Was there a good sie to King John?

Answer 1

King John has been immortalized in many books, stories, plays, and movies as a weak and inept king, and in many ways, the reputation is deserved. His ruthless taxation prompted the writing and forced signing of the Magna Carta. He lost huge amounts of land in France that had belonged to England. However, historians admit that he had considerable administrative ability, and his military campaigns were largely successful. Unlike his brothers (including Richard, who went down in history as a noble monarch), he spent most of his life in England. John worked hard to make up the financial losses caused by Richard's devotion to warfare. He worked out tax exemptions for French merchants, opening up the wine trade between France and England. Under John, the British navy was expanded greatly, with 45 new galleys built by 1204, and four new ones each year after that. Ship design improved, and the administration of the navy (admiralty) was established.