BattlefieldsJohn — Submission to Papal Legate at Dover 1213
Medieval

John — Submission to Papal Legate at Dover 1213

1213
England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
King John
Forces
Papal legate's authority
VS
Victor
Papal Legate (Innocent III)
Forces
King John's household
Outcome
John surrendered kingdom as papal fief; interdict lifted; John gained papal ally against barons
The Battle

History & Significance

King John met papal legate Pandulf at Dover in May 1213 and formally surrendered England and Ireland as fiefs of the papacy, receiving them back as a papal vassal and promising 1,000 marks annual tribute. This extraordinary submission ended the interdict and John's threatened excommunication. It also meant the papacy became John's protector and later condemned Magna Carta, which John used against the barons.

Questions & Answers

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