E. Seel, this image is largely the creation of monastic chroniclers with an axe to grind. A close examination of contemporary records reveals a more nuanced character.
Lackland: The Loss of Normandy in 1204
Nick Barratt argues that Normandy’s loss in the reign of King John has had a far-reaching impact on Britain.
The Meaning of Magna Carta since 1215
Ralph V. Turner considers how and why Magna Carta became a beacon of liberty in Britain and, increasingly, in the United States.
King John's Maundy
England's royal black sheep may well turn out to be the instigator of the ancient ceremony linking Church and Crown. Arnold Kellett explains how this came about.