The loss of Normandy, 1204

• John’s act of homage to Philip in 1200 undermined his position with the Norman barons as he had broken feudal law by betraying him
• John returned to England in autumn of 1203 as he had little money to fight Philip after the economic toll taken on the country after his brother’s reign
• While in England, John secured funding for a campaign in Normandy with agreement that the barons would pay scutage
• John relied on the Pope to help secure a peace treaty between himself and Philip, but Philip had no interest in peace and John did not have much time to campaign against France
• On 6th March 1204, Chateau Gaillard fell to Philip as he had been besieging the castle since summer of 1203 as John had not given help to the castle
• Once the castle had fallen, Philip was able to overrun Normandy and on 24th June 1204, the capital city of Rouen fell to Philip
• John earned the nickname “softsword” due to his failure in Normandy
• John spent the next decade trying to get Normandy back under his control