Acknowledgements; List of Figures; Chapter 1 Outline of the Reign; Chapter 2 John in the Shadows, 1167?1199; Chapter 3 An 'Imperial' Inheritance?; Chapter 4 War of Succession and the Loss of Continental Territories, 1199?1204; Chapter 5 Efforts to Regain the French Territories, 1205?1214; Chapter 6 The British Perspective: Scotland, Ireland and Wales, 1199?1214; Chapter 7 Sacerdotium and Regnum, 1199?1214; Chapter 8 Administration, Justice and Finance; Chapter 9 Civil War: A False Start, 1215; Chapter 10 Civil War Renewed, 1215?1216; Chapter 11 Conclusion: Will the Real King John Please Stand Up?; Appendix; Notes; Bibliography; Further Reading; Questions; Index

Through contextual analysis and by reassessing the chronicle evidence, King John: An Underrated King' presents a compelling reevaluation of the reign of King John, England's most maligned sovereign. With its thought-provoking analysis of the key issues of John's reign, such as the loss of the French territories, British achievement, Magna Carta, relations with the church, and civil war, the volume presents an engaging argument for rehabilitating King John's reputation. Each chapter features both narrative and contextual analysis, and is prefaced by a timeline outlining the key events of the period. The volume also contains an array of maps and diagrams, as well as a collection of useful study questions.