The Loss of Angevin Lands in France

What was the loss of France?

The loss of French lands in 1204 saw the collapse of the Angevin Empire, and England's isolation from the rest of Europe. It also saw the start of the development of English identity.

When was the loss of French lands?

Normandy was conquered by the king of France, Philip II, in 1204. After that, he also gradually conquered most of the rest of the Angevin lands in France.

What were the causes of the loss of French lands?

The king of France had always been jealous of the power of the Angevin kings. He had been trying for decades to take the Angevin lands in France. King John's poor kingship gave him the excuse to invade Normandy in 1204.

What happened in the loss of French lands?

There were a number of key events in the loss of French lands.

• ❖ The king of France had been trying to take lands from the Angevin Empire for decades, but King John's predecessors had been too strong for him.
• ❖ King John was already unpopular in England. His rule was challenged by his nephew, Arthur, whom some English barons felt should be king. Arthur was also supported by King Philip of France.
• ❖ Arthur died in 1203, and John was suspected of having murdered him. This gave Philip of France an excuse to attack John in France, and some of John's French barons switched their allegiance to Philip.
• ❖ In 1204, Philip of France inflicted a number of defeats on John, ending with the conquest of Normandy. This was a great humiliation for John, as Normandy was seen as the 'heart' of the Angevin Empire.
• ❖ John's reputation suffered greatly as a result of this, and the opposition from his own barons increased until 1215, when they forced him to sign the Magna Carta - a charter that restricted the king's powers.

What role did leadership play in the loss of French lands?

Leadership played an important role in the loss of French lands.

• ❖ King John himself was not a bad general, but he was very unlucky. He had also managed to turn many of his barons against him, which meant that he did not receive strong support.
• ❖ King Philip of France was a stronger military leader than John, and had more support from his barons. He was able to defeat John in a series of battles and sieges, culminating in the conquest of Normandy in 1204.

What was the significance of the loss of French lands?

These are some of the reasons why the loss of France was significant.

• ❖ It ended England's close relationship with Normandy, which had existed for over a hundred years.
• ❖ It led to the barons' rebellion against King John, and to the Magna Carta, which restricted the power of the monarch - eventually this led to a complete change in England's political system.
• ❖ Because England was now cut off from Europe, the loss of Normandy contributed to the growth of English identity, which was to develop further during the Hundred Years' War.
• ❖ The loss of Normandy contributed to King John's poor reputation as a king and a military commander, which exists to this day.