The Life and Death of King John

Shortly before the play starts, the previous King has died, and John has taken over the throne. A French messenger of Phillip, who is the king of France, demands that John abandon the throne, so Arthur, the rightful king and John's nephew would become king. Charles actually wanted Arthur on the throne so he could take it over easier.

Richard the Lionheart

Charles threatens war against John if he does not comply with his requests. John agrees to give Arthur, who is half brother to a bastard child, the land he deserves. John's mother, Eleanor insists that The Bastard should go fight with her armies, and unite them under the name of "Bastard of Richard the Lionhearted."

Charles' and John's forces fight at Angers anyway. They fight to a draw, unite to kill the citizens of Angers, and leave it deserted.

Citizens of Angers come up with a different plan: marrying Louis, Phillip's son, and Blanche, John's niece, in order to make peace.

Pandolf, a messenger of the Pope arrives, marries Louis and Blanche, and criticizes John for disobeying an order, and excommunicates him. He then asks Louis to overthrow John, and attack England.

Pandolf influences Philip to break his ties with John= more battles between France and England (They still hate each other)

In case you haven't guessed yet, Pandolf is kind of the "reason for conflict" in this play, which possibly hints at his beliefs about the church.

England betrays Arthur, who has been in France this whole time, capture him, take his land, and treat him as a prisoner.

John orders Hubert to do the killing of Arthur, but Hubert cannot do it because he did not want to be involved in killing an innocent man.

Arthur runs away, but accidentally falls off a castle, thinking that men were chasing after him

Vision Fail?

John blames the death on Hubert saying that Hubert was the last man to see him alive (which is true).

John reunites with the Pope and the Catholic Chruch. Through relations with Pandalph

Louis was power hungry and would not be convinced to stop now, even by Pandolf. Louis (Leader of the French Army) and The Bastard (Leader of the English Army) prepare to fight.

Louis' reinforcments get lost at sea, which crushes the French chance for victory

John gets poisoned by a monk, and is surrounded by Prince Henry, and English Lords. He dies. Prince Henry is immediately sworn in as King (Henry III) and peace is made between France and England through the Church and Pandalph.

Sources:

"King John." History Learning Site. Web. 11 Apr. 2010.

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"King John Was Not a Good Man - Magna Carta - Icons of England." Welcome to ICONS - Icons of England. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. .

Norwich, John Julius. Shakespeare's Kings: the Great Plays and the History of England in the Middle Ages, 1337-1485. New York: Simon & Shuster, 2001. Print.

The Life and Death of King John

Henry III

Arthur

This diagram shows that Arthur actually should have had the throne