Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/668

 648 JOHN (ENGLAND) 22, 1419. St. Antoninus, archbishop of Flor- ence, describes him as a man of great adminis- trative ability, a clever politician, and a bold soldier, who had been in his youth a corsair ; but as a priest he was ill calculated to advance spiritual interests. He was created cardinal in 1402, and was degraded from that dignity by Gregory XII. in punishment of his tyrannical conduct toward the Bolognese, but was re- stored to it by Alexander V., who reappointed him governor of Bologna. He was elected pope in May, 1410, after the death of Alex- ander. Benedict XIII. and Gregory XII. now divided with John the allegiance of Christen- dom. John wrote letters to the imperial electors to induce them to choose Sigismund of Luxemburg, king of Hungary, and he espoused the claims of Louis of Anjou to the kingdom of Naples, in opposition to the reign- ing king, Ladislas. He entered Rome in tri- umph with Louis in 1411, and, gathering all the troops he could muster, attacked and de- feated Ladislas at Roccasecca in May. He pub- lished a crusade against him in the following December, and compelled him to forsake the party of Gregory XII. and submit to himself. He then broke off his relations with Louis of Anjou, and restored Ladislas to his kingdom, appointing him at the same time general of the Roman church, and furnishing him with money. But Ladislas soon afterward took possession of Rome and forced John to fly. The latter now had recourse to Sigismund, who urged him to assemble a council at Con- stance for the purpose of terminating the great western schism and reforming ecclesias- tical abuses, with the assurance that John should be free to come and go during the council. After much hesitation he consented to the emperor's scheme, and opened the council in person, Nov. 5, 1414. Meanwhile the death of Ladislas had left Rome open to John, who repented of having yielded to the emperor's solicitations, and only watched for an opportu- nity of returning to Italy. On March 2, 1415, he bound himself by oath to renounce the pon- tifical dignity as soon as his rivals had abdi- cated; but he afterward refused to sign the act of renunciation, and fled from Constance disguised as a merchant under the protection of the duke of Austria, and took refuge at Freiburg. In May a sentence of deposition was pronounced against him by the council ; and the duke of Austria gave him over to the emperor, who sent him a prisoner first to Heidelberg, and then to Munich, where he was detained for four years. John escaped in 1419, and making his way to Florence was kindly received by Martin V., who appointed him bishop of Frascati and dean of the college of cardinals. JOHN, king of England, third sovereign of the house of Plantagenet, and fourth son of Henry II. and Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in Oxford, Dec. 24, 1166, died Oct. 19, 1216. The surname of Lackland (Sansterre), by which he is often mentioned, was popularly given him because of the small possessions that devolved upon him, while the elder sons were all liber- ally provided for ; and it was " the usual appel- lation of younger sons, whose fathers died du- ring their minority, and who could not possess estates until they were of age to do the feudal services required for them." When he was seven years old his father bestowed property upon him in England and Normandy. A mar- riage between him and Alice, eldest daughter of the count of Savoy, was negotiated, but her early death prevented its completion. Henry II. made John lord of Ireland, and he went with a large army to that country in March, 1185, accompanied by his lord deputy, De Lacy, and Gerald Barry (Giraldus Cambrensis), the historian. His behavior was so imprudent that he became the object of almost universal abhor- rence, and his father was compelled to recall him to England at the close of the year. John was Henry's favorite son, but he joined in the repeated rebellions of his brothers ; and Henry's death was occasioned by his becoming informed that John's name stood at the head of the list of those barons who had joined Philip Augus- tus of France against him, though at that very time he was exerting himself to benefit the fortunes of the rebellious prince. Richard I., successor of Henry, bestowed large possessions upon John, then known as earl of Mortaigne, but that did not prevent him from behaving as unfraternally as he had behaved unfilially. Richard departed on his famous crusade, in- tending that, in case he should die childless, his successor should be Arthur, duke of Brit- tany, son of his brother Geoffrey, John's senior. When Richard on his return became a prisoner in Germany, John sought to render his imprisonment perpetual, and to seize the crown, raising forces, and doing homage to Philip Augustus for such portions of Normandy as he had not surrendered to him. He besieged places in England that were held by Richard's friends, asserted that his brother was dead, and demanded his own recognition as king. He did not succeed, and Richard returned to Eng- land in 1194, seized John's castle of Notting- ham, and summoned him to take his trial for treason, he being then in France, whither Richard led an army. At the intercession of their mother, the king pardoned his brother, who remained faithful during the rest of Rich- ard's life. Richard bequeathed to John all his dominions, and most of his treasure, and re- quired that homage should be done him. John experienced little difficulty in obtaining pos- session of England and Normandy, and was crowned at Rouen, April 25, 1199, and at Westminster, May 27. His accession dates from April 6, but he was not regarded as king of England until he had been crowned. Ac- cording to the rule of descent, the crown be- longed to Arthur, duke of Brittany, and the mother of that prince, Constance, persuaded Philip Augustus to espouse his quarrel. Philip