Most historians would agree he was quite a bad king but whether he was a caricature of evil is another question entirely, he says. Image caption, John's most famous moment is signing the Magna Carta ...

King John was the ruler of England from May 27, 1199 to Oct. 19, 1216, succeeding his brother Richard "The Lionheart". John is best known for sealing the Magna Carta, which was the first step ...

John was one of the worst kings – arguably the worst king – ever to sit on England’s throne. “A very bad man,” in the words of one contemporary chronicler, “brim-full of evil qualities.” ...

Image caption, The ruin of Newark Castle, where John died, possibly in the gatehouse on the far left. ... It is 800 years since one of England's most reviled monarchs, King John, died from dysentery.