Timeline

1205	Jul 13	Hubert Walter dies
		Hubert Walter the Archbishop of Canterbury and King John's most important advisor died.
	Dec	John forces election of De Gray
		When Hubert Walter died in July a dispute began between King John and the monks of Canterbury over who should become the new Archbishop of Canterbury. King John wanted John de Grey, Bishop of Norwich, to have the position but the monks wanted their sub-prior, Reginald. The matter was delayed until December when a mission sent to Rome could consult the Pope. Reginald himself went as part of the mission and stated that he had been elected by the monks. When King John heard of this he demanded that De Gray should be elected and the monks dutifully did.
1206	Dec	The Pope chooses Stephen Langton for Canterbury
		Although the monks of Canterbury wanted their own sub-prior for the post of Archbishop and King John wanted John de Gray, Pope Innocent III chose Stephen Langton. Langton was originally from Lincolnshire but after teaching in Paris had moved to Rome where he had become a Cardinal. The monks of Canterbury accepted the Pope's decision and voted Langton in as the new Archbishop. King John did not agree.
1207		Stephen Langton becomes Archbishop of Canterbury
		Stephen Langton was chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Innocent III.
	Aug	The Pope threatens an Interdict
		The Pope threatened King John with the sentence of Interdict unless he accepted Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury. An Interdict meant that church services would be banned in England except for baptisms and confessions.
1208	Spring	Interdict served by the Pope
		With King John still refusing to accept Langton as Archbishop the Pope served the sentence of Interdict on England. In response King John confiscated church property.
1209		Langton lands at Dover
		Stephen Langton landed in England from France to see King John and take the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. John refused to meet with him although John did meet Stephen's brother Simon.
	Nov	John excommunicated by the Pope
		King John is excommunicated by Pope Innocent III.
1211	Summer	Excommunication served
		In Northampton the Papal legate Pandulf served King John with his excommunication ordered by the Pope. For John this was a serious blow to his ability to rule the country as it absolved the King's subjects from their oaths of alliegence, gave the Barons reason to revolt and allowed the King of France to invade England to remove John from power.
1212	Nov	John accepts Pope's demands
		Taking the advice of William Marshal John accepted the demands of the Pope and that Stephen Langton should become Archbishop. A peace mission was also sent to the Pope.
1213	Mar	John prepares against invasion
		At a camp near Canterbury called Barham Down King John mobilized an army against the threat of invasion from the French.
	Spring	French plan invasion
		Because King John had been excommunicated by the Pope the French king, Philippe, had the right to invade England and remove John from the throne. Philippe wanted to put his son Louis in John's place.
	May 30	French fleet defeated
		The English fleet defeated the French fleet off Damme, Flanders and the French plans of invasion are destroyed.
	Jul	Excommunication lifted
		When King John agreed to meet Stephen Langton at Winchester he was absolved from excommunication.
	Sep 26	Pope's envoy arives in England
		Cardinal Nicholas De Romanis arrived in England to prepare for the settlement of the Interdict. John's punishment was to pay 100,000 marks to compensate the church for the losses he had caused it.
1214	Jun 29	Interdict lifted
		At St. Paul's Cathedral, in London, the Interdict was finally lifted.