King John

:This article is about the Shakespearean play. For the English monarch, see John of England. For other kings named John see Kings named John'.'

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King John is one of the so-called Shakespearean histories, plays written by William Shakespeare and based on the history of England. The play dramatises the reign of King John of England, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and father of Henry III of England.

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The play opens with a demand from the French King Phillip for King John to abdicate in favor of his nephew Arthur I, Duke of Brittany, son of his elder brother Geoffrey. The five acts then depict a dizzying change of alliances, a Papal excommunication and subsequent acceptance, and the play ends finally with King John's death at the hands of a monk.

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Throughout the play, a character known as "The Bastard" delivers a sceptical commentary on nobility, "commodity" (self-interest) and English sovereignty.

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It is sometimes considered odd that the Magna Carta is never mentioned in the play, since this is what King John is best remembered for today. However, the Magna Carta was not considered to be of any great moment in Shakespeare's time. Also, the focus of the play is on the quarrel over the succession, and Shakespeare would not have thought the Magna Carta relevant to his story. Despite this, it was common for Victorian productions of the play to interpolate a spectacular tableau of the signing of the Magna Carta into the middle of the play.

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John of England: John (December 24, 1167–October 18/19, 1216) reigned as King of England from April 6, 1199, until his death. He succeeded to the throne as the younger brother of King Richard I (known as "Richard the Lionheart"). John acquired the nicknames of "Lackland" and "Soft-sword"....

Shakespearean histories: Traditionally, the works of William Shakespeare have been grouped into three categories: tragedies, comedies, and histories....

Play: A play is a common form of literature, usually consisting chiefly of dialog between characters, and usually intended for performance rather than reading. However, many scholars study plays in this more academic manner, particularly classical plays such as those of Shakespeare (rare authors, notably ...

King John related Images and Photos (experimental)

King John of England Reigned: 1199-1216 Son of Henry II	King John Offers His Crown to the Papal Legate as a Symbol of the Kingdom	Act V Scene VII from "King John" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616) by Hubert Gravelot (1699-1773)	King John Pressured by the Barons and Threatened with Insurrection
King John Pressured by the Barons and Threatened with Insurrection	The Road Back Barbara Read John 'Dusty' King John 'Dusty' King on Window Card 1937	King John Signs the Magna Carta 15 June 1215 Illustration from The History of the Nation	King Solomon's Mines Anna Lee John Loder 1937
King of Jazz Jeanie Lang John Boles on Window Card 1930	John Rose the King's Gardener Presenting Charles II with a Pineapple	John III Sobieski King of Polandm Attacks the Turkish Army under Kara Mustapha Pashs	Richard and John Lander Visit the King of Badagry