King John and Religion

<p>King John has been perceived as one of England's most notorious monarchs. Medieval writers and later historians condemn him as a tyrant seeing his long-running dispute with the church as evidence of a king who showed little regard for his faith. This book takes issue with orthodox opinion arguing that in matters of religion the critique obscures the evidence for a ruler who realized that outward manifestations of faith were an important part of kingship. It demonstrates that John maintained chapels and chaplains prayed at shrines of the saints kept his own collection of holy relics endowed masses founded and supported religious houses and fed the poor - providing for his soul and emphasizing his aura of authority. In these areas he ranks alongside many other medieval rulers.<br />The book also presents a major reassessment of the king's dispute with the church when England was subject to a general interdict and the king was excommunicate the severest sanctions the medieval church could impose. It reveals the lasting damage to the king's reputation but also shows how royal religious activity continued whilst king and pope were at loggerheads. Furthermore despite his vilification since his death there were those prepared to honor John's memory during the medieval period and beyond.<br /><br />Dr PAUL WEBSTER is a Teaching Associate at Cardiff University in the Cardiff School of History Archaeology and Religion.</p>