Audrey Stanley

France threatens England with war, claiming that King John has usurped the throne from its rightful claimant, his nephew Arthur. Armies from both France and England seek support from the town of Angers which proposes that John’s niece marry the dauphin of France to solve the issue. The parties agree, but the wedding and proposed peace are interrupted by the arrival of an emissary of the Pope who, angry at John for his treatment of the church in France, rekindles the war.  France invades England and John plots to have Arthur murdered.  When Arthur falls from a wall and dies, the English lords, convinced that John is responsible, abandon his cause and join France.  John tries to reconcile with the Church to forestall his defeat by the French, but the Dauphin refuses to back down.  The English lords, however, learning that the French mean to kill them after the victory, change sides again.  France sues for peace, but the news comes too late to John, who dies, poisoned by a monk.

After the wedding of the Dauphin and Blanch, Pandulph, the Pope’s emissary, demanded that King John accede to the Pope’s wishes concerning the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  Upon John’s refusal to submit to the Pope’s rule, Pandulph declared John “cursed and excommunicate.”  After much deliberation, King Philip broke his newly sworn league with John.  In the subsequent war John’s forces defeated the French and captured Arthur; Constance was heart-broken at the loss of her son.  Before their departure for England John ordered Hubert to kill Arthur; Hubert agreed.

In defeated France Pandulph anticipated that John would kill Arthur and so lose support in England; he persuaded the Dauphin to invade England and, as Blanch’s husband, claim the throne. 

In England Hubert undertook to blind Arthur but was so moved by his appeals that he spared him and undertook to protect him.

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Ariane Helou

Will Block