Efforts to recover Angevin inheritance

• Despite the view of some chroniclers, John was not a coward and made a sound plan for the recovery of his inherited lands
• Who refused to accompany John in the recovery of the Angevin lands?

  The barons
• When did the barons refuse to accompany John on his quest to recover Angevin lands?

  1205
• When did John have some success?

  1206
• Was John able to perform a large-scale enterprise in 1206?

  No, it was beyond his means at the time
• What did John do to prepare for the recovery of Angevin lands?

  Made a truce with Philip
• What was John's best hope at an attack?

  Using his possessions at Poitou as his base
• What did John need to use Poitou as his base?

  Control of the sea and thus had to acquire a navy
• What did the loss of Normandy mean for John's attack?

  The English Channel was no longer his sole preserve
• Which galleys did John have of his own?

  The cinque ports
• What were the cinque ports?

  A group of coastal ports
• How could the cinque ports help John's attack?

  Provide ships and he could commandeer merchant ships aswell
• In January 1205, what did John have a serious concern about?

  Philip invading England
• When was John concerned about Philip II invading England?

  January 1205
• What did John do in response to concerns over an invasion?

  Made all men over the age of 12 to take an oath to promise to oppose foreigners and other trouble makers and set up a system of constables to collect troops together locally
• What kind of army did John want?

  A small, semi-professional army to fight for long periods in France
• What did John suggest to achieve his army?

  Of each group of 10 knights who owed service, 1 should answer his summons and the other 9 should contribute cash for the 10th knights expenses
• Why were the barons uninterested in attacking France?

  Few barons now held lands in both England and Normandy as they had made arrangements between each other so one baron took all the English lands and the other all the French
• By 1204, how many Anglo-Norman barons still had substantial lands on both sides of the Channel?

  3
• Which earls still had substantial lands on both sides of the channel?

  Chester, Leicester and Pembroke
• Who was the earl of Pembroke?

  William Marshal
• In 1205, what agreement did William Marshal make?

  Under the terms of his homage, he would fight Philip if he invaded England, but if John invaded France, he would not fight
• When did Marshal reach an agreement with Philip about homage?

  1205
• Why did Marshal refuse to invade France?

  Philip was his feudal lord and could then confiscate his French lands
• Did other barons follow Marshal's lead in refusing to invade France?

  Yes
• Was John prepared for attack?

  Yes, he had assembled troops and ships, possibly the greatest force ever seen in England and his men were eager for action
• What problem arose despite John's readiness for attack?

  The barons held aloof at a council
• What did John have to do as a consequence of his barons' refusal?

  His only choice was to send a small force under his son Geoffrey, which was not very effective
• What led to the surrender of Loches and Chinon?

  The failure of relief to arrive
• Who deserted John and made peace with Philip?

  Aimery of Thouars
• What was Aimery of Thouars known for in this context?

  He was a notorious turncoat
• Which territory was entirely lost to John?

  Touraine
• What territories did John still hold on the northern borders of Poitou?

  Niort and La Rochelle