Blood Cries Afar (64 page)

John’s visits to his French domains by the end of 1202. Note the time spent at Chinon and also around Rouen, the capital of Normandy. (John Gillingham,
The Angevin Empire
)

The opening stages of the Anglo-French conflict, spring to autumn 1202.(W.L. Warren,
King John
)

Autumn 1202 to December 1203. The main French-led attack on Normandy, with Philip leading his forces against Normandy and the crucial defence network of Château Gaillard, which guarded the Norman border just north of Paris, while his Breton allies attack John’s Angevin territory from the west. (W.L. Warren,
King John
)

Château Gaillard from the Seine. Richard the Lionheart’s ‘Bold Castle’ which he claimed he could defend even if its walls were made of butter. (Author)

View of the Seine from the ramparts of Château Gaillard. Note the isle of Andely, the scene of a fierce engagement before the castle was fully assaulted. (Author)

Château Gaillard. The thrust of Philip’s main assault came from the southwest (left of picture). (Author)

Plan of Château Gaillard. (E.E. Viollet-le Duc,
Military Architecture
)

The keep of Château Gaillard. (E.E. Viollet-le Duc,
Military Architecture
)

The northeastern scarp slope of Château Gaillard. It was here that most of the hundreds of non-combatants expelled from the castle – ‘the useless mouths’ – died from exposure and starvation during the winter months of the siege. Neither side dared show the weakness of compassion. (Author)

The advanced design of the keep’s curtain wall at Château Gaillard. Here the dramatic final moments of the siege took place. (Author)

The final phase of the conquest of Normandy, showing the advances of Philip and the Bretons in the summer of 1204. (W.L. Warren,
King John
)

Falaise Castle. John spent a huge amount of resources on fortifying the castle and was outraged in 1204 at the actions of his mercenary captain Louvrecaire who commanded it for him. Arthur of Brittany was imprisoned here after the Battle of Mirebeau. (Author)

King John hunting with dogs. He came in for much criticism from some quarters for devoting too much attention to his pleasures – including his young wife – rather than to defending the Duchy of Normandy. (The British Library Board)