The Loss of King John's Crown Jewels: A Fateful Episode in English History
As featured in Lies, Damned Lies and History by Jodi Taylor
An AI-generated voiceover has been added for accessibility.
The loss of his treasure on the road to war in October 1216 was said to have brought about King John’s demise. This event occurred during a period of intense conflict and crisis for the English monarchy, at the height of the First Barons' War. The story of how King John lost his crown jewels in the treacherous marshes of East Anglia is a blend of historical fact and legend, reflecting the broader misfortunes of his reign.
King John, who ruled from 1199 until his death in 1216, is often remembered as one of England's most unpopular monarchs. His reign was marked by a series of failures, including the loss of English territories in France, conflicts with the Church, and heavy taxation that alienated the nobility.
The discontent culminated in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta, a document that aimed to limit the king's powers and protect the rights of his subjects. However, John quickly reneged on his commitments, leading to the outbreak of the First Barons' War. The rebel barons, with the support of Prince Louis of France, waged a civil war against John's forces, pushing England into a state of chaos.
By 1216, King John was on the defensive, struggling to maintain control of his kingdom. His military campaigns required him to move frequently across the country, and it was during one of these movements that the fateful loss of his crown jewels occurred.
In October 1216, King John was traveling from the port of Lynn (now King's Lynn) to the abbey of Swineshead in Lincolnshire. This journey required crossing the Wash, a large estuary on the east coast of England, notorious for its dangerous tides and quicksands. The Wash was a major obstacle for travelers, and crossing it required careful timing to avoid the incoming tide.
John himself took a safer inland route, but he ordered his baggage train, which carried the royal treasure, including the crown jewels, to take the shorter but more perilous route directly across the Wash. This decision would prove disastrous.
It’s worth noting that the shape of the estuary was very different in 1216. They would have had to ford some streams and the sands surrounding the safe path were incredibly treacherous.
As the baggage train crossed the estuary, it was caught by the incoming tide. The marshes quickly became a quagmire, and the wagons, horses, and men were engulfed by the rising waters and sucked into the treacherous quicksands. Despite efforts to save the precious cargo, the entire baggage train, including the crown jewels, was lost. Contemporary chronicler Roger of Wendover described it “he lost all his carts, wagons, and baggage horses, together with his money, costly vessels, and everything which he had a particular regard for; for the land opened in the middle of the water and caused whirlpools which sucked in every thing, as well as men and horses, so that no one escaped to tell the king of the misfortune.”
The loss was a severe blow to King John, materially and symbolically, as it occurred when his authority was already crumbling. Just a few days after the loss of the crown jewels, on October 18, 1216, King John died at Newark Castle. Whether his death was due to dysentery or, as some suspect, drinking poisoned ale, it marked the end of his troubled reign, and his nine-year-old son, Henry III, succeeded him.
The loss of the crown jewels became one of the many infamous episodes associated with King John. Over the centuries, this event has been recounted in numerous historical accounts and has contributed to John's enduring reputation as a failed and unlucky monarch. Although the crown jewels themselves were never recovered, the story of their loss continues to captivate historians and the public alike. It serves as a poignant reminder of the perils of kingship and the unforgiving nature of the English landscape.
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The phrase "King John's Crown Jewels" sounds to me a bit like a double entendre (as if it's referring to something in the trouser department). Apologies for lowering the tone...