New
New
Year 2

King John and his barons

I can explain why King John made his barons angry.

New
New
Year 2

King John and his barons

I can explain why King John made his barons angry.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In 1199, Richard died during a siege in France and John became the King of England.
  2. However, John was not a successful king.
  3. He lost control of lots of English land in France and made his barons pay very high taxes.
  4. He also argued with the leaders of the Church.
  5. His actions made his barons very angry with him.

Keywords

  • Siege - a siege is when an army surrounds a castle or a city to force the people inside to surrender

  • Barons - the barons were powerful and rich people who owned land and armies in England

  • Taxes - everyone has to pay money called taxes to the people in charge of a country

  • Church - the Church is an organisation that includes all the people who lead the Christian religion

Common misconception

Some may think that the Church is the same as a church building.

The Church is the name of the organisation that includes all the people who lead the Christian religion. Buildings are also called churches.

Students could do a mock trial with complaints against King John.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
John was the of eight children.
oldest
Correct answer: youngest
Q2.
King Richard was away from England a lot because …
he was exploring the ocean.
he was on holidays.
Correct answer: he was fighting in battles.
Q3.
Select the two true statements.
Correct answer: Eleanor of Aquitaine was Richard and John's mother.
Richard was John's father.
Richard and John did not have any sisters.
Correct answer: King Henry II was Richard and John's father.
Q4.
Match the brother to the action they did.
Correct Answer:Richard ,fought in a crusade

fought in a crusade

Correct Answer:John ,tried to take over as king when his brother was away

tried to take over as king when his brother was away

Q5.
What does the word 'heir' mean?
forced to leave a place and cannot return
a war fought between different religious groups
Correct answer: the person who will become the next king or queen
Q6.
Richard forgave his brother John and made him the to the English throne.
Correct Answer: heir

6 Questions

Q1.
Match each keyword to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:siege ,when an army surrounds a castle so that the people inside surrender

when an army surrounds a castle so that the people inside surrender

Correct Answer:taxes,everyone has to pay this money to the people in charge of a country

everyone has to pay this money to the people in charge of a country

Correct Answer:barons ,powerful and rich people who owned land and armies in England

powerful and rich people who owned land and armies in England

Q2.
Who became the King of England after King Richard?
Correct Answer: King John , John
Q3.
Select the two things that King John needed from the barons.
Correct answer: money
cars
Correct answer: armies
shoes
Q4.
Match the king to their actions in France.
Correct Answer:John,lost battles and lost land

lost battles and lost land

Correct Answer:Richard,won battles and took over more land

won battles and took over more land

Q5.
The churches in England were all closed because was unhappy with King John.
King Henry
Correct answer: the Church
King Richard
Q6.
King John increased the taxes in England for …
only the Church.
only the barons.
Correct answer: everyone.

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