| 1351 |
|
|
| 1351 |
|
Raoul de Caours promises Philippe VI that he can regain all the English held towns in Brittany if his castles in Bas-Poitou are restored to him. |
| 1355 |
|
William Douglas, the Kinght of Liddesdale, who had been specially released on parole for this purpose, presents King Edward III's peace proposal to a council of barons and prelates of the realm at Scone |
| 1351 |
|
Jean II makes Charles de la Cerda, called d'Espange, Constable, and his lieutenant in all of western France between the Loire and the Dordogne. |
| 1351 |
8 January |
A meeting of the Estates of Languedoc opens at Montpellier, with King Jean III presiding. They agree to a hearth tax of 20 sou per hearth, or a sales tax of 8 denier per livre, assessed on communities at their pre plague levels. |
| 1351 |
February |
Guy de Nesle arrives outside the town of Saint Jean d'Angely, and lays siege to it. |
| 1351 |
16 February |
A meeting of the Estates of northern France opens at Paris. They agree to a sales tax of 6 deniers per livre. |
| 1351 |
March |
Representatives of the Norman towns meet at Pont Audemer and agree to pay the higher tax rates called for by the meeting of the Estates. |
| 1351 |
|
The garrison of Calais is reinforced. |
| 1351 |
6 March |
Henry of Grosmont, Earl of Lancaster, is elevated to the title of Duke of Lancaster by Edward III. |
| 1351 |
26 March |
Combat of the Thirty in Brittany. Jean de Beaumanoir, commander of the castle of Josselin, which holds for the French claimant, Charles de Blois meets Robert Branborc (or Bemborough), commander of the castle of Polormel, which holds for the English for an passage of arms with daggers, axes and spears. De Beaumanoir emerges victorious, with two of his knights dead, and Bemborough, along with eight others, dies in the exchange. |
| 1351 |
end of March |
Guy de Nesle's forces have taken the bridge over the Boutonne, and built two forts on the southern roads, cutting Saint Jean d'Angely off from it's support and providing a defense against any relief of the town. |
| 1351 |
|
Sir John Cheverston, Seneschal of Gascony, and the son of the lord d'Albret march north from the Gironde valley with men and supplies they plan to try and get past the troops surrounding Saint Jean d'Angely. |
| 1351 |
|
Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster arrives in Calais with a large retinue of soldiers and diplomats, to take command of of operations. |
| 1351 |
31 March |
Guy de Nesle is informed of the presence of Sir John Cheverston. He leaves a small number of troops behind to keep the garrison busy, and marches the rest of his men south. drawing his men up between Cheverston's troops and the bridge, near the village of Saint Georges. |
| 1351 |
April |
French Royal Ordinance of 1351: Raises pay for Soldiers and in an attempt to curb the Right of Independent Withdrawal forbids nobles to leave the battlefield without the permission of the commanders. |
| 1351 |
|
A diplomatic conference is held in Hexham, Northumberland, between the English, represented by the Earl ot Earl of northampton, Henry Percy and Ralph Neville, and the Scots, represented by Robert Erskine and William Laundels, as well as by William Douglas and representatives of Edward Balloil (who are for the most part ignored). Negotiations come to nothing specific, and the conference is adjourned, to meet again in Newcastle, in July. |
| 1351 |
1 April |
Guy de Nesle and his forces are decisively defeated, apparently being attacked from the rear by a second English force from Tiallebourg and Tonnay Charente while they were preparing to attack Cheverston's troops in their front. The survivors retreat to Saintes, and shut themselves in. Guy de Nesle and his deputy Arnoul d'Audrehem are taken prisoner, along with many other French knights. |
| 1351 |
early April |
The garrison commander of Taillebourg manages to get past the French siege lines, which are still in place despite Guy de Nesle's defeat, and deliver supplies. |
| 1351 |
|
Captain of Calais and Walter Mauny make a raid from Calais into northern France, making off with a large amount of livestock. |
| 1351 |
|
Sir John Cheverston, realizing he cannot get supplies past the French siege lines in the south of Saint Jean d'Angely, retreats with his army to Bordeaux. |
| 1351 |
Mid April |
Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster, marches south out of Calais and assaults Boulougne. He is driven off by the garrison, and, after an equally unsuccessful assault on the town of Etaples, he turns back north, burning his way past Fauquemberque, Therouanne and Saint Omer, all of which stay behind their walls and let him pass. |
| 1351 |
late April |
Guy de Nesle and Arnoul d'Audrehem, having been rapidly ransomed, are once again free. |
| 1351 |
|
Arnaud de Cervole takes the castle of Montravel, the fortress of the Bishop of Bordeaux, outside Castillion. The Count de Perigord, realizing the military significance of it, takes possession and garrisons it immediately. |
| 1351 |
mid May |
The French reinforce Compiegne. |
| 1351 |
Summer |
Edward III regains the revenue of the customs duties from the group of London merchants to whom they'd been mortgaged in 1346. |
| 1351 |
|
The English lay siege to Montravel with a large force, but are unable to take it. |
| 1351 |
June |
Raymond de Fronsac, a great lord of the Saintonge, changes allegiance to the French side. |
| 1351 |
|
Jean de Melun, Count de Tancarville, is sent to Brittany to harass the English positions on the peninsula. His principal action in this matter is to lay siege to Ploermel. |
| 1351 |
early June |
John Beauchamp, Captain of Calais, marches out of Calais by night with 600 mounted men, moving towards Saint Omer. |
| 1351 |
8 June |
Battle of Ardres: John Beauchamp's force is trapped in a river bend by Edward de Beaujeu, the French commander on the march of Calais. In the fighting at the beginning de Beaujeu is killed, but his brother rallied the troops and, reinforced by troops from the garrison of Saint Omer, defeated the English. John Beauchamp is captured in the action, along with many others. |
| 1351 |
mid June |
William Clinton, Earl of Huntingdon, is appointed acting Captain of Calais and begins raising troops. |
| 1351 |
|
The Duke of Lancaster is sent on an embassy to the Count of Flanders, offering him a marriage alliance and a small subsidy if he will begin to attack the towns of northern France at once. |
| 1351 |
15 June |
Recruiting begins in Wales and southern England for the proposed army that Edward III will lead to the continent. |
| 1351 |
late June |
The Earl of Huntingdon crosses the channel with a force of around 230 men to reinforce the Calais garrison. Edward III plans to follow soon with another army. |
| 1351 |
July |
The Alglo-Scots conference is reconvened in Newcastle, and produces a draft treaty, but that treaty can only be approved with the consent of the Scottish parliament. It is agreed that King David II of Scotland will be released on parole to reason with his subjects. |
| 1351 |
7 July |
Peace talks are once again held outside Guines. Bishop Bateman and the Earl of Huntingdon negotiate with the French, to no avail. |
| 1351 |
14 July |
Louis de Male, Count of Flanders, having left Flanders before the arrival of the Duke of Lancaster, concludes a treaty with King Jean II of France. the Count renounces his claim to the castles of Walloon Flanders, promises not to allow the English to operate in his territory, and to serve in the king's army like a proper vassal. In return he receives promises of a large subsidy from the French crown, and aid in case his county is attacked. |
| 1351 |
18 July |
Bishop Bateman leaves the peace conference at Guines, traveling to England for further instructions. |
| 1351 |
27 July |
Bishop Bateman receives his instructions in regard to the peace talks at Guines. |
| 1351 |
August |
23 of the leaders of a tax revolt at Rouen are hung. |
| 1351 |
|
Raoul de Caours is discovered attempting to recover his castle of Beauvoir-sur-Mer from the French garrison with the aid of the English backed Montfortists. |
| 1351 |
3 August |
Bishop Bateman departs England to return to the peace talks at Guines. |
| 1351 |
5 August |
The garrison of Saint Jean d'Angely, having held out for as long as it could and, indeed, far longer that anyone had expected, agrees to a truce until 31 August. During the period of this truce the garrison could send requests for aid, but could not take in any supplies, nor improve the defenses in any way. If an relief army were to appear in the stipulated time a battle would be arranged on ground chosen by two knights from each side. If no help had arrived by 31 August garrison would surrender, and be allowed to march away with their lives and anything they could cart away. |
| 1351 |
mid August |
Walter Bentley invades Maine, sacking the town of Chateau Gontier, then turns south to take Varades. |
| 1351 |
29 August |
King Jean II camps outside Saint Jean d'Angely, preparatory to receiving the surrender of the town. |
| 1351 |
31 August |
King Jean II receives the surrender of Saint Jean d'Angely and Raymond de Caupenne marches away with all his garrison. |
| 1351 |
Autumn |
Friquet de Fricamps campaigns through the south of Angoumois. |
| 1351 |
early September |
Reacting to the actions of Walter Bentley Jean de Melun raises the siege of Ploermel and, collecting reinforcements, marches south to conduct the defense of the lower Loire. |
| 1351 |
11 September |
An extension of the truce is signed at Guines, to last for one year. Walter Mauny returns to Brittany from the Loire valley, Jean de Melun pays off all his troops,Charles d'Espagne pays off some of his, and the Duke of Lancaster travels to Germany and Poland to fight the heathens found there. While the truce is in general followed in the north, it is, as usual, almost meaningless in the south, where a vicious guerilla war continues to be waged. |
| 1351 |
26 September |
King Jean II, bankrupted by the recent military activities, suspends payment of nearly all the royal debt, for the duration of the truce. |
| 1351 |
early October |
Friquet de Fricamps is appointed the captain of the king's forces in Angoumois. |
| 1351 |
early November |
Friends and associates of Charles d'Espagne, including Friquet de Fricamps, Jean de Clermont and Jean de Moucicaut, attempt to retake the town of Saint Foy by escalade. They are driven off by the garrison, but they take the John Charnels, Constable of Bordeaux, captive in one of the sorties. |
| 1351 |
6 November |
King Jean II sends a letter out inviting 500 knights to the first meeting of the Company of Knights of Notre Dame de la Noble Maison, otherwise known as the Order of the Star. |
| 1351 |
18 December |
Gascon raiders, led by Jean de Grailly, the Captal de Buch, take the city of Saint Antonin, pillaging it and using it as a base for further raiding into Quercy, Rouerge and Albigois. |
| 1351 |
late in the year |
Raoul de Caours is carried off by Breton raiders when they attack the island of Noirmoutiers, where he had been living. |
| 1352 |
|
|
| 1352 |
|
Parliament limits the English kings powers of conscription. |
| 1352 |
January |
Bertrand de Pibrac, prior of St. Martin des Champs in Paris, is appointed a commissioner to collect the gabelle. |
| 1352 |
6 January |
 The first and only meeting of the new Order of the Star. Of the 500 knights invited to attend only about 100 actually do, and if these many are the immediate royal family, or officers of the crown. |
| 1352 |
|
Guines is taken by John Dancaster, an English squire who had recruited a small group of men off the streets of Calais. When asked, the next day, on who's authority he was acting, he refused to answer. |
| 1352 |
15 January |
French emissaries arrive at Westminster to complain of the violation of the truce by John Dancaster at Guines. Edward III claims it was not done by his authority, and provides them with a letter commanding any subject of his holding the place to give it up. |
| 1352 |
17 January |
Parliament meets at Westminster. William Shareshull, the Chief Justice, opens with a speech claiming the French king had violated the truce in Brittany, Gascony and at sea, and the commons should advise King Edward III as to a course of action. |
| 1352 |
mid January |
Edward III decides to send a small force to Bordeaux under the command of Ralph Stafford, who is raised to the title of Earl of Stafford. |
| 1352 |
18 January |
Jean II promises to pay Charles II de Navarre the arrears on the pension due to his deceased mother, some 60,000 livre, as well as a dowry of 100,000 ecus. |
| 1352 |
20 January |
Parliament is once again given a strong anti-French speech, this time by Bartholomew Burghersh, Edward III's Chamberlain, who said that Jean II was plotting against England, and citing the violence in the march of Calais as further evidence of the French breaking the truce. Parliament votes a subsidy for the next three years. |
| 1352 |
22 January |
A meeting of the French council in Paris to consider raising money for renewed hostilities decides to devalue the currency. |
| 1352 |
29 January |
The Captain of Calais sends 55 men to take control of Guines, in the name of Edward III, who has decided not to give it back after all. |
| 1352 |
end of January |
Edward III pardons John Dancaster for his crimes, and rewards him for the capture of Guines. The French, meanwhile, accuse the former deputy of Guines of taking a bribe to let the English in, and have him drawn and quartered in the market at Saint Omer. |
| 1352 |
February |
The French make plans for three armies, one in Brittany, one in Saintonge, and one in the march of Calais. |
| 1352 |
|
King David II of Scotland is released on parole in return for the heirs of 6 earls and barons of Scotland, as well as 100 Scottish knights. |
| 1352 |
End of February |
King David II of Scotland in Scone, attending an assembly of Scots nobles gathered to discuss the proposed peace treaty with England. HTy regect it, saying they were more then willing to ransom their king, but that they would bever subject their country to the English. |
| 1352 |
12 February |
Charles II de Navarre marries Jeanne de Valois, daughter of King Jean II of France. |
| 1352 |
Spring |
Companies of brigands spread out through Martel, Gramat and Limogne. |
| 1352 |
Beginning of April |
King David II of Scotland returns to captivity, surrendering himself to Sir John Copeland at Berwick. |
| 1352 |
|
Charles de Blois, assured that King Jean II is going to pay his ransom, negotiates in Calais with Edward III's agents and agrees to pay a ransom of 400,000 ecus. |
| 1352 |
|
Guy de Nesle and his army reoccupy the siege works around Ploermel. |
| 1352 |
March |
French privateers, who have been cruising off the coast since the beginning of the year, are joined by French galleys and armed merchantmen, and cruise off the Isle of Wight, waiting to attack English shipping. |
| 1352 |
late March |
Baldo Doria, Admiral of Brittany, takes Redon, expelling the English garrison. |
| 1352 |
April |
The army of Brittany begins to muster at Rennes, to be commanded by Guy de Nesle, the army of Saintonge assembles at Saint Jean d'Angely and Saintes. |
| 1352 |
|
In an attempt to draw off the French fleet cruising off the Isle of Wight, a small fleet of English ships is assembled in the Thames, and sent to raid the Picardy coast. |
| 1352 |
|
French troops lay siege to Taillebourg. |
| 1352 |
May |
It becomes apparent during talks between the English and French ambassadors at Avignon that Raoul d'Eu had, after 5 years in captivity in England, been persuaded to give Edward III the castle and county of Guines in lieu of his ransom. While in general practice a fairly standard transaction, clearly Jean II regarded it as treason to give the enemy lands that would give him a strong foothold in the Picardy and Artois region, and thus his summary execution in November of 1350 is explained. |
| 1352 |
|
Geoffrey de Charny, reappointed as the Captain of the march of Calais, lays siege to Guines. He captures the town, and begins to fortify the convent opposite the main gate of the Castle, and turn it into a fort to batter the castle itself. |
| 1352 |
|
King David II of Scotland is returned to prison in the Tower of London. |
| 1352 |
early May |
King Jean II, short of cash, cannot pay the first installment on the ransom of Charles de Blois. Charles returns to captivity in the tower of London. |
| 1352 |
|
Amaury de Craon is named the king's lieutenant in Languedoc and sent south to see to it's defense. |
| 1352 |
|
Forces from Guy de Nesles army lay siege to Fougeray, which is being held by Robert Knolles. After constructing the usual siege works they leave a garrison, and withdraw to camp in the vicinity of Rennes. |
| 1352 |
end of May |
Edward III's counselors decide that, despite the financial situation, an army must be raised to relieve the siege at Guines, and issue orders for the recruiting of 6,000 men, and begins requisitioning ships. |
| 1352 |
|
Amaury de Craon arrives in Languedoc, and garrisons several dozen towns and castles in the area. He also squeezes a subsidy from southern communities, and begins raising troops from Languedoc, Rouerge and parts of Perigord. |
| 1352 |
Summer |
Cardinal Guy de Boulougne leaves Avignon and travels to the French court, on a private mission to end the Anglo-French conflict. |
| 1352 |
June |
Fierce fighting continues around Guines, the garrison making sorties against Geoffrey de Charny's fort, supported by forces from Calais. |
| 1352 |
24 June |
Amaury de Craon begins an offensive campaign in the south of France, marching down through the Garonne valley towards Agen. |
| 1352 |
end of June |
Amaury de Craon establishes his headquarters at Agen, sending troops from there to attack English garrisons all throughout the Agenais. |
| 1352 |
|
Troops from the army of Amaury de Craon, under the command of Charles II de Navarre, lay siege to Port Sainte Marie, taking the bridge soon after beginning the siege. |
| 1352 |
July |
A large raiding party out of Calais, consisting of a large part of the garrison and a number of the reinforcement troops from England, attack the French siege lines around Guines by night. They succeed in killing a large number of the French troops, and in burning part of the newly built fort. |
| 1352 |
Several days later |
Geoffrey de Charny decides that Guines cannot be taken, leaves a garrison in his new fort to blockade the castle, and marches on Fretun. |
| 1352 |
early July |
The Earl of Stafford sails for France with 380 men and £5,000 cash in three ships and eight galleys. |
| 1352 |
|
The town of Port Sainte Marie surrenders to Charles II de Navarre. |
| 1352 |
17 July |
William Douglas, the Knight of Liddesdale, swears fealty to Edward III of England, swearing to serve him against all men 'Save for the Scots in Scotland unless he chooses. Edward releases him without ransom, and confirms his possession of Hermitage. |
| 1352 |
21 July |
Ralph Stafford arrives in Bordeaux, and immediately begins a campaign, marching his army up the Garonne valley towards Agen. |
| 1352 |
25 July |
Geoffrey de Charny arrives at Fretun, which is held by Aimeric of Pavia, the man who had betrayed de Charny the year before at Calais. Quickly capturing the tower and overwhelming the garrison, de Charny seizes Aimeric, and takes him back to Saint Omer, where he is publicly tortured with hot irons and dismembered with a meat axe. |
| 1352 |
late July |
Walter Bentley sails from Fowey, in Cornwall, to Brittany. He has less money and fewer troops that originally planned, some 160 archers and the same number of men-at-arms. |
| 1352 |
|
Amaury de Craon, informed of the arrival of Ralph Stafford, sends out for reinforcements in the vicinity. |
| 1352 |
early August |
Walter Bentley, having joined his new recruits with his army in Brittany, disperses the garrisons maintaining the sieges at Ploermel and Fougeray. |
| 1352 |
8 August |
King Jean II of France writes to the Scots, asking them to reject the peace proposal put forward by Edward III. |
| 1352 |
11 August |
The French army arrives at Malestroit, looking for the Anglo-Breton army under Walter Bentley. |
| 1352 |
14 August |
Battle of Mauron: Walter Bentley and his Anglo-Breton forces defeats the French under Guy de Nesle. Heavy casualties are inflicted by both sides, Bentley is wounded and Guy de Nesle is killed, as is Alain de Rohan, along with 89 of the knights of the Order of the Star, and many of the upper nobility of the Blois party. |
| 1352 |
15 August |
Ralph Stafford arrives outside Agen, throwing the city into a panic. the incomplete walls on the western side are swiftly shored up wooden barricades, and every adult male called out to man the walls. |
| 1352 |
mid August |
The French in Agen attempt a sortie against the army of Ralph Stafford. After a brief and violent melee outside the town the French are driven back, suffering heavy losses and many captured, including Jean Boucicaut and seven knights of the Star. |
| 1352 |
late August |
Unable to take Agen, and unwilling to sit for a long siege, given the reports of reinforcements coming tot he aid of the place, Ralph Stafford withdraws from Agen. |
| 1352 |
|
The French launch an offensive in Dordogne valley, threatening Bergerac and Moncuq. |
| 1353 |
Autumn |
Arnoul d'Audrehem conducts a campain in the Limousin, capturing Notron and Montbrun which had been sieze by Anglo-Gascon brigands. |
| 1352 |
September |
Troops from all over northern France assemble at Compiegne. |
| 1352 |
17 September |
Ralph Stafford and the lord of Albret take the town of Blaye by surprise, assaulting and taking it, bringing the whole of the north shore of the Gironde under English control, barring Royon and Talmont, at the mouth of the river. |
| 1352 |
24 September |
Amaury de Craon disbands his army and, a few days later, leaves the south. |
| 1352 |
late September |
Ralph Stafford marches north and disperses the French troops laying siege to castle of Tiallebourg, while Bernard Aiz d'Albret marches to the relief of Bergerac and Moncuq. |
| 1352 |
October |
Anglo-Gascon brigands occupy Souillac, on the north bank of the Dordogne, and use it as a base for raids, defeating the army of the Seneschal of Quercy sent to remove them. |
| 1352 |
|
Jean II, possibly in response to a challenge by Charles II de Navarre, confirms Charles d'Espagne as Count of Angouleme. |
| 1352 |
|
Robert le Coq is made Bishop of Laon |
| 1352 |
early October |
A group of Gascon brigands take the town of Lafranchaise, causing panic in Languedoc, and a sudden surge of tax gathering and wall building. An extraordinary meeting got the representatives of Toulouse towns decides to send a message to King Jean II, asking for his help. |
| 1352 |
1 October |
Geoffrey de Charny resigns his post as captain of the Calais march. |
| 1352 |
|
Ralph Stafford returns to England. |
| 1352 |
November |
Jeanne de Penthievre meets with the remnant of her supporters in Brittany. They decide to make a marriage alliance with Edward III, and dispatch Jean de Beaumanoir and Yves Charreul, heroes of the Combat of the Thirty, to England to negotiate. |
| 1352 |
early November |
Henry, Duke of Lancaster arrives in Paris with a large group of knights, to fight a duel with Otto, Duke of Brunswick. Lancaster had accused Brunswick of trying to capture him when he was passing through on his way back from the Prussian crusade, and Otto had in return accused Lancaster of slander. In the end the duel is not fought, as King Jean II imposed a settlement on them. |
| 1352 |
|
A large army, raised mostly by the citizens of Toulouse and commanded by the local seneschal, and the Counts of Comminges and Foix, lays siege to Lafranchaise. |
| 1352 |
|
Henry of Lancaster, as well as several of King Edward III's counselors who are with him, have a discussion with Cardinal Guy de Boulougne, proposing to chair a new peace conference early in the new year. The English agree to meet again at Guines in March of 1353. |
| 1352 |
6 December |
Pope Clement VI dies at Avignon. |
| 1352 |
18 December |
Étienne Aubert is elected and enthroned as Innocent VI |
| 1353 |
|
|
| 1353 |
|
Robert du Guesclin, father of Bertrand du Guesclin, dies, making Bertrand the seigneur of Broons. |
| 1353 |
|
The men of Martel meet to consider an offer from the Anglo-Gascon brigands occupying Souillac, who, having apparently exhausted the pillage possibilities of the area, offer to surrender it to the provincial representatives in return for 5,000 ecus. The money is raised by local taxation, and the brigands depart |
| 1353 |
January |
Anglo-Gascon raiders take the castle of Surgeres by escalade in the night. |
| 1353 |
mid January |
Lafranchaise falls to the counts of Comminges and Foix. |
| 1353 |
Late January |
The Count of Armagnac takes over from the counts of Comminges and Foix, and raises a fresh army at Castelsarrasin, and leads them to Saint Antoinin. |
| 1353 |
February |
Louis de Harcourt, newly appointed a royal captain in the southwest, recruits troops throughout the region. |
| 1353 |
3 February |
The Count of Armagnac lays siege to Saint Antonin. |
| 1353 |
Early March |
Representatives of England (including the former Archbishop of Canterbury and Keeper of the King's Privy Seal, Simon of Islip, Bishop Bateman of Norwich, the Duke of Lancaster and Michael Northburgh, current Keeper of the King's Privy Seal,) and France (including Pierre de la Foret, Archbishop of Rouen and King Jean's Chancellor, Charles d'Espagne, the Constable, Robert le Coq, Robert de Lorris, the Chamberlain, Guillaume Bertrand, Bishop of Beauvais, and Jean de Boulougne) meet outside Guines, in the presence of the Cardinal of Boulogne. |
| 1353 |
1 March |
Jean de Beamanoir and Yves Charreul sign an agreement with the Edward III. Edward agrees to release Charles de Blois on parole, to collect his ransom, set at 300,000 ecus (@ £50,000). In return for this money, Charles would be recognized as Duke of Brittany, and a neutral in the war between England and France, unless France were to attack, in which case Edward would come to his aid. Until the payment is made, Charles is required to leave his two eldest children in England as hostages. The elder of these, Jean de Blois, was by this agreement betrothed to a daughter of Edward III to seal the agreement. |
| 1353 |
10 March |
After several sessions, the peace conference at Guines agrees to a short truce, with the leading ambassadors pledging that any infringement would be rectified within 14 days, or they would surrender themselves. They then adjourn until 19 May, after dispatching a messenger in all haste to the Count of Armagnac at Saint Antonin. |
| 1353 |
Third Week of March |
News of the truce reaches the Count of Armagnac at Saint Antonoin. Despite having summoned reinforcements, and the assembly of the Estates of Languedoc that Bertrand de Pibrac was presiding over in the nearby town of Najac which had voted a grant (which would not be collected in the event of a truce), the Count raises the siege. |
| 1353 |
Late March |
The Duke of Lancaster and the rest of the embassy return to England. |
| 1353 |
|
King Jean II of France writes to William Laundels, assuring him that Scotland had a special claim on his affections, and the proper provisions would be made for Scotland in any peace treaty. |
| 1353 |
April |
Walter Bentley is removed as Edward III's commander in Brittany and is replaced by John Avenal, who proves perhaps even more ineffectual. Bently ignores Avenal's orders, and in the end goes to England to present his case. |
| 1353 |
Mid April |
King Jean of France begins receiving reports from England of King Edward III's displeasure with the terms negotiated at Guines, and of his intention to discontinue negotiations. |
| 1353 |
Beginning of May |
A letter arrives in Paris from the English ambassadors explaining that the conference could not be reconvened on the 19th, stating that King Edward III had summoned a council, which itself had to be delayed due to illness of the proposed attendees, and their inability to attend at short notice. They suggest that the date be pushed back to 25 June. This leads to great consternation among King Jean's counselors, and in the end to a statement that the French will not attend the conference. |
| 1353 |
Early Summer |
The Count of Armagnac, having collected the money voted by the Languedoc assembly despite the truce, begins recruiting another army. |
| 1353 |
|
Louis de Harcourt lays siege to Sugeres, which had been seized earlier in the year by English raiders, capturing the priory of St. Giles in the eastern part of the town and transforming into a fortress blocking the road. |
| 1353 |
8 May |
The French proclaim the arrier-ban in Normandy, repudiating the truce negotiated at Guines, and almost immediately thereafter in Saintoungue. Within 6 weeks it is also violated in Languedoc. |
| 1353 |
12 May |
King Charles II de Navarre and King Jean II spend Whitsun together, with Jean showering Charles with gifts. |
| 1353 |
16 May |
King Charles II de Navarre sends to his officers in Pamplona, ordering 30 cavalry and 300 infantry to reinforce his estates in southern Normandy. |
| 1353 |
Late May |
King Charles II de Navarre sends to Pamplona for further troops to reinforce his Normandy estates. |
| 1353 |
June |
Walter Bentley is arrested on his return to England, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. |
| 1353 |
|
Edward III's confessor, John Woodruff arrives in Avignon, sent by Edward to see if the Pope would sound out the King of France as to how much room for compromise in the negotiations. Innocent VI receives him indifferently, but sends to the King of France the substance of Edward's message. He also sends Raymond Pellegrini to Edward III, to inquire if he would find some other negotiator than the Cardinal of Boulougne more acceptable. |
| 1353 |
Last week of June |
The Count of Armagnac completes the raising of his army, and lays siege once again to Saint Antonin, and to the castles of Feneyrols, a few miles away, where the raiders had a subsidiary garrison. |
| 1353 |
Summer |
The Count of Perigord, taking advantage of the disruption of the brigand companies, renews his old grievance against the town of Perigueux, hiring companies of soldiers and thratening the city with violence. |
| 1353 |
|
King Charles II de Navarre returns to his Normandy estates to consolidate his military position, increasing his troops to a level of 600 Navarrese men spread between Evreux, Meulan, and Mantes, and including such captains as the Bascon de Mareuil and Rabigot Drury, famed for his ravages in Champagne and Ile de France. |
| 1353 |
July |
William of Whittelesey, nephew to Simon of Islip, is in Avignon to discuss how King Jean II of france received the proposals of Edward III of England. Pope Innocent VI responds that there has not been enough time to get a response, but that he did not expect a favorable one, given the nature of Edward's demands. Whittelesey also mentions that Edward has set his mind against Guy, Cardinal of Boulougne, as negotiator, determined that he was too pro French. |
| 1353 |
|
King Edward III's council reviews the Breton situation with several Breton nobleman and officials, but in the end can come to no effectual conclusion, and can only send a commissioner to ask for the causes of the Breton captains discontent. |
| 1353 |
26 July |
English and French representatives meet in Paris and extend the truce until November, though this has no actual effect to the actual conduct of the war. |
| 1353 |
|
Arnoul d'Audrehem attacks Comborn. The Bascon de Mareuil, who is in command of the large garrison, sallies out and a frce battle is fought outside the main gate, but are driven back inside. D'Audrehem invests the place for a siege. |
| 1353 |
Beginning of August |
The Bascon de Mareuil and the garrison of Comborn surrender on terms, reportedly at a price of 300,000 ecus, agreeing to leave the place and not raid in Limousin anymore. |
| 1353 |
Autumn |
Edward III meets with his great council, with Edward defining definite, if unrealistic, aims. He will make a permanent peace, and renounce his claims to the crown of France in return for the duchy of Aquitaine as held by his ancestors (which would include Saintonge, Angoumois, Poitou, Perigord, Limousin, Quercy and Rouergue), as well as Brittany, Normandy, Flanders and Ponthieu, all in full sovereignty. |
| 1353 |
September |
Some men of the entourage of Charles of Blois, who had returned to Brittany on parole, and surprise the castle of Tristan and slaughtered the garrison. On this violation Edward III abandons the treath he had made with Charles de Blois, who returns to prison in England. |
| 1353 |
End of September |
The garrison of Saint Antonin surrenders to the Count of Argmanac, abandoning the town and marching away under safe conduct. |
| 1353 |
November |
Sugeres falls to Louis de Harcourt, who subsequently meets with the english Seneschal at Libourne and agrees a truce for Saintonge |
| 1353 |
|
John Avenal is removed as the English commander in Brittany, and is replaced by Sir Thomas Holland. |
| 1353 |
December |
Garrisons in Franche-Comte are reinforced, in response to the believed threat that King Charles II de Navarre would combine with King Edward III and the fractious nobility of that region, and make war on Burgundy. |
| 1353 |
3 December |
English and French representatives meet again in Guines, and agree to extend the truce until the end of April, 1354, and to meet again in March of 1354. |
| 1353 |
Late December |
King Charles II de Navarre and his brother Philippe come to Paris to celebrate Christmas with King Jean II, having announced to their companions before they left that they intended to pick a quarrel. On arrival they indeed do so, exchanging severe insults with the Constable, Charles d'Espagne, to tha point where Philippe de Navarre advances on him with drawn dagger. |
| 1353 |
End of the Year |
Robert le Coq returns to the Council of King Jean II. |
| 1354 |
|
|
| 1354 |
8 January |
Philippe of Navarre, at the instigation of his brother King Chalres de Navarre, assassinates Constable Charles d'Espagne. Coming upon him at an inn in l'Aigle in Normandy where he was staying with Jean de Melun, the Count of Tancarville, Philippe entered the inn with Jean de Harcourt, Rabigot Drury, the Bascon de Mareuil and a force of Norman and Navarrese squires and soldiers, they drag the Constable naked from his bed. Philippe is reported to have said "Charles of Spain, I am Philippe, son of a king, whom you have foully slandered." Despite the Constable's pleas for mercy, promising his weight in gold, and to leave the realm forever, the Bascon and Rabigot Drury, with four other men, kill him. Reportedly, when examined later after the Countess de Alencon had the body removed for burial, they counted 80 wounds on his body. Charles II de Navarre himself, waiting outside the town, was informed of the deed by the Bascon de Mareuil riding up and shouting "It is done". Charles companions are shocked, having been told that the plan was to take the Constable alive, but he tells them they are now accomplices to this crime and that he would accept no pardon from the king that did not include them all. He then rides back to Evreux. |
| 1354 |
10 January |
King Charles II de Navarre writes to Henry of Lancaster, reporting the death of the Charles d'Espagne with brutal frankness, and giving his reasons fo ordering it. He explains also the danger he now stands in, and calls Lancaster his true friend, whom he has the greatest confidence in. He also includes letters for the King of England and the Prince of Wales, for the Duke to forward if he feels appropriate, asking for military aid from the English. Lancaster forwards the letters to Edward III, and sends his servant, Walter Bintree, to explain that despite the slow movement of events his request was being taken seriously, and that the Duke of Lancaster would be at Bruges on 7 or 8 February, and that Charles should send someone there with full negotiation powers. |
| 1354 |
13 January |
After four days of stunned inaction, during which he never uttered a word, King Jean II sends a deputation, consisting of the Count of Vendome, Geoffrey de Charny and Robert de Lorris to the King of Navarre to hear his version of events. King Charles makes no secret of his involvement, saying "I was there. I had it done." |
| 1354 |
Mid January |
King Charles II de Navarre is joined at Evreux by a great part of the nobility of Normandy, including the Count of Harcourt and his brother Jean, and his uncle Godfrey, the lords of Hambye and Graville, Aumaury de Meulan. |
| 1354 |
|
King Charles II de Navarre sends letters to the Pope, the University of Paris, all the councillors of King Jean II, the principal towns of France and many otehers asking for their support, admitting to having ordered Charles d'Espagne's murder, and saying that if he had thus angered the king he was sorry, but that on reflection Jean would "rejoice in being rid of such evil council". He claimed that he had ordered the act for the common good of the realm, because of evils the Constable had done to the realm, and the insults he had directed towards Charles II de Navarre himself. |
| 1354 |
18 January |
King Charles II de Navarre repeats his appeal to the King of England, through the Duke of Lancaster, with increased urgency, reporting the embassy of the Count of Vendome, and claiming to be receiving news of the King of France's plans for a military expedition against him, and saying that every Norman nobleman would die in his support. The Duke of Lancaster increases his efforts to get a swift response from the English government. |
| 1354 |
26 January |
Henry of Lancaster writes to King Charles II de Navarre saying that he would return to England as soon as he had met with Charles' agents to advance his cause as well as he might. |
| 1354 |
1 February |
A general requisition of merchant shipping is orderred in all ports between Lynn and Plymouth |
| 1354 |
Early February |
Thomas de Ladit, Chancellor of Navarre and Friquet de Fricamps, emmisarries of the King of Navarre, meet with Henry of Lancaster. He attempts to get them to return to England with him and make agreements between Edward III and Charles II, but they refuse, encouraging Lancaster to continue his preparations. Lancaster in the end gives them a document promising to fight for Charles against anyone but Edward III and the Prince of Wales, and saying that he was sure Edward would be willing to send 200 men-at-arms and 500 archers if needed. |
| 1354 |
8 February |
Under the influence of his aunt, the dowager Queen Jehanne, his sister, dowager Queen Blanche, and Guy Carcinal of Boulougne, King Jean II resolves to make peace with King Charles II of Navarre. He sends Guy de Boulougne and the duke of Bourbon as his ambassadors to King Charles II in Mantes, offering him everything he wanted. They are joined there by the two dowager queens. |
| 1354 |
22 February |
A treaty is concluded between King Jean II of France and King Charles II of Navarre. Charles gices up the compensation he received for the county of Angouleme, and accepts the county of Beaumont-le-Roger, Breteuil and Conches, the viscounty of Pont Audemer, and the whole of the Cotentin penninsula, along with the towns of Mantes, Meulan and Evreux. This to be held with his own courts and administration. Jean II also promises further grants of land to constitute the dowry Charles had been promised on his marriage to Jehanne, and also to issue pardons for the crime of murdering the Constable for himslf and all his associates. |
| 1354 |
18 February |
Edward III mobilizes his ships, planning for a gathering of the fleet in Southampton, to sail for Normandy in early March. |
| 1354 |
Late February or Early March |
King Charles II of Navarre writes to Henry of Lancaster, informing him that he had been reconciled to the king of France, and that further preparations for an English invasion of France must cease, adding that all the ports and places that the English might have come in are now filled with French troops. The Cardinal of Boulougne also writes to Lancaster saying that the hole through which he had hoped to enter France had been sealed. |
| 1354 |
Early March |
Henry of Lancaster returns to London to take command of the invasion preparations. |
| 1354 |
4 March |
King Jean II of France and Charles II of Navarre are officially reconciled in the great chamber of the Parlement of Paris, with the whole royal council and several peers in attendance. Charles asked for pardon, and Queen Jehanne and Queen Blanche begged for mercy from King Jean II, promising that Charles would henceforth be a loyal vassal. The Cardinal of Boulougne gave a short speech and pronounced the pardon, and King Jean II and his court left without a word. |
| 1354 |
30 March |
Edward empowers his ambassadors to make agreeents at the peace conference. |
| 1354 |
April |
Marshal Arnoul d'Audrehem and Sir Hugh Calveley carry on a fierce campaign in north east Brittany. |
| 1354 |
6 April |
The peace conference at Guines produces two agreements. One is a truce, to last until 1 April 1355. the second is a treaty of permanant peace, in which the French agre to cede, in full soverignty, the duchy of Aquitaine s it had been in 1323, as well as Poitou, Limousin, Maine, Anjou and Touraine, as well as the town and district of Calais. In return Edward III was to recounce his claim to the crown of France and make peace. The treaty was to be ratified on 1 October in Avignon, with appropriate public rituals, and any disagreements were to be arbitrated by the Pope before the end of the year. |
| 1354 |
10 April |
English and French forces fight a fierce battle at Montmuran, and Hugh Calvey is captured, after suffering heavy losses. Tradition has it that Bertrand du Guesclin is knighted at this battle. |
| 1354 |
Mid April |
Sir Thomas Holland arrives in Brittany to take up his appointment, bringing with him fresh troops. |
| 1354 |
|
King Jean II summons an assembly of the principal notables of the realm to discuss the peace treaty. |
| 1354 |
20 April |
The English campaign in Saintonge is halted, in consequence of the truce signed at Guines. |
| 1354 |
May |
Despite strict orders to observe the truce, Sir Thomas Holland hires the Navarrese captain Martin Henriquez and with him invades lower Normandy, burning the suburbs of Caen and Bayeaux. |
| 1354 |
May |
Desite the truce, and despite having been summoned to Paris in the King's name by Cardinal Guy de Boulougne, the Count of Armagnac begins a campaign of raids in the Agenais. His troops sit outside Aguillon for a month before being driven off by Sir John Cheverston. |
| 1354 |
Mid May |
Bartholomew Burghersh, Chamberlain of England, summons parliament, which was concluding it's business, to the palace of Westminster, and while not announcing the terms of the treaty, tells them that there is every hope for a 'lasting and honourable peace', and asking if they will approve the terms agreeable to the king and the lords, to which they reply 'in one voice' yes. |
| 1354 |
20 May |
An advance party leaves from London for Avignon, and arrangements were made for barons and prelates to follow in June, far in advance of the proposed date. |
| 1354 |
End of May |
King Jean II meets with the assembly of nobles to discuss the proposed treaty with the English, though it is doubtful as to exactly how candid he is with them as to the details. |
| 1354 |
Summer |
John Streatley, Constable of Bordeaux, and Bertrand de Monferrand, former captain of Lusignan tour the border areas exacting strict promises from local commanders, paying money and enduring the keeping of the truce. |
| 1354 |
June |
The town of Uzerche is attacked by night and taken by Anglo-Gascon raiders. They spend three days sacking the town, burning down the public buildings on the town square and pillaging the richer houses the first day, then attacking the monastary the next, though they fail to capture it, and finally burning the whole of the river quarter of the town on the third, before finally removing themselves. |
| 1354 |
|
Sir Thomas Holland ends his campaign in Normandy, and settles down to a series of extravagant and lethal tournaments. |
| 1354 |
End of June |
The Count of Armagnac attacks Lusignan-Grand, but fails to take it. A subsequent attempt to take Madaillan ends humiliatingly as the Italian crossbowmen and French infantry fall out and fight a pitched battle before the walls. |
| 1354 |
July |
The Scots agree to ransom King David II of Scotland for 90,000 marks, to be paid in installments over 9 years, and to a truce to last until all the money is paid. The king is released on parole, in exchange for th heirs of the 20 most prominent noblemen of Scotland. |
| 1354 |
August |
Jean, Count of Harcourt and brother and uncle, who had been the principal supporters of King Charles II de Navarre in Normandy some to paris to make their peace with King Jean II. While doing so apparently they tell him the whole story of the planning of the murder of Charles d'Espagne, implicating some of King Jean's closest councillors. Robert de Lorris flees to the papal court at Avignon, closely followed by Guy of Boulougne. Robert le Coq also leaves the king's council at this time, probably dissmissed, though he was not accused of anything. |
| 1354 |
29 August |
Michael de Northburgh leaves England for Avignon, the first part of the grand embassy that Edward III is sending to Avignon. |
| 1354 |
September |
Given the shakeup in the royal council, and the removal of those who had been the principal supporters of King Charles II de Navarre, King Jean II decides that both the traitors of Mantes with Charles and treaty of Guines with King Edward III of England were the work of disloyal schemers, and determines to repudiate both of them. |
| 1354 |
Somewhere in this time period |
Jean de Clermont, who had replaces Guy de Nesle as a marshal of France. is appointed King Jean II's lieutenant in the area between the Loire and the Dordogne. Within a month he begins an invasion of the English held territory on the north shore of the Gironde, attacking Linbourne and Saint Emelion, though with no actual result. |
| 1354 |
October |
Relations between King Charles II de Navarre and King Jean II of France break down, and Charles is convinced that the King of France is planning to arrest him. |
| 1354 |
4 October |
Bishop Bateman leads the second party of the English embassy to Avignon. |
| 1354 |
31 October |
The English royal council meets at Westminster to give their instructions to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Arundel, the highest positioned members of Edward III's embassy to Avignon. They were to press hard for the inclusion of Angoumois and Quercy, and to claim Normandy, but, it seems, only as a negociating point. All unresolved agreements were to be left in the hands of the Pope for arbitration. If at all possible negotiations are to be concluded by April 1355. |
| 1354 |
Beginning of November |
Having sent an emmissary to Pope Innicent VI to plead his cause to no effect, King Charles II de Navarre departs himself for Avignon, weaving across the French countryside to avoid King Jean II's agents. |
| 1354 |
Third week of November |
The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Arundel cross the channel with a massive entourage and begin their travels to Avignon. |
| 1354 |
End of November |
King Jean II of France announces the forfiture and confiscation of all King Charles II de Navarre's lands in France, giving as a reason Charles departure from the realm without permission, and immediately sending troops into Normandy to take hold of Charles' possessetions there, even going so far as to travel to Caen himself to oversee the operation. Only six places offer any resistance: Evreux, Pont Audemer, Cherbourg, Avranches, Gavray and Mortain, all of which are garrisoned by Navarrese troops. |
| 1354 |
Early December |
King Charles II de Navarre arrives in Avignon |
| 1354 |
End of December |
The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Arundel arrive in Avignon, and are escorted to their lodgings with great pomp. There they find Bishop Batemen on his deathbed and the English embassy there dispirited, having been in the city for months without having conducted any diplomatic business due to the non arrival of any French ambassadors. |
| 1354 |
End of the Year |
The French succeed in convincing the Scots to repudiate their agreement with the English regarding the ransom and truce, and renew the war. |
| 1355 |
|
|
| 1355 |
|
A royal garrison is installed in Perigueux. |
| 1355 |
January |
King Jean II of France spends most of the month, and of the next, in coucil with his military asvisors, Jacques de Bourbon, the Constable, the two marshals, Arnoul d'Audrehem and Jean de Clermont, and the Count of Armagnac, planning the resumption of the war on a large scale, with a campaign into Gascony in the summer, the conquest of all of King Charles II de Navarre's lands, and a proposed venture in Scotland. |
| 1355 |
5 January |
There is a meeting of the French royal council at Paris, attended by Yon de Garencieres, who has first hand knowledge of the affairs of Scotland. |
| 1355 |
11 January |
There is another meeting of the French royal council to discuss the matter of Scotland. Yon de Garencieres is appointed King Jean II's Lieutenant in Scotland and given a small force of men-at-arms. |
| 1355 |
Mid January |
The French Embassy, led by the Chancellor Pierre de la Foret and the Duke of Bourbon, arrives in Avignon. Called upon by the English to confirm the treaty agreed at Guines they refuse. |
| 1355 |
|
King Charles II of Navarre leaves Avignon with a great show of pomp, but returns secretly after travelling a short distance. He spends the next two weeks hiding in the palace of Guy de Boulougne, and negotiating with the Duke of Lancaster. The two men agree to make war on the King of France, joining forces on the Cotentin and invading Normandy. Lancaster, wary of the fickle King of Navarre, gets a solemn oath that Charles will keep to this plan. |
| 1355 |
February |
Negotiations in Avignon break down completely, with the English accusing the French of dishonesty and the Pope of complacency. The Duke of Lancaster reasserts King Edward III's claim to the throne of France, and rejects any agreement that would require Edward to be in fealty to the King of France for any lands he held there, and then he and his suite pack up and leave. |
| 1355 |
|
The English, who were expecting the first payment of King David II's ransom, instead receive reports of large raiding parties on the border. The English place the border counties on war footing, and remove King David II from the keep at Newcastle, where he had been waiting to be released, and take him to Odiham. |
| 1355 |
|
King Charles II of Navarre is summoned to Paris to answer for his crimes, and given two months to respond. Meanwhile plans are made by the French to seize and occupy his lands. Baldo Doria and Renier Grimaldi are commissioned to find 6,000 oarsmen and crossbowmen in Italy and Provence. |
| 1355 |
5 February |
Yon de Garencieres is given his letters of appointment as Lieutenant of Scotland and his final orders at Saint Denis |
| 1355 |
7 March |
King David II of Scotland arrives at Odiham. |
| 1355 |
16 March |
Yon de Garencieres and his company of 60 men depart for Scotland. |
| 1355 |
28 March |
The Duke of Lancaster arrives back in England from Avignon. |
| 1355 |
30 March |
Androin de la Roche, a Benedictine monk from Burgundy arrives in England as an emmisary of Pope Innocent VI, to attempt to liit the damage done to relations by the recent conference, presenting a proposal to extend the current truce. Edward III, meeting him in person, says he will consult the council, but that his inclination is to reject it. |
| 1355 |
End of March |
The Dauphin Charles is appointed King Jean II's Lieutenant in Normandy, and given charge of the ongoing operations in Normandy. |
| 1355 |
April |
The troops raised by Baldo Doria and Renier Grimalsi begin to arrive in Normandy. |
| 1355 |
Mid April |
The Estates of Normandy meet, and vote a subsidy to pay for 2,000 men-at-arms, to be paid in three installments, starting in June. |
| 1355 |
|
King Charles III de Navarre, in response to the King of France's summons, sends messages saying that the summons didn't get to him until late, and he was busy with court business in Castile. He is sent another summons, demanding that he appear in May. |
| 1355 |
Second half of April |
Prepararions begin to send an army into the Aquitaine under the command of the Prince of Wales. This force is to consist of 800 men-at-arms and 1400 mounted archers. To accompany the young prince on his expedition are the Earls of Suffolk, Oxford and Warwick, Sir Reginald Cobham and Sir James Audley. |
| 1355 |
End of April |
Yon de Garencieres lands in Scotland, but finds the Scots hesitant and unready. He spends the next few weeks bribing and cajoling them into an attack on the English. They agree, in return for a subsidy (to be paid in advance and in cash), to make an attack once the current truce expires. |
| 1355 |
May |
Sir John Cheverston takes the town of Guitres. |
| 1355 |
|
King Charles II of Navarre sends Simon Simeon, who had been representing the Duke of Lancaster's interests in Pamplona, along with Colin Doublet, on of his Norman retainers, to the Duke in England, saying his preparations were complete, and he intended to sail for Cherbourg. There he would call on King Jean II to surrender the lands and castles that had been seized by the king of France the previous year. He declares himself ready to serve Lancaster's interests with all his strength, adding however that if the King of France offered an acceptable agreement the whole thing was off |
| 1355 |
Beginning of May |
English forces attack the fort that the French had built in the convent outside Guines, burning part of it, and installing an English garrison. |
| 1355 |
|
The Count of Armagnac attacks Castlemoron, but fails to take it. A subsequent attack on Lesignan also fails. He then lays siege, once again, to Aiguillon. |
| 1355 |
15 May |
King Charles II de Navarre again fails so appear as summoned before the King of France in Paris. |
| 1355 |
Mid May |
King Charles II de Navarre crosses the pass at Roncesvalles, and travels to La Bastide Clairence, where his army is mustering. |
| 1355 |
17 May |
King Jean II of France goes to the abbey of Saint Denis to recieve the Orriflamme, and proclaims the arrier-ban, summoning his army to meet at Amiens. |
| 1355 |
19 May |
Dowager Queen Blanche and dowager Queen Jehanne appear before King Jean II of France and, in the first of a difficult series of meetings, plead the cause of King Charles II de Navarre, attempting to persuade Jean II to pardon Charles and restore his lands. They are supported in this my numerous Fench noblemen, including Philippe d'Orleans, the King's brother, Jaques de Bourbon, the Constable, Pierre de la Foret, the Chancellor, Jean de Melun, Count of Tancarville and his brother Guillaume de Melun, Archbishop of Sens. |
| 1355 |
End of May |
A letter arrives in Paris from the Count of Foix, asking for an adjournement in the summons for King Charles II de Navarre, as well as another letter from Charles II himself, in a very conciliatory tone. |
| 1355 |
31 May |
King Jean II of France gives way to the pressure being brought to bear on behalf of King Charles II de Navarre, and agrees to pardon him. He will, Jean specifies, have to surrender those six places that he still holds in Normandy for a nominal period, but once that was over he would receive a pardon and be returned all his lands. |
| 1355 |
June |
Ships for the Duke of Lancaster's expedition into Normandy are moored off Rotherhithe. To prevent news of the planned invasion from leaking out ships leaving for foreign ports from London are stopped in the port for the whole month, and for part of the next. |
| 1355 |
1 June |
King Jean II of France writes to King Charles II de Navarre accepting the assurences that charles had given in his letter, and offering him a safe passage to come to Paris with 200 men-at-arms. This is accompanied by more pressing letters from the Dowager queens and others of Charles' allies in Paris. |
| 1355 |
Early June |
The scale of purchasing for the Prince of Wales' expedition causes inflation in the prices of food and armor. |
| 1355 |
|
King Charles II de Navarre and his army embark on ships hired in Castile or loaned by the Seneschal of Gascony in Capbreton harbor, and sail for Normandy. |
| 1355 |
|
The English government becomes aware of the French presence in Scotland, and take immidiate, if moderate, steps to defend the northern border. |
| 1355 |
|
The Count of Armagnac lifts the siege of Aiguillon |
| 1355 |
4 June |
News of King Charles II de Navarre's movements reaches Paris, casuing much consternation. |
| 1355 |
6 June |
Edward III orders Walter Bentley released. |
| 1355 |
Midsummer's Day (June 21, 22, 23 or 24) |
The Black Prince sails from Portsmouth for Bordeaux. |
| 1355 |
|
The Black Prince leads a destructive raid into Languedoc. |
| 1355 |
Last two weeks of June |
French troops muster around Rouen, in Normandy, to be formed into two armies. One is placed under the command of the Admiral of France, to defend Chef de Caux, and the other placed at Caen, blocking the road to Paris, under the command of the Constable. Meanwhile, the Constable, the Count of Tancarville, Geoffrey de Charnay and Robert de Lorris were commissioned to go and speak to Charles de Navarre as soon as he landed, explaining the revised position of the King of France. |
| 1355 |
5 July |
King Charles II de Navarre lands at Cherbourg, where Colin Doublet informs him of the build up of English troops and he recieves a letter from the Duke of Lancaster filled with suspicion. |
| 1355 |
6 or 7 July |
A message from Geoffrey de Charnay to King Charles II de Navarre telling of his mission and asking for safe conduct for himself and his collegues. Charles appoints three ambassadors, two of his knights and the mercenary Martin Henriquez, to meet with them. |
| 1355 |
10 July |
Henry of Lancaster's fleet sails from Rotherhithe, making slow. Several days sailing into the wind brings no significant advance, and the fleet ends up anchored off Sandwich for a month. |
| 1355 |
Summer |
English and French negotiators meet at Calais to discuss extending the truce which has already exired, and which neither side really intended to observe. |
| 1355 |
August |
Negotiation between the King of France and the king of Navarre continue. Though it is assumed that King Charles II de Navarre will recover all his lands, he wants a better security that he will get the places he is about to surrender back, and when his lands are returned to hold them free of the jurisdiction of Paris. |
| 1355 |
Mid August |
The Duke of Lancaster's fleet begins to move again, moving around the coast towards Portsmouth. |
| 1355 |
End of August |
The Duke of Lancaster and his fleet reach Portsmouth. There the Duke receives reports that King Charles II de Navarre had reached an agreement with King Jean II of France, and that the French were building up troops along the coast, apparently cooperating with the Navarrese to trap any English force which attempted to invade. |
| 1355 |
30 August |
King Jean issues the final instructions to his commissioners negotiating with King Charles II de Navarre |
| 1355 |
September |
The Prince of Wales and his army sail from Portsmouth towards Bordeaux. |
| 1355 |
Early September |
King Edward III cancels the Duke of Lancaster's expedition to France. In an attempt to keep the King of France's army in the north and out of the way otf the Prince of Wales, he changes the plan to a two pronged attack, one to land in Brittany, and one in Picardy. |
| 1355 |
7 September |
King Edward III hires Martin Henqiquez, the Navarrese mercenary, to be part of the army to attack Brittany. Henriquez is paid £1,200 to supply 1,750 troops for th English. Another Navarrese captain, Pedro Remirez, is also hired, bringing 250 troops. |
| 1355 |
|
The Duke of Lancaster is appointed Edward III's lieutenant in Brittany and western France, and given command of the Anglo-Navarrese troops in Brittany. 25 ships of the remainging ships at Portsmouth are put at his disposal to transport his troops. |
| 1355 |
10 September |
A peace is signed between King Charles II de Navarre and King Jean II of France at Valognes. Seven of Charles castles are surrenderer to the Constable, though they maintain their Navarrese garrisons. Charles promised to come before Jean at a public audience and beg for his pardon. |
| 1355 |
12 September |
The men stood down from the Normandy campaign are summoned to muster at Southampton, to form the army that Edward III is to take to Picardy, and a recruitment campaing begins to swell their ranks. |
| 1355 |
Mid September |
The French deliver the promised subsidy to the Scots, pending their attacking the English per the agreement. The money is given over at Bruges to Walter Wardlaw and John Mercer, along withthe arrears in pay and expenses due to Yon de Garencieres. |
| 1355 |
17 September |
King Charles II de Navarre arrives at the Dauphin's headquarters at Vaudreuil, meeting with King Jean II of France, and passing several days with him. |
| 1355 |
24 September |
 King Charles II de Navarre again appears before King Jean II of France in the great hall of the Louvre, to beg his pardon. Once again the dowager Queens Blanche and Jehanne plead his case. |
| 1355 |
End of September |
The Scots, despite having taken the French payment to attack, conclude a 9 month truce wih the English. This frees up several hundred more men for Edward III's army going to Picardy, including the Percy and Neville retinues, and the army of Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham. |
| 1355 |
Early October |
The French garrisons on the march of Calais are reinforced, and an army of several thousand men, mostly transferred from the Dauhin's army in Normandy, is assembled at Amiens. The Dauphin's planned campaing against the Prince of Wales in the south is cancelled. |
| 1355 |
|
Walter Wardlaw and John Mercer arrive in Scotland with the French payment for the Scots. Within a few days the Scots repudiate the truce and open a campaign against the English, overrunning the eastern lowlands and taking the fortress of Nordham, then crossing into Northumberland. |
| 1355 |
9 October |
King Jean II recieves the Orriflamme at the abbey of St. Denis. |
| 1355 |
10 October |
Thomas Grey, seneschal of Nordham, attempts to stop the Franco-Scots advance with 50 men of his garrison and a hastily raised small army. He is ambushed at Nesbit, 15 miles south of Berwick, and despite great personal courage and ferocity, defeated. Grey is taken prisoner to Scotland and kept in Edinburgh castle. |
| 1355 |
Mid October |
King Edward III postpones the Duke of Lancaster's expedition into Brittany, and transfers the men and ships gathered at Southampton to the army he is leading to Picardy. |
| 1355 |
20 October |
News of the Scottish invasion of the north reaches King Edward III at Sandwich, where he was supervising the preparations for the army going to Picardy. He returns to Westminster to confer with his Council about the defence of the north, and orders the raising of troops in every county north of the Trent, sending Ralph Neville to take command of them. |
| 1355 |
28 October |
King Edward III boards his ship at Sandwich, and sails for Calais. He orders barges to be ready to take his horses and baggage back to England by November 11, and postpones the opening of Parliament until the 23 of November. |
| 1355 |
November |
Walter Bentley, cleared of the charges against him, returns to Brittany with his stepson, Olivier IV de Clisson. |
| 1355 |
2 November |
King Edward III and his army ride out of Calais. It is an impressive army, including two of the king's sons, John of Gaunt and Lionel of Antwerp, as well as Henry Duke of Lancaster, the Earls of Northampton and Stafford, and Walter Mauny, and some 5,000 troops. They march south west towards St. Omer. |
| 1355 |
5-7 November |
French Royal host is in Amiens. |
| 1355 |
12 November |
French Royal host is in St. Omer. Between Amiens and there Jean II burned or carried off provisions, leaving the English without supplies. |
| 1355 |
by 15 November |
Facing a threat of Scottish invasion, and not wanting to spend the winter in France, Duke Henry and King Edward III return to England. |
| 1355 |
October-November |
Plaisance, Mont Giscar, Carcassone and Narbonne are pillaged by Edward, Prince of Wales. |
| 1355 |
|
. John the Good and his counsellors.jpg) The Estates of Langued'oil (Northern France) meet in Paris. They agree to support 30,000 men at arms, at a cost of 5,000,000 livres despite the grave misgivings of it's members, expressed by Etienne Marcel. |
