Richard, John and Phillip II in Normandy

• When Richard returned to Normandy in 1194, it was weak as result of John’s treachery and Philip’s attack
• Philip had persuaded barons with castles on the border of France and Normandy to switch allegiance to France
• Philip and John had conquered two of western Normandy’s most important harbours, meaning he could threaten the Angevins by sea as well as land
• Philip took control of the Vexin
• John betrayed Philip and attacked his forces at Evreux, killing the town’s garrison
• By winter 1195-6, Philip pulled his troops out of Aquitaine after Richard’s military success
• Philip took control of Arthur of Brittany who was nine years old, meaning he could use Brittany as a base to attack Normandy
• By 1197, Richard’s strategy of bribing vassals on Philip’s borders to switch allegiance worked
• Richard also used trade embargo (restriction of trade) to persuade the Count of Flanders to support the Angevin Empire
• Arthur had returned to Brittany and Philip’s influence over the Bretons was reduced