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Year 2 - History

John and the 'Lionheart'

Conflict, conquest and empires

Unit Summary

Stories about significant rulers from the past give students an understanding of key ideas related to early rulers, such as struggles for power and religious influence. They learn about specific rulers from different times and places, helping students build a chronological framework.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the relationship between John and Richard you.

Key Notes

  • John was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the King and Queen of England.
  • When Henry II died, John's older brother Richard became the King of England.
  • Richard I was called the 'Lionheart' because he was a brave warrior who was often away from England fighting.
  • One time, when Richard I was fighting on a crusade, John began to rule the country as if he was the king.
  • This made Richard I angry, and John was exiled for two years; but returned to be named Richard's heir.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • heir: the heir to the throne is the person who will become the next king or queen when the current one dies
  • crusade: a crusade was a war fought between different religious groups
  • exiled: if someone is exiled, they are forced to leave a place and cannot return

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Some may think that John's sisters would be in line to the throne before him.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

John was the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the King and Queen of England. When Henry II died, John's older brother Richard became the King of England.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'heir'

the heir to the throne is the person who will become the next king or queen when the current one dies.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Some may think that John's sisters would be in line to the throne before him. Correction: Explain that this is the case today in the UK - Princess Charlotte became the first female royal to benefit from The Succession to the Crown Act in 2013. The Act stated that girls born into the Royal Family will not be overtaken by younger brothers.

More Lessons In This Unit

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