We all know that John lost against Philip of France. An attempt to regain the lands failed and he had to raise taxes after the failed attempt. Unlike the legend, he raised it on his Earls and clergy so now everyone with power hated him.
Let's start with not killing Arthur and making him a Norman Count.
OK, let's say he wins. In the first battle, he overruns Phillip's investing force at Château Gaillard and takes 3,000 prisoners. Three years later Phillip attacks again in a full frontal assault when the Normans forget to close the gate. Against all odds, the castle holds out. Phillip sends out a proclamation escheating Normandy from John, which the Normans ignore.
Pope Innocent III orders France to be attacked. John signs on with the Kingdom of Navarre, the Holy Roman Empire, and the County of Flanders. A 1211 Battle of Bouvines take place with the Alliance overrunning the French. Dauphin Louis is present in the battle. Arthur challenges Louis and two of his knights to a three on one duel, which is accepted. Arthur wins and captures Louis.
John demands Phillip pay him big time. He wants enough money to cover his mercenary costs plus triple John's annual income. He accepts Phillip as overlord for the Duchies of Aquitaine, Gascony, Poitou, and count of dozens including Maine, and Touraine.
For the Duchy of Normandy and the County of Anjou, he wants a Church commission to determine if Phillip mistreated his tenant. If it is determined Phillip did not or did not mistreat him too much, then it will be deemed the fines are enough to compensate and Normandy can only be revoked if both the French King and the catholic church deem a future action by the Duke of Normandy is traitorous. The Duchy cannot be revoked if the tenant does not betray his liege lord. If the commission determines he was mistreated a lot, then the Duchy of Normandy and Country of Anjou would be transferred to the Kingdom of Germany http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Germany or East Francia, whatever you want to call it and the King of Germans will pay some compensation. If the commission determines Phillip's actions to be greatly tyrannous, then Normandy and Anjou are transferred without compensation.
The commission will consist of the Bishop of Mainz, a Norman Bishop, someone the Pope choses, and 4 bishops Phillip selects. It will investigate the issue for 3 years and best 4 out of 7 choses.
John decides staying in Rouen for a decade might be nice, spending 9 months out of 12 there every year.
Ok, now what? Aside from the fact the commission will just be a big show with an obvious outcome. John doesn't need to raise taxes to get Normandy back. In fact, he has a nice treasury from Richard I plus some payment. Let's see how quickly he manages to mess that up. Sometimes I think John was retarded enough to wear his crown pointy side down because he had zero charisma but he kept insisting on showing up to his Earls in person.,
Let's start with not killing Arthur and making him a Norman Count.
OK, let's say he wins. In the first battle, he overruns Phillip's investing force at Château Gaillard and takes 3,000 prisoners. Three years later Phillip attacks again in a full frontal assault when the Normans forget to close the gate. Against all odds, the castle holds out. Phillip sends out a proclamation escheating Normandy from John, which the Normans ignore.
Pope Innocent III orders France to be attacked. John signs on with the Kingdom of Navarre, the Holy Roman Empire, and the County of Flanders. A 1211 Battle of Bouvines take place with the Alliance overrunning the French. Dauphin Louis is present in the battle. Arthur challenges Louis and two of his knights to a three on one duel, which is accepted. Arthur wins and captures Louis.
John demands Phillip pay him big time. He wants enough money to cover his mercenary costs plus triple John's annual income. He accepts Phillip as overlord for the Duchies of Aquitaine, Gascony, Poitou, and count of dozens including Maine, and Touraine.
For the Duchy of Normandy and the County of Anjou, he wants a Church commission to determine if Phillip mistreated his tenant. If it is determined Phillip did not or did not mistreat him too much, then it will be deemed the fines are enough to compensate and Normandy can only be revoked if both the French King and the catholic church deem a future action by the Duke of Normandy is traitorous. The Duchy cannot be revoked if the tenant does not betray his liege lord. If the commission determines he was mistreated a lot, then the Duchy of Normandy and Country of Anjou would be transferred to the Kingdom of Germany http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Germany or East Francia, whatever you want to call it and the King of Germans will pay some compensation. If the commission determines Phillip's actions to be greatly tyrannous, then Normandy and Anjou are transferred without compensation.
The commission will consist of the Bishop of Mainz, a Norman Bishop, someone the Pope choses, and 4 bishops Phillip selects. It will investigate the issue for 3 years and best 4 out of 7 choses.
John decides staying in Rouen for a decade might be nice, spending 9 months out of 12 there every year.
Ok, now what? Aside from the fact the commission will just be a big show with an obvious outcome. John doesn't need to raise taxes to get Normandy back. In fact, he has a nice treasury from Richard I plus some payment. Let's see how quickly he manages to mess that up. Sometimes I think John was retarded enough to wear his crown pointy side down because he had zero charisma but he kept insisting on showing up to his Earls in person.,