charachter if prince john in tounamnet at asshby
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Prince John (1167-1216) is also a historical character. He was the youngest son of Henry ll and became King of England after the death of his elder brother, King Richard, in 1199. Prince John acts as regent during the absence of King Richard, a man of light, profligate and perfidious character, Prince John easily enlists the support of powerful and dissolute Norman barons and military
monks, who dread King Richard and are eager to fish in troubled waters. He and his supporters live luxurious lives in their castles and maintain bands of mercenaries for their own protection, while people in general wade in poverty and disease under their oppressive regime.
Prince John tries to win popularity with people by organizing a tournament or Passage of Arms at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, in which renowned knights take part to show their skill in games of chivalry to spectators drawn from all classes of feudal society. He is well-mounted and richly dressed. He laughs
loudly with his train and surveys boldly the beauties adorning the galleries. He looks very attractive but his well-formed and well-groomed personality conceals a licentious, vainglorious and tyrannical disposition. He displays a manly frankness, but it arises from a reckless indifference to the feelings of
others. He hates the few Saxon families left in the country after the Norman conquest and leaves no opportunity of mortifying them.
Prince John wants his favourite challengers to come off with flying colours in the tournament, but he is disappointed to see them defeated one after another by the Disinherited knight.
Prince John faces a greater disappointment on the second day of the tournament than he does on the first day. The reason is that all of his favourite knights are defeated once again by the Disinherited Knight who turns out to be Cedric’s banished son and King Richard’s minion, Wilfred of Ivanhoe.
Prince John contends that he is free to confer the estate of the crown on his faithful followers in place of those who wander with King Richard in foreign lands. Prince John’s plan to assume the crown himself by holding a meeting of his supporters at York fails to materialize despite the concerted efforts made by his advisor, Fitzhurse, for its success.