SO. What really happened with King John is that while King Richard was participating in the Third Crusades--even captured and held for ransom at one point, which was a huge drain on the treasury if you don't mind me pointing out--John, a potential heir to the throne at the time, joined forces with King Philip II of France in a revolt so that John could take the crown for himself as his brother was absent from his throne most of the time in his 10 year reign and Philip could have the kingdom of Normandy taken back into French hands--France and England loved fighting over Normandy, really.
There's a large mess with their family--but then again, what family doesn't have a few issues? And royal families, I mean really--BUT. The revolt failed. However, Philip did manage to get Normandy into his hands and John was forgiven by his brother and, due to the politics at the time, was promised the crown once his brother had passed.
As history would have it, King Richard died in 1199, whereupon King John took the throne.
There we are! A proper history of the times.
... of course that doesn't include any of the troubles against France or the political advisers--that's all a mess in any case.