Thirteenth-century politics have two aspects: the relations of the English Crown with the European princes, with the kings of Scots and the princes of Wales, and with powerful vassals in the marches and in Ireland; and the dealings of royal government with communities and social groups within the land, dictated to a large extent by foreign ambitions and the demands they generated.

ENGLAND, FRANCE AND THE PAPACY, 1199 – 1213

When Richard I was killed in April 1199 in a minor skirmish in the Limousin, the question of the relative status of the kingdoms of England and France was raised in an acute form. Richard wanted his younger brother John, count of Mortain, to succeed to all his lands, but feudal custom was not clear that John's claim was as good as that of his nephew, Arthur of Brittany, the son of Richard's and John's long-dead elder brother Geoffrey. King Philip Augustus accepted Arthur's homage for much of Richard's enormous territory in France; and when John took possession of the duchy of Normandy and refused homage, Philip retaliated by supporting Arthur's claim to the English Crown as well. Perhaps through the advocacy of William the Marshal, John prevailed in England, despite the bad reputation his scheming had already earned him. And soon matrimonial difficulties, which incurred the threat of a papal interdict, compelled Philip to a settlement: for a massive relief, John was accepted as Philip's vassal for all the French lands.