King John's England and the film Ironclad

Castle Rochester as depicted in Jonathan English's film Ironcald (2011)

The 17th century English writer Thomas Hobbes said that life without a sound government was, "nasty, brutish, and short." Of course, Hobbes was not speaking specifically of the medieval period when he penned those words, but they could have proved true nonetheless. In Jonathan English's film Ironclad he shows just how nasty, brutish, and short life could be during the reign of King John I, when barons fought against the king, and king against the barons. English's movie shows in visceral detail the horrors of middle age warfare, where a simple nick or "flesh wound" (Monty Python) could prove fatal. Few men survived unscathed and a greater many died. While these over-the-top images stretch the truth in some instances, over all, the film strove for a historically accurate depiction of warfare during the Middle Ages. 

King John I

English's movie is set against the backdrop of England during the ruthless reign of King John (played by Paul Giamatti). At the beginning of the film, it shows the result of the barons march on London, and how they eventually forced the hand of King John into signing the Magna Carta in 1215. In this way, this movie plays out like an unofficial sequel to Ridley Scott's 2010 film, Robin Hood, albeit with a much more gruesome tone. After the signing of the Magna Carta, King John is furious and wants to even the score against the barons that made him relinquish some of his power. The king is hellbent on proving that he is the ultimate authority in the land. The history here is not too far off, either. After signing the charter, King John went back to war with the barons that had opposed him. 

Move over Da Vinci Code, the Knights Templar are back

The movie opens with Thomas Marshal (played by James Purefoy), a soldier in the Knights Templar, narrowly escaping slaughter by King John and his hired Danish mercenaries. Marshall's inspiration could have come from Sir William Marshal, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke (1190-1231), who helped the barons fight against King John during their rebellion. A member of the Knights Templar is not out of place in this film, or during this time period, either, considering that they were instrumental in helping to win the rebellion for the barons. But, the movie makes an early miss-step in its history. The film shows King John with hired Danish mercenaries, but in reality, the king's mercenaries hailed from northern France and Wales, not Denmark. 

Looking past the film's early miss-step, however, one is shown the the baron, William d'Aubigny (played by Brian "He's in Every Medieval Movie" Cox), gathering a small force to help protect Rochester Castle. Baron d'Aubigny was in fact a real person, who helped to lead the rebellion against King John, and was one of the sureties of the Magna Carta. So d'Aubigny and Marshal march to Rochester to protect the strategically located castle from its impending attack by the king. Here again, the history is sound because d'Aubigny was one of the barons that fought to defend Rochester Castle. 

Rochester Castle under siege by trebuchets

D'Aubigny and Marshal's small group of men arrive just in time to defend against the king's first wave of attack. It is here that the movie begins to pick up steam as a great battle commences between the two parties, and siege warfare is depicted in great detail, with trebuchets hurtling massive stones at the castle's battlements. Now medievalists may argue over which weapons were used, or not used, but the over all feeling and big picture of the siege warfare is accurate. Like how men are smashed to smithereens by the large stones pelting the castle walls. The protracted siege shows D'Aubigny and his men facing starving, and being forced to eat horse meat, and whatever else was available, which is something that happened from time to time during a siege. 

After months of fighting, King John manages to storm into the castle. The siege has going down in history as one of the greatest military feats. But, it is at this point in the the movie where the history goes a little wonky again. The film shows d'Aubigny being captured and his hands cut off, in reality, he avoided being hanged, and died years later. Marshal and the remaining fairly flat characters hole up in the keep in a last ditch effort to avoid their deaths. Marshal manages to survive until the French arrive relieve the castle's siege. The film shows King John tucking his tail and running at this point, however, the French did not arrive until months later. The movie ends describing how King John slowly lost his power, and died in a long retreat. The leaves you with the idea that the French came to rule England, but the barons came to support John's son, Henry III, who was a mere child at the time, and offered up a time of relaxed rule in England. 

Despite the film's few, jarring inaccuracies, Ironclad offers up an engrossing view of siege warfare during the Middle Ages. If viewers are able to look past these historical miss-steps, they will likely enjoy this movie that runs on a kind of clanging swords high octane from start to finish. Also, it is a great antidote to the last romantic comedy, or musical that your girlfriend forced you to watch.