It
is true to some degree that John and his ambitions posed a threat to Richard’s
control of Angevin France, however, to state that John was the greatest threat
would be an overstatement as he was only a threat in the initial years of 1193
to 1194. Rather than John being the greatest threat to Richard’s control of
Angevin France, Philip II had played a significant role in threatening
Richard’s control of Angevin France as this is evident by his early return from
the Third Crusade and the breaking of his promise with Richard: to not attack
each other’s lands.
In
the early years, whilst John had failed to completely ruin England during
Richard’s absence and participation in the Third Crusade, he moved his
opposition to Normandy where he planned to strain Richard’s lands in Angevin
France. Although John had ambitions to stir trouble, in 1192, Philip II of
France had personally invited John to Paris, offering John the opportunity to
marry Alice as well as to gain control of the Vexin. This indicates that at
this point, it was more Philip II who was a threat to Richard’s control of
Angevin France as Philip’s immediate decision to return back to France early in
1191 and to take Richard’s domains is evidence of Philip being a great threat.
However, it could be argued differently that John was also a threat as he had
already stirred trouble in England in 1191 and that it would be inevitable for
John to side with Philip who had a similar goal: to diminish Richard’s control
of Angevin France. If it wasn’t for Eleanor of Aquitaine’s interference by
threatening John that she’d confiscate his English possessions if he did side
with Philip, then perhaps John’s ambitions could’ve been seen to have posed a
great threat. Thereby, it is clear that John has not yet posed a threat to
Richard’s control of Angevin France in 1192. It wasn’t until January 1193, when
John heard news of his brother’s captivity, seeing an opportunity to diminish
Richard’s control of Angevin France that he travelled to Normandy and decided
to alliance with Philip II, performing homage for Normandy and allegedly some
of Richard’s lands in England.
By
1193, it was clear that Philip was a key threat to Richard’s Angevin French
lands as he invaded Normandy in April, forcing Gisors to surrender and it was
at this point that most of north-east Normandy had fell into Philip’s control,
in which Evreux was given to John to hold. Arguably, it could be said that
Philip II wasn’t entirely a threat as his attempt to besiege Rouen was
unsuccessful, but ultimately, the peace at Mantes in July in which Philip
forced Richard’s men to agree to announced Philip’s declaration for Richard to
pay him 20,000 marks and of keeping all of his territorial gains such as the
town of Vaudreuil and castles of Tours as well as the major strongholds of
Drincourt, Arques, Loches and Chatillon-sur-Indres. This marked a humiliating
defeat for Richard as well as signifies that rather than John being a great
threat, it was Philip II who was the greatest threat to Richard’s Angevin
French lands as although Richard had sold offices and counties in return for
money, his control of Angevin French lands had nearly diminished entirely. Not
only this but upon hearing Henry VI’s (the German Emperor) announcement that he
would be releasing Richard in January 1194, both Philip II and John had
attempted to bribe the emperor with 80,000 marks if he would agree to keeping
Richard in captivity till Autumn or even longer in order to diminish his
control of Angevin France further. Whilst this demonstrates that both John and
Philip posed a clear threat to Richard’s governance of both England and Angevin
France, Richard’s noble and virtuous personality had inspired those at the
household, making their bribe ineffective as Richard soon returned to England
in February 1194.
Philip
II had posed a significant threat to Richard’s control of Angevin France as by
1194 he was seen to have been capable of gaining more land in Normandy as John
was willing to surrender of all the lands east of Rouen. However, Richard’s
arrival in Normandy in May 1194 with a large army had gained the support of
many barons of the duchy and even John had begged for forgiveness at Lisieux.
Richard, understanding the importance of allies forgave John for his dubious
acts and it was clear that John no longer posed a threat as he proved himself
loyal to his older brother by using deceit where John had gained entrance to
Evreux, massacred the garrison and handed the city over to Richard. Whilst
John’s ambitions temporarily posed a threat to Richard’s control of Angevin
France, upon Richard’s return, he no longer posed a threat as he swore his
loyalty to his brother and refused to hand over the lands he had promised
Philip II. Although Philip II did pose a threat to Richard’s control of Angevin
France, he wasn’t as threatening as Richard still managed to reassert his
authority as a key example would be in June 1194, in Greater Anjou where he had
occupied Tours and captured Loches with the assistance of his brother-in-law,
Sancho of Navarre and continued to recapture lost Angevin French lands such as Brittany
and Peace of Louviers. However, it would be false to state that Philip wasn’t a
great threat as in July he invaded Normandy and caught John’s forces in
Verneuil, forcing John to sign a truce as well as the fact that Philip
controlled the most of Vexin and the castle of Gisors. It was only evident
where Philip later attempted to stir a rebellion against Richard in Aquitaine
that Richard had no clear threat as he had forced Philip to agree to a truce in
February 1199 which forced Philip to renounce all of his territorial gains and
castles with the exception of Gisors. Rather than John being the greatest
threat to Richard’s control of Angevin France, Philip II had been far more
significant in diminishing Richard’s authority and ultimately, Richard was able
to gain more control over Angevin France as well as undoing the peace made at
Nantes.
To
conclude, whilst John to some extent posed a threat to Richard’s control of
Angevin France, the return of his older brother resulted in his immediate
submission and thereby his temporary ambitions were seen as far from a threat.
Philip II was far more of a threat as Philip II had humiliated Richard by the
peace at Nantes and had also made great territorial gains until the truce in
February 1199. Ultimately, both John and Philip II had temporarily posed a
threat to Richard’s control of Angevin France, most notably during his time in
captivity, however, Richard was able to undo Philip’s gains and gain further
control of Angevin French lands, indicating that neither John nor Philip were
of a great threat as Richard easily regained authority in the lost Angevin
French lands and more.
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