John II of France
King of France from 1350 to 1364 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about John II of France?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
John II (French: Jean II; 26 April 1319 – 8 April 1364), called John the Good (French: Jean le Bon), was King of France from 1350 until his death in 1364. When he came to power, France faced several disasters: the Black Death, which killed nearly one-third to one-half of its population; popular revolts known as Jacqueries; free companies (Grandes Compagnies) of routiers who plundered the country; and English aggression that resulted in catastrophic military losses, including the Battle of Poitiers of 1356, in which John was captured.
| John II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| King of France (more...) | |
| Reign | 22 August 1350 – 8 April 1364 |
| Coronation | 26 September 1350 |
| Predecessor | Philip VI |
| Successor | Charles V |
| Regent | Charles (1356–1360) |
| Born | 26 April 1319 Le Mans, France |
| Died | 8 April 1364(1364-04-08) (aged 44) Savoy Palace, London, England |
| Burial | 7 May 1364 |
| Spouses | |
| Issue | |
| House | Valois |
| Father | Philip VI of France |
| Mother | Joan of Burgundy |
| Signature |  |
While John was a prisoner in London, his son Charles became regent and faced several rebellions, which he overcame. To liberate his father, he concluded the Treaty of Brétigny (1360), by which France lost many territories and paid an enormous ransom. In an exchange of hostages, which included his son Louis I, Duke of Anjou, John was released from captivity to raise funds for his ransom. Upon his return to France, he created the franc to stabilize the currency and tried to get rid of the free companies by sending them to a crusade, but Pope Innocent VI died shortly before their meeting in Avignon. When John was informed that Louis had escaped from captivity, he voluntarily returned to England, where he died in 1364. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles V.