The Royal Janitor
Born into a kingdom already torn apart by strife and divided loyalties, King John II reigned over France at a time when he constantly needed to prove his right to rule. This meant he was always cleaning up messes, from rebellions, to invasions, to treacherous family members. Whether or not he succeeded in proving himself to his courtiers and subjects, he refused to deny his honor—especially when it mattered the most.
1. He Married Young
Long before he even took the throne, John II was no stranger to sacrificing his autonomy in the face of duty. Born April 26, 1319 in Le Mans, France, his father—King Philip VI—wasn’t the first choice to rule and had to assure his reign would remain uncontested. To concentrate his power and strengthen his right to the throne, he decided to marry off the 13-year-old John to create an alliance.
Still, the question remained of who John would marry.
2. He Made A Strategic Decision
There were several potential matches for John, but King Philip settled on what he believed was the most tactical. Bohemia would prove a useful asset if France entered another conflict, and the country was looking for the support of France as well. As such, King Philip arranged a union between John and the King of Bohemia’s daughter, Bonne.
With this marriage, came a new status.
3. He Received A Title
Around the same time, John received authority over the counties of Maine and Anjou, along with a brand new position. The age of majority in France at the time was 13 years and one day, so once John reached this on April 27, 1332, King Philip awarded him the title, Duke of Normandy.
Of course, another important formality wasn’t far behind.
4. They Made It Official
Only a few months after receiving the Duchy of Normandy, John and his betrothed sealed the deal. On July 28, he and Bonne married and unified their respective countries in a strong partnership. It was quite the ceremony, with 6,000 guests in attendance at Melun’s church of Notre-Dame.
The party didn’t end there.
5. He Received Another Honor
Right after John’s marriage, he had little time to relax as he rushed into another ceremony. Along with the Duchy, John received a long-awaited knighthood, with the formalities performed at Paris’ historic Notre-Dame cathedral. This wasn’t just one day of celebrations, as the party continued for another two months.
However, his troubles were just getting started.
6. They Were Against Him
The King had appointed John Duke of Normandy, but he wasn’t exactly met with a sea of adoring subjects. Conflicts between France and England worsened leading up to the Hundred Years' War, and France became divided. Unfortunately for John, the majority of Norman noblemen supported England.
These tensions soon bubbled over.
7. They Revolted
Almost a decade into John’s reign as Duke, he witnessed the scale of the political conflicts his father dealt with as King. In 1341, King Philip sent a battalion of bailiffs to hopefully quash the internal strife in Normandy. This only exacerbated the situation, and Viscount Geoffroy d'Harcourt responded by forming an insurrection against King Philip.
This didn’t get far, though.
8. He Stamped Them Out
With the support of several other Norman nobles behind him, Geoffroy d'Harcourt made it known that they wouldn’t stand for the King’s interference. While he got the message across, it didn’t go much further before the royal army stormed his castle and suppressed the rebellion. King Philip exiled the Viscount and executed three of his fellow insurrectionists.
Of course, this didn’t do much for the King’s popularity.
9. He Was Losing Favor
King Philip may have intended his quelling of d'Harcourt’s rebellion to be a sufficient show of strength, deterring further disloyalty. However, it largely had the opposite effect, and many more noblemen turned against his rule. By the mid-1340s, a concerning increase of Normans had pledged themselves to the King of England, Edward III.
Perhaps learning from experience, King Philip chose peace.
10. He Made Reparations
Since King Philip hoped to negotiate a détente with the Normans, he relied on John to head diplomatic relations, especially with a certain former enemy. Bringing Geoffroy d'Harcourt out of exile in 1347, the King appointed him Normandy’s sovereign captain. Furthermore, the King gave all confiscated property back to the Viscount.
Yet, While John was attending to his duties, tragedy struck.
11. She Grew Sick
John’s wife, Duchess Bonne of Normandy, was sadly not long for this world and wouldn’t live to ascend the throne with her husband. In the later 1340s, the Black Plague surged through Europe, tragically taking Bonne with it. On September 11, 1349, she perished not far from Paris at the Maubuisson Abbey.
Through all this, John hadn’t remained unaffected.
12. He Quarantined
The bubonic plague made no distinction between peasantry and nobility, as John quickly learned, and he could only do so much to keep it at bay. Although his wife passed from it, he would survive the disaster ravaging his country, fleeing Paris to distance himself from any potential contact.
At the same time, he had no choice but to move on.
13. He Found Someone Else
Evidently, marriage at this time was more often a strategic move than a romantic one for the nobility, and John wasted no time before entering another union. Only five months after Bonne’s passing, John married the Countess of Auvergne, Joan I, who had also been married once before. Not long after, his time had finally come.
14. He Took The Throne
On August 22, 1350, King Philip perished from unknown causes, leaving John as his successor. A month later, on September 26, John’s coronation was held in the city of Reims, elevating his wife to Queen consort and turning him into King John II. Shortly after this, he endured another of his greatest losses.
15. He Lost His Friend
As was customary, King John designated a favorite, choosing his childhood friend, Charles de la Cerda. After his accession, the King made Charles the Constable of France and awarded him the title of the fiefdom of Angoulême. However, King John’s cousin, Charles II of Navarre, believed he deserved the Constable’s lands, and is heavily suspected to have orchestrated his demise in 1354.
King John took de la Cerda's passing especially hard—and some historians believe it's because they may not have been just friends.
16. They May Have Been More
Charles II’s claim to the title of Angoulême wasn’t completely unfounded, as it had previously belonged to his mother. Therefore, the land and other honors given to Charles de la Cerda certainly emphasized how the King felt about his favorite. Furthermore, historians have suggested that the relationship between King John and de la Cerda was more romantic in nature.
Regardless of the nature of their relationship, King John shouldered on, hoping to avoid a conflict.
17. They Played Nice
There was much evidence toward Charles II’s involvement in Charles de la Cerda’s demise, but the King’s cousin remained a strategic ally. Therefore, putting aside all his anger and hatred, King John made peace with Charles II and the two signed the Treaty of Mantes in February, 1354.
However, not everyone stayed true to their word.
18. They Were Bad At It
It’s unclear exactly how sincere each party initially was in signing the Treaty of Mantes, but the King’s relationship with Charles II was so volatile, it broke down almost immediately. After more invasions and back-stabbing, Charles allied with England, specifically the Duke of Lancaster.
Still striving for peace, the King made another attempt.
19. They Tried Again
Beyond the broken peace between King John and Charles II, the latter was now allied with England—a threat the King could not let persist. Once more, he tried to make a truce with his cousin, and the two signed a second Treaty of Valognes in 1355. This wasn’t any more successful, and was allegedly followed by a failed coup connected to Charles II.
This time, the King was quick to hostility.
20. He Barged In
All the treachery and rage between King John and Charles II finally came to a head on April 5, 1356, while Charles was enjoying a lovely banquet. As the story goes, King John threw open the doors and marched his men into the midst of the shocked partygoers. Backed by over 100 knights and dressed in full armor, it was clear the King meant business.
He wasn’t done, though.
21. He Flew Off The Handle
There was no question who King John was gunning for with his mass of banquet-crashers, and everyone watched in fear as he approached Charles II’s table. Without hesitation, the King grabbed Charles by the throat and threatened to slay him if anyone moved. Then, he pulled him from his seat, yelling, “Traitor, you are not worthy to sit at my son's table!”
Charles II wasn’t the only one in trouble.
22. He Threw The Book At Them
King John clearly had a very personal gripe with Charles II, who he subsequently imprisoned, but it wasn’t only his cousin in hot water. Setting his sights on anyone who supported Charles, the King took the rest of the guests into custody. Going even further, he slated several prominent Norman nobles for immediate execution, which he supervised personally.
Naturally, this act had ramifications.
23. He Soured His Reputation
King John's actions at the 1356 banquet were heavily criticized, especially by the other Normans. Any noblemen from Normandy who were questioning their allegiances, and even those who were already supporters of the King, quickly reevaluated their loyalties. As a result, nearly all Norman lords would soon ally themselves with England.
This was the perfect time to strike.
24. He Aggravated France
By the time of Charles II’s imprisonment, the long conflict between England and France had broken out again, which was bad news for King John. Seizing the opportunity given by the King’s defecting nobility, Edward, the Black Prince of England led his army in an invasion of south-west France in July, 1356.
France was also experiencing a more logistical issue.
25. They Were Broke
King John was dealing with enough hostility within his own kingdom, but whether he wanted it or not, the Black Prince added another conflict to his plate. Aside from his multiplying enemies, the King had to contend with France’s profound lack of finances getting in the way of its defense. To remedy this, the monarchy implemented a salt tax—to the disdain of everyone.
Eventually, King John had to answer the Black Prince's challenge.
26. They Tried To Negotiate
Determined to stop the English invasion, King John led his army to meet Prince Edward’s, catching up to them that September near the city of Poitiers. They didn’t fight on sight, though, and a representative of the Pope tried to mediate a peace between the two armies. This should have been easy, since even the enemy might not have been that enthusiastic.
27. He May Have Been Reluctant
Prince Edward initiated this specific incursion, but some believe his heart may not have been fully in it. A point of contention among historians is whether the Black Prince would have preferred simply to head home. What supports this theory is the substantial amount of treasure and property he offered during negotiations.
Even so, a truce didn’t seem possible.
28. They Couldn’t Agree
Even if the theories were true, and Prince Edward had tried everything to avoid a battle, King John wasn’t having it. At the end of negotiations, the King demanded that the Black Prince relinquish 100 of his best knights and himself into French custody. The Prince refused this condition, and the two armies readied to fight on September 19, 1356.
In preparation, the King and his men had a crafty idea.
29. They Tried To Be Tricky
Around this time, it was common for armies to try to capture enemy rulers in battles between royalty. To avoid this, King John surrounded himself with his elite bodyguards and wore the same armor as them, hoping to camouflage himself. Unfortunately for him, this didn’t work for long.
30. He Was Revealed
Going into his confrontation with Prince Edward, King John had no doubts about whether his army would emerge victorious. However, this confidence quickly dissipated as nothing seemed to go their way, and England took a significant upper hand. Toward the end, King John fought alongside his guards as they fell one by one, until the enemy knocked his helmet off.
He didn’t surrender immediately, however.
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31. He Went Down Swinging
The battle was turning sour around him, and his men had fallen at his feet, but King John stood firm. While he barely had any measure of prior battle experience, he had shown himself to be particularly hot-headed and unafraid of aggression. This became evident as he continued to fight the overwhelming English forces.
He couldn’t keep this up forever, though.
32. They Captured Him
The English advanced around King John but were still intent on capturing him alive, so refused to go any further. The King swung his battle-axe wildly, until he finally came to his senses and decided it was better to live. Suddenly, an English-allied French exile named Denis de Morbecque politely asked for the King’s surrender, which the ruler obliged.
Naturally, they didn’t allow him to stay at home.
33. He Left The Kingdom
King John had surrendered to the English, but it would be hard to call what he endured, “imprisonment”. The enemy took him from the battlefield to Prince Edward’s silk tent, and the Black Prince waited on King John himself. From there, the King’s captors brought him back with them to England.
Following this, the English hospitality didn’t stop.
34. He Was Treated Well
After being “imprisoned” at several locations across England, his captors brought King John to the Tower of London, but he still wasn’t really a prisoner. As a captive monarch, the English allowed him many luxuries, including the freedom to travel the countryside. On the other hand, those back home were far from thriving.
35. He Fared Better Than His People
Although France was still broke and King John’s subjects were growing more desperate by the day, he was living it up in England. While his officials were scrambling to keep things running, records show the King making exorbitant purchases of clothes, pets, and even the presence of a court band.
Of course, his vacation had to end sometime.
36. They Named Their Price
After several long years of King John’s negotiations with King Edward III of England, which included another English invasion, they finally agreed on a ransom. In 1360, the two monarchs signed the Treaty of Brétigny, which stated that France would give up a third of its western country and 3 million crowns in exchange for King John’s freedom.
With their terms set, the King gained permission to return.
37. He Left England
The English had set King John’s ransom, but that didn’t mean he needed to stay around any longer. Promising his ransom would be paid, King John left in July and traveled to Calais, a French city occupied by England. It was a bittersweet departure, with England’s nobility giving him a proper send-off, including the Queen arranging a final night of entertainment.
However, King Edward still needed some assurance.
38. They Switched The Two
The English treated King John with kindness and dignity, but they still required insurance that he would keep his end of their deal. As collateral, King John agreed to have his son, Prince Louis, imprisoned in his place. Making the switch in Calais, King John returned home and his son went to England.
While in captivity, Louis also strived for diplomacy.
39. He Tried To Talk It Out
Prince Louis had no choice but to take his father’s place in England, but he also knew an unfortunate truth. France was still broke, and the six-month time frame they received to raise the required ransom wouldn’t be enough. As the months turned to years, Prince Louis decided to take matters into his own hands. He attempted to negotiate for his freedom with King Edward.
Regrettably, this didn’t work.
40. He Found Out
Although the success was unlikely, King John continued to raise money for his ransom—at least until news reached of his son. In July, 1363, the French King learned that Prince Louis had escaped his three-year imprisonment and returned to France. The King then faced a difficult choice.
In the end, King John seemed to let his conscience guide him.
41. He Wanted To Make It Right
Whether due to his enjoyable time in England or the dishonor of his son skipping out on their agreement, or both, King John refused to let Prince Louis' actions go unanswered for. Therefore, he announced that to uphold his end of the Treaty of Brétigny, he would return to England and speak with King Edward.
Not everyone was on board with this decision, though.
42. They Didn’t Like It
As usual, when King John declared his intention of returning to captivity, his noblemen did what they did best—argue. His council tried their best to convince him otherwise, but the King stood strong in his conviction. He simply stated, "If good faith were banned from the Earth, she ought to find asylum in the hearts of kings".
While he was gone, someone had to take the helm.
43. He Left Him In Charge
King John didn’t know when he would be able to return to France, so he wanted to ensure the country was in good hands. Before he left, he appointed his son, Charles, to rule in his stead as regent and governor. Eventually, after the King’s passing, Charles was also the one who succeeded the throne.
But before that, King John returned to his “imprisonment”—and found a favorable reception.
44. They Were Happy To See Him
Just as he had been England’s favorite prisoner during his first term in captivity, he arrived in the country to open arms. Both the common folk and the nobility were glad he returned, and graciously welcomed him back. This pleased even King Edward, who often hosted King John at Westminster as his guest.
Sadly, this stay in England would prove much worse than his previous.
45. He Caught Something
King John’s return to England may have started with a warm welcome, but it didn’t continue to be all fun and games like before. For one thing, he got down to business and tried to establish a new treaty with King Edward. Secondly, he came down with an unknown illness, which quickly turned severe.
Of course, even before this, he wasn’t exactly the peak example of fitness.
46. He Wasn’t Well
Throughout his life, King John wasn’t seen as a healthy man, and did very little to change this. Rather than strengthen himself through physical activity like fighting or jousting, as other monarchs did, he spent his time hunting, and dealing more with political altercations.
Perhaps because of this, his illness finally caught up to him.
47. He Never Saw France Again
It’s a shame King John was never able to work out his new treaty with England, as it may have greatly impacted their future conflicts. At last, on April 8, 1364, his illness took him and he passed at the Savoy Palace. Only then was his body released to France and interred in Saint Denis Basilica.
Following his passing, his legacy remained intact.
48. They Held Him Up
Although King John had never been someone of exceptional strength or heroism, the view of him after his passing was that of a “warrior king”. It is widely accepted that this was due to his actions at the Battle of Poitiers, where he refused to stay out of the chaos and instead fought alongside his men.
And even today, many remember his incredible life.
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49. His Story Persists
The story of King John’s massive ransom has persisted as an important piece of French history, but he’s also remembered outside of France even today. It seems his popularity among the English never diminished, as the local lore of St Albans says one of their inns hosted King John following his capture.
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