25 April –
John's first expedition to Ireland: King Henry II knights his son and heir, the 18-year-old
Prince John, newly created
Lord of Ireland, and sends him to Ireland, accompanied by 300 knights and a team of administrators to enforce English control. Landing at
Waterford, he treats the local Irish rulers with contempt, making fun of their unfashionable long beards. Also failing to make allies amongst the Anglo-Norman settlers, the English army is unable to subdue the Irish fighters in unfamiliar conditions and the expedition soon becomes a complete disaster. In December, John returns to England in defeat. Nonetheless, Henry gets him named 'King of Ireland' by
Pope Urban III and procures a golden crown with peacock feathers.[6][1] The expedition is accompanied and chronicled by
Gerald of Wales.[7]
May – Richard campaigns against his father Henry II in France.[1]
4 July – Henry II surrenders, agrees to make Richard his heir and pay an
indemnity.[1]
6 July – Henry II dies at the
Château de Chinon; Richard becomes king.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is released from house arrest and rules as de facto regent for her son. Retrospectively (from the 13th century), the time before this in law becomes
time immemorial.[3]
13 August – Richard sails from
Barfleur to
Portsmouth to take up his crown.