Play of the Month: King John

I just finished studying my twenty-second Shakespeare play, The Life and Death of King John (often shortened to King John), a history play about the reign of John, King of England (r. 1199–1216), the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the father of Henry III.  Written in the mid-1590s and first published in 1623, the play dramatizes the reign of King John of England, focusing on his conflicts with France and his own nobles, as well as the political machinations surrounding his nephew, Arthur.

Through the play and extended reading, I gained insight into the interwoven history of medieval England and France. Above all, I learned about what some historians call the First Hundred Years' War (1159–1259, also known as the Capetian–Plantagenet conflict), a series of conflicts and disputes in which the House of Capet, rulers of the Kingdom of France, fought the House of Plantagenet (also known as the House of Anjou or the Angevins), rulers of the Kingdom of England. The conflict emerged over the fiefs in France held by the Angevins, which at their peak covered around half of the territory of the French realm. The struggle between the two dynasties resulted in the gradual conquest of these fiefs by the Capetians and their annexation to the French crown lands, as well as subsequent attempts by the House of Plantagenet to retake what they believed to be their rightful ancestral claims in western France.

The second thing I learned about was the Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter"), a royal charter of rights sealed by King John of England in 1215. First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Stephen Langton, to make peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons, the Magna Carta demanded that the king confirm the Charter of Liberties (a written proclamation by Henry I of England, issued upon his accession to the throne in 1100); it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift and impartial justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons. Neither side stood by their commitments, and the charter was annulled by Pope Innocent III, leading to the First Barons' War. Surviving as a powerful symbol of justice and reissued multiple times by John's successors, however, the Magna Carta became a cornerstone of modern democratic governance and heavily influenced documents like the United States Constitution.

The third thing that amazed me was the rise and fall of The Angevin Empire, the collection of territories held by the House of Plantagenet during the 12th and 13th centuries, when they ruled over an area covering roughly all of present-day England, half of France, and parts of Ireland and Wales. The empire was established by Henry II of England, who succeeded his father Geoffrey as duke of Normandy and count of Anjou (from the latter of which the term Angevin is derived). King John lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of the Angevin Empire and the rise of Capetian power in 13th-century France. 

Conversely, King Philip II (1165 - 1223), King John's French adversary, was so successful that he was given the epithet "Augustus" for having extended the crown lands of France so remarkably. In addition, King Philip II was the first French monarch to style himself "King of France", in contrast to his predecessors who had been known as kings of the Franks. Philip’s son Louis, nicknamed ‘the Lion,’ succeeded him as King of France in 1223. As a prince, Louis invaded England in 1216 and was subsequently excommunicated by a papal legate. He was proclaimed "King of England" by rebellious barons in London, though never crowned. With the assistance of allies in England and Scotland he gained control of approximately one third of the English kingdom and part of Southern Wales. Ultimately, he was defeated by English loyalists and those barons who changed sides following the death of King John. After the Treaty of Lambeth, he was paid 10,000 marks, pledged never to invade England again, and was absolved of his excommunication.

Finally, I learned about Eleanor of Aquitaine, arguably the wealthiest and most powerful woman in western Europe in the 12th century. The eldest child of Duke William X of Aquitaine and Aénor de Châtellerault, Eleanor became duchess upon her father's death in 1137. She was queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, and queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of King Henry II. As the reigning duchess of Aquitaine, she ruled jointly with her husbands and two of her sons, Kings Richard I and John of England. She was the heiress of the House of Poitiers, which controlled much of southwestern France.

Here are some of the passages and soliloquies that impressed me most, presented in modern English translations. 

Act 1, Scene1 

CHATILLON：

Philip of France, on behalf of your dead brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays claim lawfully to this beautiful island and its territories: Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, and Maine. He asks you to give up the power you have stolen over these different places and give these territories to young Arthur, your nephew and your true king.

KING JOHN:

What will happen if I refuse to do this?

CHATILLON:

Fierce and bloody war will force you to give back what you have stolen to the rightful owner.

KING JOHN:

We can return war for war, blood for blood, and force for force: give that answer to the king of France.

Act 1, Scene1 

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE:

King Richard Coeur-de-lion was your father. After he argued vehemently for a long time he convinced me to make room for him in my husband's bed. May heaven not punish me for my sin! You are the result of my dear sin, which he argued for so strongly that I couldn't defend myself.

BASTARD:

I swear, ma'am, if I were going to be conceived again I couldn't wish for a better father. Some sins give you benefits on earth, and yours is one of them. You were not foolish to commit that sin. You had to give him your heart, since you were his subject and his love commanded you. Even the lion that's not afraid of anything could not have fought again his passion and unequaled strength, or keep his royal heart out of Richard's hand. Anyone who violently robs lions of their hearts can easily win a woman's. Yes, my mother, I thank you with all my heart for my father! If anyone alive dares even to say you didn't do the right thing when I was conceived, I'll send his soul to hell. Come, lady, I will show you to my relatives; and they will say that if you had said no to Richard when he conceived me it would have been a sin. Whoever says it was, is lying. I say it was not.

Act 2, Scene 1

LEWIS:

A pleasure to see you here in front of Angiers, brave king of Austria. Arthur, your great relative, Richard, who robbed the lion of his heart and fought the holy wars in Palestine, was killed young by this great duke. To make up for it to Richard's relative, he's come here at my request to fight on your side, boy, and to punish your unnatural uncle the English king John for stealing your throne. Hug him, love him, and welcome him here.

ARTHUR:

God will forgive you for Coeur-de-lion's death because you give his children life, protecting their rights by going to war. I welcome you with a powerless hand, but with a heart full of pure love. Welcome here to the gates of Angiers, duke.

Act 2, Scene 1

KING JOHN:

What do these young people say? What does my niece say?

Blanch:

That it's her duty to do what you wisely say she should.

KING JOHN:

Then speak, prince Dauphin: can you love this lady?

LEWIS:

No, ask me if I can stop loving her, because I genuinely love her.

KING JOHN:

Then I give the five provinces of Volquessen, Touraine, Maine, Poictiers, and Anjou to you along with her. And in addition to this, thirty thousand marks in English coins. Philip of France, if this pleases you then command your son and daughter to take each other's hands.

Act 3, Scene 1

KING PHILIP:

Brother, you're speaking sinfully.

KING JOHN:

Although you and all the Christian kings are ordered around by this meddling priest, paying him money because you're afraid of being cursed; and since with disgusting gold, scum, and dust, you buy corrupted forgiveness from a man who will not be forgiven by God for selling it; and although you and the rest are ordered around and love and pay for this deceitful witchcraft—I alone, alone, oppose the pope and consider his friends my enemies.

CARDINAL PANDULPH:

Then by the lawful power I have, you will be cursed and excommunicated. And anyone who rebels against you—since you're a heretic—will be blessed. And the hand that assassinates you and takes your hateful life away will be called worthy, and will be made a saint and worshiped.

Act 3, Scene 3

HUBERT:

So much that I would do whatever you asked me to do, even if I had to die to do it.

KING JOHN:

Don't I know you would? Good Hubert, Hubert, look at that young boy. I tell you, my friend, he is a snake in my path. Wherever this foot of mine walks he's lying in front of me. Do you understand me? You are his guard.

HUBERT:

I'll guard him so he won't offend you, your majesty.

KING JOHN:

Death.

HUBERT:

My lord?

KING JOHN:

A Grave.

HUBERT:

He won't survive.

Act 4, Scene 1

ARTHUR:

If you do, you will just make it blush and glow with shame at what you're doing, Hubert. No, maybe it will sparkle in your eyes and, like a dog that is forced to fight, bite its master that provokes it. Everything you would use to hurt me refuses to do its job. Only you don't have the pity of even fierce fire and iron, creatures known for their pitiless uses.

HUBERT:

Well, see and stay alive. I won't touch your eye for all the treasure your uncle owns. But I promised and I did mean to burn them out with this very iron, boy.

Act 4, Scene 2

HUBERT:

Take arms against your other enemies, and I'll make peace between you and your soul. Young Arthur is alive. This hand of mine is still a virgin and an innocent hand, not painted with red spots of blood. My heart was never moved by a murderous thought. And you have slandered nature by what you said about my appearance. However rough I am on the outside, the roughness covers a mind too kind to butcher an innocent child.

KING JOHN:

Arthur is alive? Oh, hurry to the nobles and tell them, so that they can tame their anger and obey me! Forgive the comment my emotions made me make about your appearance. My rage was blind, and disgusting imaginary visions of blood made you seem more hideous than you are. Don't answer, but bring the angry nobles to my room as quickly as possible. I'm asking you slowly. Run faster.

Act 5, Scene 2

CARDINAL PANDULPH:

Greetings, noble prince of France! This is the news: King John has been reconciled with Rome. He's changed his mind since the time he stood against the holy church, the great city and authority of Rome. So put away your threatening banners and calm the savage emotion of wild war that, like a lion raised as a pet, can lie gently at peace's foot and not cause any harm, although it looks dangerous.

LEWIS:

I'm sorry, your grace, I won't turn back. I'm too noble to obey orders, to be second in command, or to be a useful servant and tool to any state in the world. Your breath started the fire again in the dead coals of war between this punished kingdom and me and brought wood to feed this fire. Now it's far too huge to be blown out by the same weak breath that started it. You taught me to know what was right, showed me my right to this country, made me want to start this. And are you coming now to tell me John made his peace with Rome? What does that peace have to do with me? By the honor of my marriage-bed, I claim this country as mine after young Arthur. Now it is half-conquered, must I go back because John has made his peace with Rome? Am I Rome's slave? What penny has Rome contributed, what men has it provided, what equipment has it sent to support this war? Wasn't I the one who paid for this? Who else except for me and those who follow me have sweated to do this business and fight this war? Haven't I heard these islanders shout out "Long live the king!" as I fortified their towns? Don't I have the best cards in this game to win this easy match that we play for a crown? And should I now give up the game I've won? No, no, I swear that will never be said of me.

Act 5, Scene 7

PRINCE HENRY:

My soul thanks you, and I'm the sort of person who doesn't know how to thank you except by crying.

BASTARD:

Oh, let's be as sad as we need to at this time, since it has given us a lot to be sad about. This England never did and never will lie at the foot of a proud conqueror, except when it has first helped him by wounding itself. Now that its nobles have come home again, let the three corners of the world come to fight us, and we'll destroy them. Nothing will hurt us if England just stays faithful to itself.