We all know the story of Robin Hood and his mortal enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. However, what about the ‘Phony King of England,’ Prince John?
Who Is Prince John, And From Which Era?
When we think about Robin Hood, we know Prince John was the antagonist alongside the Sheriff of Nottingham. Prince John is also King Richard’s younger brother, from whom he took the crown while away on the Third Crusade.
While the information is assumed from popular culture from known movies such as Robin Hood: Men In Tights and Walt Disney’s Robin Hood, the information on the character is limited. Prince John’s depiction is also quite different from one movie to the next.
The most famous portrayal of the Robin Hood legend is likely 1992’s Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves. However, in that version, there is no Prince John, only the Sheriff of Nottingham, to threaten Robin’s life.
Prince John, however, did exist and even became king. So, what was his life like? And was he as horrible as the story of Robin Hood implies?
The Overall Life Of A Most Hated Antagonist
King Henry II of England had four sons with his wife, the Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine. Henry, Richard, Geoffrey, and John were the four brothers. Historical records show that John was born on December 24th, 1166, and met his end on October 19th, 1216.
John’s nickname was John Lackland because of many people’s predictions that he would not have any land. To support that nickname, when John became King of England in 1199, lasting until 1216, he lost his land in Normandy and other French landmarks to King Philip II of France.
Losing the French territories marked the collapse of the Angevin Empire, which allowed the French power to grow within the Capetian Dynasty. However, losing the territories brought progression regarding the constitution of the United Kingdom in the thirteenth century. It all happened after a revolt took place against the loss of French territory.
John, The Youngest Surviving Son
Not expected to inherit any substantial or strategic land, John already had a nickname before he even had a title. From 1173 to 1174, a revolt against King Henry II, led by his sons and wife, occurred.
Contrary to movies, John was favoured by his father but not his mother. John witnessed his brothers Richard and Geoffrey fail at rebelling against their father. Even his mother participated in the rebellion but was captured on her way to France to seek refuge with her sons.
Henry, King Henry II’s son, also called Henry The Young King, was eighteen years old when he was praised for his beauty and ruling. Married to the princess of France, daughter of King Louis VII of France, Queen Eleanor’s previous husband, helped for protection.
One of the reasons for the revolt was the supposed involvement of King Henry II in Archbishop Thomas Becket’s murder in 1170. It resulted in Henry’s estrangement from Christendom overall.
Another reason for the revolt was overlooking his sons Richard, Henry and Geoffrey and giving John castles. As a favourite of his father, John saw himself the heir to lands and buildings while his brothers, better suited, waited for their time to rule.
The Ascension Of John The Worst
After the failure of a revolt against the king from 1173 to 1174, John cemented his place as the favourite son. In 1177, John received the title of Lord of Ireland. As a Lord, his father appointed him lands on the continent and England.
John then attempted to rebel against his brother Richard and his royal administration but failed miserably. He attempted a rebellion, as mentioned in movies, while Richard was away on his participation in the Third Crusade.
To the dismay of many, John ascended to the throne when King Richard The Lionheart passed away in 1199. King Philip of France had no choice but to recognize John’s ruling over the Angevin lands as legitimate at the Treaty of Le Goulet for peace in the year 1200.
Perhaps It Was Titled The Ugly And The Beast
It was common in the medieval period among noble families to pass youngsters to a wet nurse and have a magister to overlook the education and needs of a child. Prince John was no exception. However, he lacked the presence of both his parents as they often were in quarrels. His instructions in the military and hunting most likely came from his eldest brother, Henry The Young King.
At 1.65 meters tall or 5’5”, a relatively short height for medieval standards, Prince John ended up with a barrel-chested body. According to documents, he had auburn hair and, to contemporary standards, was like a dweller of Poitou. John had nothing in appearance comparable to his beloved brothers, Richard and Henry, who were gifted with good looks. He was quite the opposite.
According to scholars, Prince John was fond of reading but also bad wine. He was a reading enthusiast with a vast library, which was uncommon then. Even by medieval standards, Prince John was an obsessive hunter and liked music without lyrics.
Prince John had a reputation for his opulent clothing, and just like his portrayal in modern entertainment, he had a vast collection of jewels. His status said he could be hospitable, jealous, overly sensitive, and prone to sudden rage as he would bite and gnaw his fingers.
The Disrespect Of An English King
Contrary to the popular portrayal we see in entertainment, Prince John was often used as a pawn to fit where he would be best to ensure a royal matter. Henry, The Young King, was in power and placed his brothers so it would suit them and himself. However, things changed when his son and heir died, and he caught dysentery.
Animosity rose between Richard and Henry, so he placed John as successor until his hand was forced, and Richard would become King of England whenever Henry passed away. Richard would ensure his position by allying with King Philip II of France before showing interest in another crusade.
When Prince John visited Ireland for the first time in 1185, accompanied by three hundred knights and a team of administrators, the visit failed. Henry The Young King tried to have John welcomed as King of Ireland despite Pope Lucius III disagreement and failed. His first term as ruler of Ireland was a disaster as the country was still recovering from the Anglo-Normans’ conquest.
To add insult to injury, Prince John offended the Irish leaders by mocking their long beards and made no allies among the settlers. He lost military grounds and had to return to England within the year. John blamed his failures on Hugh de Lacy.
It Was A Game Of Chess And Cards And Hide And Seek
The portrayal of Prince John is one of a younger brother wanting to ascend to the throne of England. Because of how Catholicism ruled over lands and people, King Richard was ultimately seen as a hero for marching into the Crusades. However, how costly it was and leaving the country at the mercy of others envious of the position.
It was partially why Henry The Young King wanted to appoint Prince John as the successor despite Richard’s better judgment. His desire to join the Crusade overruled his duty as king. When Geoffrey passed away and Henry died, only Richard and John remained. King Richard appointed a team of people to care for England in his absence, but it wasn’t enough.
The portrayal of Prince John as a sneaky man slithering his way to the throne is quite right. He assembled arguments, people and enough riches to rule London for a while. King Richard often sent men to keep his people aware of his ruling decisions and keep John away from the throne.
But after some time, without any words from Richard, while others returned from the Crusade, John declared his brother lost or dead. King Richard was, in fact, captured in 1192 before Christmas. John allied with King Philip II of France to avoid losing his opportunity. A battle occurred between those loyal to King Richard and the people of France wanting a way into England alongside John.
In 1194, King Richard returned to England, and John’s remaining forces surrendered to the king. Prince John, tale between his legs, sought refuge in Normandy, where King Richard found him later that year. Despite John being twenty-seven years old at the time, he had the king say words that wouldn’t be in his favour.
“…a child who has had evil counselors.”
King Richard
King Richard forgave his brother but took away his lands and left him in Ireland, where he had no success for acting like a child.
So, Is Prince John As We See Him In Robin Hood?
Although this article is only an overview of Prince John’s early life and what we see of him in the book, we can make up a character. Prince John was a pawn as a child and witnessed many feuds between his parents and among his brothers. It is fair to say he had no example of peace. He was placed strategically to ensure someone’s position or to confirm he wouldn’t get said position.
Prince John’s actions seem to be one of a young man who demands to have what he wants because his father favoured him and gifted him everything without a reason. Prince John seems to have changed in his later life, but for the portion linked to Robin Hood, he didn’t seem to have as many tantrums, but his jealousy and envy toward King Richard is on point.
However, we can now understand what led Prince John to his awful reputation and why he has attributed the personality of a rotten child. In the Middle Ages, politics was intricate and delicate as every country was on the verge of war to protect its lands. Prince John attacked at every opportunity instead of planning a proper siege with the right reasons and gaining people’s trust for fairness.
King Richard had many allies because of his fairness and wisdom. Despite choosing the Third Crusade over his kingdom, he did as best as possible to appoint the right people with the correct title. But it wasn’t enough, and Prince John managed to taste the throne in London for a while. It was a game of politics and loyalty, which wasn’t a good mix in the Middle Ages.
Gothic Bite Magazine 