King of England :
John 1199-1216
Background information :
John had succeeded his brother Richard in England and Normandy. Other parts of the vast Angevine empire had chosen other heirs and this led to most of Johns lands in France being lost through invasions and treaties to the French Capetian Kings by 1206.
In this area the new King, looking for support had given William Braose permission to extend his estates by taking any Welsh territory he could. The Lordship of Kington including Presteigne also came into his hands in 1203. Braose's carte-blanche continued until 1207 when a dispute with the King turned into full scale war. The King siezed Braose's castles and lands, transfering Knighton and Norton first to Roger Mortimer, and within a few months to Thomas Erdington, sheriff of Shropshire.

The manor of Presteigne was rescued from Crown rule by Thomas Fraxino who managed to secure a tennancy directly from King John who needed all the support he could get to maintain his control over border politics. To this end he had made a treaty in 1201 with Rhys ap Gruffydd's successor as nominal leader of the Welsh, Llywelyn ap Iowerth ?-1240, better known as Llywelyn the Great, from 1194 King of Gwynedd. John helped Llywelyn in struggles with the Kings of Powys, who were among Llywelyns Welsh enemies. Llywelyn also married Johns daughter, Princess Joan. These factors had kept the Welsh out of the Baronial troubles of the area but in 1208 John broke the alliance by actively supporting Llywelyn's Welsh enemies, which caused Llywelyn and William Braose to become allied against the King.