An assessment of the attempts to increase royal authority by King John of England

King John and His Attempts to Increase Royal Authority

King John reigned as the King of England from 1199 till 1216. His controversial rule was marked by various attempts to consolidate and increase royal authority.

One of the significant steps John took was the restructuring of the royal financial administration. He significantly centralised his financial control, which strengthened his position to a certain degree.
John extended the use of scutage, substituting military service with a payment to the crown. As a result, he was able to control a consistent and regular income source, independent of the goodwill of his vassals.
He also made extensive use of fines and amercements, punitive financial penalties, as a source of income and a tool to impose his will on his subjects.
John utilised his royal justices as an instrument of royal power. He widened their jurisdiction, leading to the increased access and control of the crown over local matters, thus reinforcing his authority.

King John’s rule is significantly marked by his conflict with the Church, especially with Pope Innocent III. Despite the initial conflicts, this confrontation ended with the crown’s increased control over the Church.
After the disputed election of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1205, John expelled the monks and seized the revenues of the see. It took the threat of an interdict and the censure of excommunication by Pope Innocent III for John to back down. However, this set a precedent of the crown’s attempt to control the Church.
John’s eventual submission to the Pope in 1213 essentially made the English Church and himself vassals of the Pope. But this paradoxically increased his control over the Church. John now appointed bishops and collected big revenues from vacant sees.

King John’s relentless attempts to increase his authority led directly to the revolt of the barons and the issuing of the Magna Carta in 1215. This Charter is a historical document that limited royal authority and established certain legal rights.
The Magna Carta marked a significant restriction to John’s authority, indicating the failure of his attempts to centralise power without granting concessions to his subjects.

King John made considerable attempts to exert and increase his authority, especially through financial reforms and exploiting the Church. Although his reign saw increased royal power, it was often at the cost of major conflicts with both the Church and his own barons.
Furthermore, his rule triggered a lasting legacy in the form of the Magna Carta, which curtailed royal authority, instead of increasing it. Hence, John’s efforts can be viewed with mixed results; while he did exercise a good deal of power, it was often by means that elicited fierce resistance, and ultimately led to the establishment of significant checks on the monarchy.