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I remember reading that in their early years, OTL's King John of England and his sister Joan were brought up at Fontevraud Abbey, possibly with the hope that John would take an interest in the Church, given his dismal prospects for an inheritance. In OTL, this obviously did not seem to have much effect on the prince and we next hear of him at his father's court.

My question is, what if John did enter the Church? Say he either took a liking to the ecclesiastical life early on, or Henry II or Eleanor decides it's the best route for him given his prospects?

A few things I was considering: John's future will probably be linked to wherever he holds the majority of his benefices, the Continent or England. If it's the latter, he could still manage to hold a great deal of influence as regent, given the frequent absences of the Angevin kings.

Also, would this butterfly (or at least delay) the events of the Great Revolt? Without John later receiving some of the Angevin patrimony earmarked for his brothers, would Henry the Young King and Henry II enjoy at least less tense relations?

How do things turn out in England, Ireland and the Continent without a King John Lackland on the throne—and not necessarily Arthur of Brittany, I would point out, given the date of the POD may or may not have significant butterflies for the fates of Henry's sons?

As I have said, I know that the butterflies will be massive, but I'm curious as to the (at least semi-)predictable effects...
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