This is a series of articles dealing with the British nobility beginning with William the Conqueror in 1066 and ending with Henry VIII circa 1530. The information within has been compiled from multiple resources and a bibliography will follow the completed work. Beginning with the Normans, the Plantagenets, the Lancasters, the Yorks, and then finally, the Tudors.
John I: Born the fourth son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, his reign is mostly marred by warring with the church and the English nobility.
Early in his reign he lost most of the English holdings in France which was part of Henry II's empire. England also saw interdicts from the Vatican that banned all church services sans funerals and baptisms. The Pope even went so far as to proclaim that John was not the rightful monarch of England. John was excommunicated for his "appropriations and seizures" of ecclesiastical holdings. Through acceding to the Pope's demands, all is well with the church but frustrated English land-barons force John to sign the Magna Carts. There were actually 4 versions of the Magna Carta, each with different additions and deletions. This document was MEANT to limit his Royal power. However, the Pope decreed that John need not adhere to it and civil war broke out. The French assisted the English land-barons and Prince Louis captured the town of London. Civil war ended with the death of John in 1216.