Anyone know anything re King John (brother of Richard Lionheart)? Sounds bit like Trump---

[bobbieinok]

Horrific sexual predator, financial benefits to self and cronies, constant drive for revenge for any perceived slight, etc, etc

But maybe that's just standard for a successful ruler of the high middle ages?? And Trump would feel right at home in that period??

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He seems to have been kind of a dick even for his time.

He was the villain in the Robin Hood stories, and was forced to sign Magna Carta after the barons revolted against the king's disregard of their feudal rights.

[LisaM]

2. I have a book with rhymes for all British rulers..

His starts out:

John John, bad King John
Shamed the throne that he sat on!

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Accused of murdering his nephew Arthur

Part of a rebellion with his brothers against his father Henry II, over how land and power was distributed and handed on (as the youngest, he got very little, hence his nickname 'Lackland')

Had a long-running feud with the Pope about who got to appoint the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the result that England's churches were closed for years.

Lost control of Normandy. Had a long running feud with his barons about taxation and power, resulting in them forcing him to sign the Magna Carta (mostly about their power, but a few bits about the common man)

When he went back on the Magna Carta, a civil war with the barons started. They invited the young French king/heir to the throne (I can't remember his status at that point) to be their king. John died before the war was resolved, but eventually his chief commander won it, and his young son Henry III was the undisputed king.

I don't remember anything about "sexual predator". But he's normally seen as a notable failure as a king. No likely heir to the throne gets called 'John', because they don't want a 'King John II'.

[meadowlander]

4. But he'll always be Nigel Terry in The Lion in Winter to me.

A stinker who stinks.