If you are ever fortunate enough to travel to Worcester, England, you should consider paying a visit to Worcester Cathedral, the final resting place of John, King of England, a royal with a mysterious story to tell.
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| King John's tomb in Worcester Cathedral (Public Domain image courtesy of wikipedia) |
King John, it seems, may very well have lost the most precious items the royal family have ever owned - the Crown Jewels of England. Incredible to think that the Crown Jewels of England, the very symbol of British Royal prestige and power, would be lost. However, it seems that this amazing story may in fact be true!
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| Image of King John of England (public domain image courtesy of wilipedia) |
King John, who ruled England from 1199 until his death in 1216, was King at a time which saw the rise of French power and a decline of English fortunes abroad. Criticized by historians of his era, John's royal reign has, over the centuries, undergone numerous significant revisions, which not surprisingly highlight both his strengths and his weaknesses.
At the time of his rule, John was at war both at home and abroad, fighting the French overseas, and warring with rival English barons who sought to overthrow him in a bid for power. John spent much of his time as King travelling both within England and in France, leading his forces into battle in attempts to quell dissent and keep hold on power.
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| Original version of Magna Carta - 1215 (Public Domain photo courtesy of wikipedia) |
It was during his reign that the Magna Carta, or "Great Charter" was created. This document was not only designed to address the concerns of rebel English barons at that time, but to help pave the way to greater political and religious reforms within England. Unfortunately, neither John nor the rebel barons had much interest in abiding by the proposed guidelines of the Magna Carta, and war between the two sides quickly broke out once again.
In September of 1216, John was on the offensive, attacking rebel barons who had occupied various towns and cities in and around London and Cambridge. During these travels, it appears that he contracted what was called "the bloody flux", what is known today as dysentery.
It is during this time period, as he headed west, that King John may have lost the original Crown Jewels of England. Apparently, while the King and his group travelled one route, his baggage train, which allegedly carried the Crown Jewels, travelled a separate, more dangerous path along a coastal area know as The Wash. It is supposed that during the trip, many of the wagons in the baggage train were caught by incoming coastal tides and lost somewhere in this area.
Did the Crown Jewels of England disappear somewhere in The Wash as many historians believe? Or, were they safely returned by King John when he returned from his travels. One thing we do know for certain, the monarch died shortly after contracting the deadly bloody flux during the night of 18/19 October 1216.
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