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John (KING OF ENGLAND born in Oxford)
KING OF ENGLAND; born in Oxford in 1166, was the youngest son of Henry II. by Eleanor of Guienne.
Ireland being intended for him, he was sent over, in 1185, to complete its conquest, but such was his imprudence that it was found necessary to recall him; and on the death of his father he was left without any provision, which procured for him the name of Sans Terre, or Lackland. His brother Richard, on coming to the throne, conferred on him the Earldom of Mortaigne, in Normandy, and various large possessions in England, and married him to the rich heiress of the Duke of Gloucester. Notwithstanding this kindness, he had the ingratitude to form intrigues against Richard, in conjunction with the King of France, during his absence in Palestine; but Richard magnanimously pardoned him, and at his death left him his kingdom in preference to Arthur of Brittany, the son of his elder brother, Geoffrey. Some of the French provinces, however, revolted in favor of Arthur; but John ultimately recovered them, and his nephew was captured, and confined in the castle of Falaise, whence he was subsequently removed to Rouen, and never heard of more. Being suspected of the murder of Arthur, the states of Brittany summoned John to answer the charge before his liege lord, King Philip; and upon his refusal to appear, the latter assumed the execution of the sentence of forfeiture against him; and thus, after its alienation from the French crown for three centuries, the whole of Normandy was recovered. A quarrel with the Pope Innocent III., who had nominated Stephen Langton to the see of Canterbury, added to the perplexity of the king, whom the Pope excommunicated, and whose subjects he formally absolved from their allegiance . At length John was induced not only to receive Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury, but to resign his HN and, wrote medical Balthasar. Cossa), a s legate at Bologna, • Boniface IX., and V., 1410. To pacify d to resign the tiara d Peter de Lune, or Id also abandon their th these conditions in the council the office and but he was and imprisoned. In d to liberty, and com edge the election of 1419.
F ENGLAND; born was the youngest son Eleanor of Guienne. ded for him, he was to complete its conhis imprudence that ary to recall him; and father he was left sion, which procured of Sans Terre, or Richard, on comrred on him the as, in Normandy, and essions in England, the zich heiress of ter. Notwithstandhad the ingratitude against Richard, in The King of France, e in Palestine; but hously pardoned him, left him his kingdom thur of Brittany, the ther, Geoffrey. Some ovinces, however, re- Arthur; but John ultihem, and his nephew confined in the castle he was subsequently and never heard of cted of the murder of Brittany summoned he charge before his Philip; and upon his The latter assumed the entence of forfeiture Thus, after its allenanch crown for three le of Normandy was trel with the Pope Inad nominated Stephen of Canterbury, added the king, whom the ted, and whose subabsolved from their gth John was induced e Langton as Archry, but to resign his JOHN kingdom to the holy see, in order to re- ceive it again as its vassal. John had by this time rendered himself the object of his nobles determined, if possible, to limit his power, and establish their privileges; ford, and immediately proceeded to warford, and immediately proceeded to warlike operations. They were received without opposition in London, met the king at to their terms. Thus was obtained to their terms.
Thus was obtained (June 15, 1215) that basis of English constitutional freedom known as "Magna Charta," which not only protected the nobles against the crown, but secured important privileges to every class of freemen. But while the monarch appeared to be all-complying and passive, he was secretly purposing to annul the charter. The Pope pronounced a sen- terce of excommunication on all who should attempt to enforce it; and John, having collected an army of mercenaries, carried war and devastation throughout the kingdom. The barons, taken by surthe kingdom. The barons, taken by sur- France, offering the crown of England to the dauphin Louis; who speedily, with ceeded to London, where he was received ately deserted by all his foreign troops, and most of his English adherents; but the report of a scheme of Louis for the arrested his progress, and induced many to return to their allegiance. While the arrested his progress, and induced many a better aspect, he was taken ill, and died in Newark, in 1216.
JOHN I., Emperor of Constantinople, EASTERN EMPIRE.
JOHN I., Emperor of Constantinople, surnamed Zimisces, was of an illustrious family. He succeeded the emperor Nicephorus Phocas in 969, and obtained many victories over the Russians, Bulgarians, the Eunuch, in 976. and Saracens. He was poisoned by Basil gained several battles over the Turks and Comnenus, his father, in 1118. He gained several battles over the Turks and of a wound which he received from a dence and liberality. He died in 1143, of a wound which he received from a poisoned arrow.
JOHN III., Ducas, was crowned at nople. He was a prince of great virtue, Latins were in possession of Constantitended his empire on all sides. He died nople. He was a prince of great virtue, tended his empire on all sides. He died ians, Tartars, and Bulgarians, and exin 1255. the Young, whom he succeeded in 1259, at the age of six years; but, in the same prived him of his crown and his eyes, and imprisoned him for life. He died in 1284.
JOHN V., Palæologus, succeeded his fabut his throne was for a long period but his throne was for a long period daughter he married after recovering his throne. His son Andronicus revolted selves master of the isle of Lesbos, and against him, and the Genoese made them- selves master of the isle of Lesbos, and Amurath I. took the city of Adrianople.
He died in 1391.
JOHN VI., Cantacuzenus, was the min-