Chapter VI: The Grandest of Tournaments
For decades after the accession of King John to the throne of England, the nation had been in a seemingly endless war. Whether it was internal factions, clawing the kingdom apart from the inside in a desperate attempt to climb up the otherwise concrete social stratum, or by external factions, ripping at the seams and hoping to find the thread that would unravel the bountiful quilt of England; the nation could never seem to catch a breath and find its second wind. However, in the late summer and early autumn months of 1205, England's rest had finally come. With its lords quiet and sated, its enemies at bay and its ideological bogey men put to rest, even the lords of Aquitaine were more than content to give peace a chance.
The conquest of Mann was a splendid victory for John and one that he had needed ever since his brother, Richard, had sailed to the holy land. To be the English king, that had, once and for all, hoisted the Viking invaders that threatened the isle's shores so long ago back into the sea. It may not seem like much through a modern lens. After all, Mann is simply just an island and not a very impressive one at that, but to the English people it was something to celebrate and revel in. They had stood strong for centuries against all invaders and their culture and way of life, while not the same, was still very much English. To John however, the victory was even greater. While the name Plantagenet was still very French to English ears, he could claim what none of his ancestors truly could, to be the true heir to the Saxon throne of Ænglaland and rightful king of the Ængelcynn.
This was something to be celebrated. While the spoils of war were few at best, John made sure to look after his own. The two thousand troops that had campaigned with him were paid handsomely and the families of those that didn't make it were compensated as well as having all funerary expenses paid for by the crown. This was not an act without precedent, as kings had done it before, and it is almost overwhelming likely that it is also not an act of kindness from John, but the gesture was charitable and one that was not expected of him. Many historians have argued his reasons behind it, the more hopeful seeing it as the maturing of the man himself whilst the more cynical view it as little more than a political move. Both parties are likely correct to a point, but his true motives remain a mystery as John is surprisingly quiet on the subject. John was not a very humble man, more than too happy to lavish praise upon himself for even the most minor of accomplishments. Yet, in this case, he does little more than mention it. Perhaps he didn't see it as something to be proud of, going so far as to suggest that it was demeaning to him. Or maybe he was simply busy, as many of his notes during the chaotic following months were starving for details. Whatever his reasons, it did much to increase the people's opinion of him and it was an act that would pay off in the long run.
Two weeks after leaving Mann in the hands of the island's newly chosen steward, John rode into London with all the pomp and ceremony of the ancient Roman generals, returning from far away lands where they had conquered and captured more swaths of lands to add to the map and treasures unaccountable. William of Durham, a priest at St. Paul's, remarked, “He returned to the city triumphant; like a king, like a Caesar.” This image is one John went above and beyond to foster. He had desired for so long, more than anything, to have great conquests similar to those of his father, Henry, and his brother, Richard. Mann had not been the grandest of conquests, even with its added prestige, but it was an excellent start. John had taken the island swiftly and efficiently with little bloodshed. What's more, he had done it alone and with his troops; his vassals barely had time to hear that war had broken out before it was already over. It was something to be proud of and John was only too happy to flaunt it. In mid September, messengers were sent out across the realm to read out the royal decree that a tournament would be held in the king's county of Middlesex. All those who were capable were invited to come and enjoy the splendor that the event would hold. Those who were eligible to take part were instructed to find a man under the office of the Lord Constable to sign up. The planning for the big event was enormous and John was nearly all consumed with making it perfect. This makes what he did take the time to note in detail, all the more pertinent.
Earl Gui, John's mastermind during the conquest of Mann, was the first to depart from the isle after its transfer into English hands. In addition to his natural, Occitan disdain for being ruled by an English king, he had a personal dislike for the man himself. Despite John's accomplishments at keeping the two kingdoms united, even against impressive odds, Gui saw him as fickle, ill-mannered and weak. With his salary paid, he rushed back to Auvèrnhe and quickly began to establish himself as a prominent figure in the Aquitainian counties. Tails of his exploits in previous wars were actively propagated by him and his court and, despite his distaste for the king, he was only too happy to claim full responsibility for the war's success. Within a month of arriving back in Auvèrnhe, he began to proclaim himself a Duke, lord of the Duchy of Auvèrnhe. Despite his preoccupations, John was quick to note that the newly minted, Duke Gui, was a great threat to his authority in Aquitaine and in the whole of France. An eye would have to be kept on him, but John knew that Gui would be brewing trouble.
The bad news didn't stop there, however. Brenin, or High-King, Llywelyn had been given a hard and unrewarding task when he took the Gwyneddian throne; protect the Welsh people and, if possible, regain what was lost. Despite all odds, the Welsh still prospered as neighbor to such a tumultuous giant and their independence was protected by Llywelyn's quick thinking and diplomatic edge. However, the high-king was starting to get older. Unmarried and with no heir, the Welsh people's fears of having no one to protect them after his death grew by the day. Llywelyn, however, was not concerned, for he had been keeping an ear to the ground and watching English politics develop. What he saw amongst the chaos of the past five years was a chance to save the Welsh and regain ancient lands. In the old Breton lands of Brittany, the young duke had been died under questionable circumstances, causing his lands to be split between his two sisters. The Breton peninsular itself was awarded to the newly made, Duchess, Constance, lady of Brittany. The young sixteen year old had never been reared to rule and Llywelyn took that inexperience to his advantage. Using an ancient pilgrimage of the Breton people as an excuse to visit the duchy, he traveled from town to town until he arrived at the court of Duchess Constance and asked for hospitality. To her, the ruggedly handsome man with a thick accent was the stuff of story tales that the housewives and nursemaids of the Breton lands told to their children on a nightly basis. A true Brythonic lord and the last one at that. It should be no surprise then that the pair were courting within a month and married in a year. For her, it was the stuff of legends. For him, it was a victory that exceeded the wealth of many nations. John, knew this all too well. He hadn't noticed it until sending out the invitations, but when he did, it is said that he spent hours screaming in fury. If Llywelyn thought himself untouchable, he had yet to face the wrath of a king scorned.
The next month moved quickly as John put the finishing touches on the grand tournament. London was packed to the brim and all about the countryside, merchants had set up stalls with everything from sweet meats and spices, to cloths from far away kingdoms, to spices from lands so distant no one that bought them was too sure where, exactly, they originated. Using the extra tax revenue to his advantage, John payed off all his debts from both the conquest of Mann and wars even before that. On the matter of Mann, after a month of receiving requests, petitions and queries as to who the new island would be granted, John bequeathed it to the eternally faithful Duke Roger de Lacy, lord of Lancaster. Jealousy and envy sparked much fury amongst the lords of England over the ever expanding power of de Lacy and rumors, both banal and vicious, were spread as to how exactly the Duke had 'earned' the island. Roger, however, payed no mind to the voices behind his back and, in a gesture of good faith, proposed that King John guardian the duke's first son, John de Lacy. Flattered, the king graciously accepted and further gossip was churned up to explain the 'real' purpose behind these events.
As the days grew closer and the lords of England and Aquitaine began to arrive, John moved against Llywelyn in the way John new best. On November 19th, Llywelyn and Constance arrived in the city and were given hospitality in one of the king's finest suites. High above the ground, it had a view of the city and countryside for miles from the balcony. On November 21st, whilst appreciating that view, the balcony's railing snapped and Llywelyn fell to his death. When the king's inquiry made note that the railing had been sawed, rumors flew implicating everyone from a peasant that had been seen in the vicinity at the time to the king himself. Over the years, many have questioned whether or not the king was, indeed, involved and, if he was, just how involved was he? Recent evidence suggests that, not only was he involved in the plot, but he had a heavy hand in even the most minute of details. While some still stand by the king's innocence, it stands to reason that he would, at the very least, have known about the plot and supported it. Llywelyn was a major problem to John and the only man that stood in his way from finishing what his father had started and annexing Wales entirely. On top of that, his marriage to Duchess Constance of Brittany meant that, not only did Llywelyn gain a strong ally and political clout within England and Aquitaine, but was also guaranteed to reunite the two ancient kingdoms under his heir. John had much to gain from Llywelyn's death and little to lose. Given John's view of assassination as a means to an end and his precedent for using it without hesitation, it is far more likely than not that John knew of and actively participated in Llywelyn's death.
Even if he was not involved in the assassination, John was certainly quick to use it to his advantage. He moved to sign an agreement with Duchess Constance that, after her mourning period was over, she would marry John's bastard brother, William. Whether or not Constance believed the rumors about the king's involvement in her late-husband's death is up to debate but secret records of this agreement show that she wasn't hesitant to work with John. The marriage secured her power that she needed to further legitimize herself now that she had lost her husband and secured her the king's favor, detering the hungry eyes of her neighbors, especially those of her sister, the Duchess of Anjou. While the high-king's death did not put a damper on the people's mood, it did disconcert the fragile contentment of the baronial class, both in England and Aquitaine. Many lords became fractious and used the guise the tournament to meet and discuss their next move. On December 3rd, over fifty lords of varying class and dignity, brought an ultimatum before the king, demanding that, in times of war, the number of men the king may demand of them be drastically reduced. Facing another civil war on the eve of his great celebration of peace, John conceded to their demands and the lords returned to their state of contentment.
In Gwynedd, Brenin Owain II, of the house Aberffraw, had been desperately fighting to contain the instability within the realm. Llywelyn's death was ruinous to the Welsh morale and many of the king's advisers were melancholic, at best. The last thing the young king wanted to see was a large, roll of parchment with the seal of the king of England hanging off the bottom. According to Caradog ap Myrth, a leading Welsh poet who had been in the service of Llywellyn and his father before him, that king's great hall was thick with tension as Owain slowly read over the document. After some time, he stood up and thrust forward the parchment so all could see it. “There eyes were both hopeless and desperate. Like a child clinging to his mother's bosom, they looked onto Owain to save them from both the barbarians outside their borders and from themselves. Owain looked upon them strongly, fatherly, and said, “My good cousin John sent this to me. It demands that I, as lord of the High-Kingdom of Gwynedd, bow to English supremacy and accept John as my liege. I know that many of you are scared, worried and tired. You had hoped beyond hope that Llywelyn had saved us and now he is dead, along with any chance of grace for our once great kingdom. You have conceded that this day would eventually come and resigned yourself to accepting that the English would rule Wales sooner or later and, to you, it's better to surrender now and accept defeat than to keep on fighting for our sovereignty.” Owain stood and the sun bathed him from behind, his red hair like a crown of fire upon his head. With the power and might of the Brythonic lion and the authority and majesty of the true heir to Arthur's throne, he roared, 'Well I, for one, will never surrender! I, for one, will never give up just to dance at that bloated imbecile’s feet! We are Welshmen! The Norse ran when they heard our horns! The Saxons died when they tasted our blades! And I would rather perish than live under tyranny!' It was a sight beyond compare, a chance for the people of Briton”
Word returned to John of Owain's response. He went into seclusion for a few days while the ceremonies continued. Many wondered what had happened to make the king retreat from them at a time of his triumph. On December 9th, a warm, early winter wind came up from France and raised temperatures high enough for many to go out in light clothing. The jousting was excellent with many winners, few losers and only one death. Still, there was a damper on the mood for it seemed the king was miles off and the people could feel it. After a bout between two rivals that had been creating a stir all tournament, the trumpets blew and the king stood. Our old friend, Earl Aubrey, recounted the events that took place next. “The King stepped forwards and laid his hands on the platform's railing, balancing himself. He did not appear as he normally did, aloof and high. He looked as though he had descended a pedestal and stood amongst the common folk. As he started, his voice was soft but held the authority of a man who knew that even he was only as strong as his people. 'I have held this tournament in celebration of the English conquest of the Isle of Mann and the final end to the reign of the Nordic invaders.' Cheers came from the crowd, spotted but firm. The King waited until the crowd was silent before he began again. 'Since before the arrival of the Roman upon our shores, the people of these isles have been of hardy stock. And after the fall of the Roman, they stood strong against the encroaching darkness. Invaders have come and invaders have gone, but one thing that has always remained is the indomitable will of the English people. For over five centuries, since the death of King Arthur, the peoples of these great isles have remained disunited. Now, more than ever, the Kingdom of Arthur is on the cusp of being reborn anew. I had hoped to share that dream with High-King Owain, lord of Gwynedd, but he has refused me my humble request. I have taken this to be an act against the will of God and His divine plan for England.' Like lightning, there is almost a shock through the crowd, audible and palpable. The people are with him, the lords are with him, God is with him. 'As such, this tournament must come to an abrupt end. For in this time there is not place for petty events such as these. If you still seek excitement, if your blood boils in anger, if you wish to fight for God and your King, then join me and together we shall take part in the grandest tournament of them all!'”
And so, John rallied the kingdom behind his bid for control over Wales. He had finally broken through his mold and begun to shine as the man and king he had always wished to be. However, war is long and costly and even those started with the people can end without them. It is because of this war that he will learn the cost of both his failures and, especially, his successes.
Join us next time for the War for Wales.
Its a wall! I apologize if this one is a bit long. If it's too much I'll make it shorter next time. Just trying to find the sweet spot between too long and too short whilst honing the style.
the update didn't drag at all, actually thought it was a well written description of how King John appeased his vassals shortly after his ascension.
