john and normandy

Question 1

what is angevin? what was the angevin empire?

Answer 1

• ralph turner :
• counts of anjou - hence the name angevin
• not much evidence for any angevin concept of imperial doctrine or permanent union - richard + john called themselves rulers of each one individually did not call themselves rulers of angevin
• collection of lands that the angevin kings of england were the over-lords
• yet for their lands in france they were also the vassals of the king of france as well

Question 2

who was henry II?

Answer 2

• ruler of england for which he has no overlord
• plus duke of normandy, brittany, count of poitou, maine, anjou and tours
• through marriage to eleanor of aquitaine had control of the duchy + duchy of gascony
• although king of france overlord - such was the power of Henry II and previous Kings- in reality the King of France had no real control over them whatsoever.

Question 3

terms of the treaty of le goulet?

Answer 3

• phillip recognised john richards heir
• recognised john’s right to all his continental possessions - agreed arthur hold duchy of brittany but john be his overlord - next day john received arthur’s homage for brittany
• treaty laid down clear boundary between normandy + france - phillip gained some land in vexin but john remained in control of key stronghold of chaiteau gaillard
• john agreed to pay sum of 20,000 marks for continental territories - payment of relief to phillip as his overlord - neither richard/henry had done this
• john agreed flanders + boulogne homage to phillip - john ended alliance system richard worked so hard to create
• settlement brought two years of peace - john got to strengthen control over continental possessions

Question 4

why king john married Isabelle of Angoulême?

Answer 4

• Angoulême strategically situated in aquitaine - south of poitou + controlled trade routes from poitiers to bordeaux
• count aymer of Angoulême demonstrated considerable independence (rebelled) + even richard had not been able to reduce him to obedience - defied richard by giving homage to phillip - why he figured he should be a vassal in the TofG to be forgiven by john
• hence marriage would give john eventual control of Angoulême + appease pride of aymer

Question 5

why king john married Isabelle of Angoulême complex reason?

Answer 5

• another aspirant for isabelle hugh le brun - lord of lusignan - which lay between Angoulême and poitou
• hugh gained le marche to east of lusignan + so if married isabelle - control of wedge of territory which would allow him to cut off communication between poitou + rest of aquitaine
• would become substantial landholder ruling area as large as normandy + could threaten to change allegiance to phillip - best way to avoid danger marry girl himself

Question 6

why do some historians think john wanted to alienate the lusignans?

Answer 6

think he was looking for an excuse to alienate them to get them to rebel so he could defeat them

Question 7

what did john do to further the lusignans hostility?

Answer 7

• asserted that castle belonging to count of Eu in right of his wife was seized by john’s orders
• he also issued lessons to attack his territories + do him all the harm they could
• claimed direct ownership of la marche - which father entitled to purchase but never tried to take possession - lusignans now held for more than 20 years