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John II Biography

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JOHN II (1319-64). King of France from 1350 to 1364, surnamed "The Good." He succeeded his father, Philip VI of Valois, in 1350, and commenced his reign by acts of despotism and cruelty. The English invaded France, and John was defeated by Edward the Black Prince at Poitiers (q.v.) in 1356. John himself was taken prisoner, carried to Bordeaux and then to London, where he was detained until Oct. 25, 1360. His ransom was fixed by a treaty with Edward III at Brétigny (q.v.). In 1363 he secured for his son Philip the Duchy of Burgundy, which was destined to become a danger to France. His son, the Duke of Anjou, who had been in London as a hostage for the payment of John's ransom, escaped in violation of his parole, and thereupon John voluntarily returned in 1364 as a prisoner to London, where he suddenly died. Consult Lavisse, Histoire de France, vol. iv, part i (Paris, 1902).