The loss of Normandy in 1204 should rightly be considered one of the most important events in British history, mainly because King John's unprecedented financial activity in the subsequent decade was the main reason behind the political dissent that culminated in the formulation of Magna Carta. The charter's financial significance cannot be overstated, as the restrictions it imposed on the crown's ability to raise revenue shaped the political landscape for the remainder of the thirteenth century. Both major crises of the thirteenth century, namely the baronial reform movement from 1258 to 1265, and the opposition to Edward I from 1297, share the same underlying factor – the crown's desperate need for money caused by the impositions of 1215. Therefore fully to comprehend why momentous political events occurred in the way they did, it is imperative to grasp the financial circumstances that lie behind them.

In consequence, this paper provides an overview of English state finance from 1190 to 1307 in relation to the causes and implications of the loss of Normandy. There are two primary areas of focus. First, by using recent surveys of the Angevin financial administration, it is possible to reassess John's role in the collapse of the Anglo-Norman realm. The somewhat surprising conclusions of this initial survey make it possible to demonstrate that the impact of the disaster on the constituent elements of royal revenue, as well as the mechanics of the financial administration, was still relevant at the end of Edward's reign over a century later.