Hundred Years War Timeline 1411 - 1421
Timeline for the Hundred Years War
1411 to 1420





1411

1411   Jean Duc de Bourgogne, by virtue of a purge of the royal administration and some well placed gifts (most notably to the Guild of Butchers), gains control of Paris. The Armagnacs, led by Charles V's last surviving brother the Duc de Berry, raise an army and blockade the city.
1411 October The Earl of Arundel leads 800 men-at-arms and 2,000 archers to the aid of the Duc de Bourgogne, who has offered the hand of his daughter for the Prince of Wales, four towns in Flanders and help in conquering Normandy in return for said aid. They join with Jean de Bourgogne and 3,000 men of the Paris militia at Melun.
1411   The Anglo-Burgundian force storm the Armagnac stronghold at St. Cloud and break the blockade of Paris, after which the Earl of Arundel returns to Calais.
1412

1412   The Armagnacs bargain for English aid, promising the cession of all the Aquitaine as it had been in 1369 and the immediate surrender of 20 castles on the border of Guyenne in return for 1,000 men-at-arms and 3,000 archers.
1412 @ 6 January Jehanne d'Arc, la Pucelle, is born in Domremy
1412 August Thomas, Duke of Clarence, second son of Henry IV, lands in the Cotentin and marches to Blois. Here he is informed that the Burgundians have forced the Armagnacs to surrender, and that none of the French princes need his services. He marches south anyway, until he and his men are bought off, after which they burn their way to Bordeaux, there to spend the winter.
1413

1413   Jean Duc de Bourgogne summons the Estates to Paris to grant new taxes. They, however, criticize his governance, and Jean retaliates by allowing the Paris butchers, led by one Caboche, to run rampant for several weeks. Many of the bourgeois turn against the Duc, and invite the Dauphin and the Princes to deliver them.
1413 20 March Henry IV, King of England, dies at Westminster abbey. Henry V, aged 25, is crowned King of England.
1413 August Jean Duc de Bourgogne, after attempting to Kidnap Charles VI, abandons Paris to the Armagnacs, and Count Bernard's Gascons, and flees to Burgundy.
1414

1414   A Burgundian army attempts to recapture Paris, but fails. The Armagnacs announce their intentions to invade Burgundy and depose Jean de Bourgogne.
1414 Spring Agents of Jean, Duc de Bourgogne arrive in England, asking for 2,000 troops, promising Henry V the Angoumois and all the Gascon lands of the defeated Armagnacs
1414 Midsummer The Armagnacs, bargaining for English support against the Burgundians, offer a French princess for a bride, and the restoration of Aquitaine to it's 1369 borders. Bishop Beaufort, Chancellor of England, tells them that unless Henry V received not only Aquitaine and Normandy but Anjou, Touraine, Poitou, Maine and Ponthieu he would come and take them at the point of a sword. The envoys cannot accept this proposal, and return home.
1414 Autumn The English counter Jean de Bourgogne's offer, demanding all the territories ceded by the Treaty of Bretigny, as well as the Duchy of Berry and the recognition of Henry V as King of France
1414 22 September Nicholas Merbury, Master of the King's works, guns and other ordinance, is given orders to find more smiths and laborers for the construction of new guns.
1414 1 November Edward III prohibits the export of gunpowder.
1414 November Parliament, in response to an appeal by Bishop Beaufort, votes a generous subsidy for the war effort. It barely begins to cover the expenses of the campaign, and the crown borrows heavily.
1415

1415   The Earl of March reveals the 'Southampton Plot' in which Henry was to be killed and replaced by the Earl himself, who was the son of Richard II's heir. Henry Percy was to raise the north, and Sir John Oldcastle, the Lollard, was to raise the west. Henry's first cousin Richard, Earl of Cambridge, Sir Thomas Grey and the King's treasurer, Lord Scrope of Masham are condemned as the ringleaders, with Grey immediately executed and Scrope and Cambridge being executed soon after a trial by their peers. Rumors (untrue) abound that the three had received money from France (as much as a million in gold) to betray the King.
1415 4 April Henry V 'King of England and France' writes a letter to the 'most serene prince, Charles, by the Grace of God our very dear cousin' saying 'we have endevoured from our accession to the crown from the ardent passion that we have for the love of Him who is the author of peace to reconcile the differences between us and our people, to chase and banish for ever that sad division, mother of so many misfortunes, cause of the misery of so many men, and the loss of so many souls that have been shipwrecked in the slaughter of war', and protesting that he earnestly desired peace.
1415 11 April Nicholas Mauduyt, sergeant-at-arms, is commanded to arrest all ships carrying twenty tons or more, 'as well belonging to this Kingdom as to other Countries, which were then in the river Thames, and in other sea ports of the realm, as far as Newcastle-upon-Tyne, or which might arrive there before the 1st of May...' and send them to Southhampton, Winchelsea and London by 8 May. Orders are also given to Richard Clyderowe and Simon Flete to bring over to Sandwich the ships they had hired in Holland, and the masters of all ships are authorized to impress sailors.
1415   Henry V writes another letter to Charles VI, saying 'We shall propose nothing to you which we have not a right to conscientiously to demand; and we advise you most Serene Prince, with all sincerity and from pure love, to entertain those happy thoughts of peace which you have always observed from your most tender youth, and not to neglect or abandon them in so mature and advanced an age. Reflect upon the years which you have passed. Think of eternity.'
1415 16 April BIshop Beaufort, Chancellor of England, announces to the Council that the King had decided to make an expedition to France.
1415 17 April The King's brother, the Duke of Bedford, is appointed Lieutenant of England in the king's absence, and a council of defense is appointed to manage the safety of the Welsh and Scottish frontiers, and the Pas de Calais.
1415 July A French delegation, led by Guillaume Boisratier, Archbishop of Bourges, arrives in England. Henry V repeats the advice of his letter of 11 April 1415, and is told in reply by the Archbishop that King Charles VI was willing to submit to the judgment of Christendom 'whether he had not always wished for peace, and whether he had not sought it by all just and honorable means; in proof of which he was willing to dismember his Kingdom by ceding to England many important territories and towns, and to give Henry his daughter Catherine in marriage with 800,000 gold crowns, a dowry which was unprecedented.'
The French delegation goes on to offer an even larger dowry, and even more concessions, but Henry is not satisfied, promising a 'deluge of Christian blood' if his demands are not met. Archbishop Guillaume responds 'Sir, the King of France, our Sovereign Lord, is the true King of France, and with respect to those things to which you say you have a right, you have no lordship, not even to the Kingdom of England, which belongs to the true heirs of the late King Richard. Nor with you can our Sovereign Lord safrely treat.' The negotiations falter, Henry telling the delegation to depart, and saying he will quickly follow them.
1415 Late July Henry V writes to Charles VI a last time, from Southampton, asking him 'in the name of the merciful bowels of Jesus Christ to do us justice.' Charles responds from Paris to all these letters, saying ' As none of your predecessors ever had any right, and you still less, to make the demands contained in certain letters presented to us by Chester your herald, nor to cause us any trouble, it is our intention with the assisstance of the Lord, in whom we have singular trust... to resist you in a way which shall be to the honour and glory of us and our Kingdom, and to the confusion, loss and dishonour of you and your party.'
1415 7 August Henry V leaves Porchester Castle and sails downriver to Portsmouth
1415 10 August Henry V boards the Trinité Royale in Portsmouth harbor, and orders the fleet to prepare to sail. The remainder of the day is spent getting the fleet in sailing order, with one of the ships catching fire and spreading to two others.
1415 11 August English fleet sails from Southampton. It comprises 1,500 ships to transport 2,000 men-at-arms, 8,000 archers some unarmored lancers and knifemen and a large artillery train with sixty five gunners.
1415 14 August Between six and seven in the morning, English troops land at the Chef-de-Caux, on the Seine estuary, near Harfleur.
1415 18 August The Sire de Gaucourt enters Harfleur, on command of the French king taking command of the defenses of the city and reinforcing it with 300 additional men-at-arms.
1415   Harfleur invested for siege by King Henry. It's garrison numbers several hundred men-at-arms commanded by the Sire d'Estoutville, who, when called upon by Henry V to surrender to him as the rightful Duke of Normandy responds 'Vous ne nous avez rien donné à garder, nousn'avons rien à vous rendre - You gave us nothing to look after, so we've nothing to give you back'.
1415 3 September The Dauphin Charles moves the French forces to Vernon.
1415   Henry V writes to Bordeaux saying he intends to go down the Seine, past Rouen and Paris and then march to Guyenne.
1415 10 September King Charles VI raises the Orriflamme at St. Denis.
1415 O/A 14 September Constable d'Albret moves to Honfleur, Marshal Boucicault to Caudebec
1415 16 September The French forces in Harfleur sally out and set a large part of the English siege fortifications on fire, including two of the English gun emplacements.
1415 17 September The French forces sally out again, but this time are driven back by Sir John Holland, who counter attacks fiercely and captures the barbican outside the Leure gate, leaving the French no choice but to retreat into the town.
1415   The Sire de Gaucort, one of the Harfleur's commanders, tries to negotiate with Henry V, but the terms Henry offers are so harsh that de Gaucourt feels compelled to refuse them. Henry responde by commanding an assault for the next day, and a heavy bombardment of the town through the night.
1415 18 September The garrison at Harfleur asks for a truce until 6 October, at which point they will surrender if not relieved. The English negotiators (the Earl of Dorset, Lord FitzHugh and Sir Thomas Erpingham) refuse this request, and tells them that unless they surrender by the following morning the assault would continue. The French counter, agreeing to surrender the town on the following Sunday, 22 September, if no help is forthcoming. This the English accept, and the Sire de Hacqueville and twelve others are sent off to Vernon to seek assistance from the Dauphin.
1415 23 September Capitulation of Harfleur to King Henry V. In a ceremony designed to humiliate the French defenders of the town he requires them to come before him in just their shirts, and with ropes fastened around their necks, and keeps them kneeling for long periods of time.
1415 24 September Henry V enters Harfleur, dismounting at the gate, which now flew his banner, and going barefoot to the chapel of Saint-Martin to thank God for his victory. He also announces his plans for the city, which was to make it a second Calais. English merchants and tradesmen would be encouraged to settle there, and the present French inhabitants (barring the old, poor and weak) would be allowed to remain if they swore an oath to Henry V.
1415 25 September Two thousand people (the old poor and weak), together with the women, children and priests, are expelled from Harfleur, carrying a bundle of their possessions and no more than 5 sou. They are provided with an escort as far as Lillebonne, but are robbed by bandits before they reach Saint-Aubin-de-Cretot.
1415 26 September King Henry send Guienne Herald to the Dauphin Charles, offering a challenge of single combat to decide their claims to the throne of France.
1415 5 October A war council is held amongst the English, where there are many objections voiced to the King Henry V's plan to march inland towards Paris and seek battle with any army that might oppose him. Rejecting such plans as establishing a English enclave around Harfleur similar to the Pas de Calais, or evacuating all his soldiers except for the Harfleur garrison, he decides to make a chevauchée to Calais.
1415
1415 8 October English set out from Harfleur for Calais. French covering forces march to the Somme.
1415 9 October English near Fecamp, which may or may not have been sacked. Contemporary French sources say it was say yes, the English say no.
1415 11 October Arques refuses supplies to the English, but relent when Henry threatens to burn the town.
1415 13 October Constable d'Albret in Abbeville
1415   Henry discovers that the ford of the Somme at Blanchetacque is blocked by Guichard Dauphin, Sire de Jaligny
1415 14 October English army at Hangest.
1415 15 October English army arrives at Amiens, spends the night at Pont du Metz.
Main French force sets out from Rouen.
1415 16 October English army at Boves.
1415 17 October English and French skirmish at Corbie
Henry force marches south.
1415 18 October English arrive at Nesles.
Main French force arrives at Amiens.
1415 19 October Henry's forces crosses the Somme at the Voyennes and Bethencourt fords.
1415 20 October Henry rests his army and receives heralds from the French informing him of their intention to bring him to battle before he reaches Calais.
1415 21 October English advance to Albret.
1415 22 October English advance to Forceville, shadowed by the main French force.
1415 23 October English cross the Ternoise at Blagny.
1415 24 October French force block the English route to Calais at Agincourt-Tramecourt.
English camp the night at Maisoncelle.
1415 25 October Battle of Agincourt.
1415 28 October English arrive at Calais.
1415 23 November Victory Parade in London.
1416

1416 Summer The Duke of Bedford defeats the Franco-Genoese fleet off Harfleur.
1417

1417   Queen Isabella, who has mad king Charles VI, sets up a court at Troyes, in Champagne, with the support of the Burgundians, to rival that of the Dauphin Charles.
1417 February Henry V orders his sheriffs to have 6 wing feathers plucked from every goose, and sent to London.
1417 July Henry V sails for France, with approximately 10,000 men. His destination is kept secret.
1417 1 August Henry V lands at the mouth of the Toques, and lands without opposition.
1417 18 August Henry V invests Caen for siege, storming two abbeys in the suburbs then mounting his artillery in their towers.
1417 4 September Henry V leads an assault on Caen, which has refused to surrender despite several breaches in the walls made by English cannon. Henry attacks from the East side, while his brother Clarence attacks from the West. The lower city is taken, and a great massacre follows, with at least 2,000 being put to death. The citadel holds out.
1417 19 September The citadel at Caen surrenders to the English.
1417 October Henry V captures Argentan and Alencon.
1417   Bayeaux surrenders to the Duke of Gloucester without resistance.
1418

1418   The Burgundians recapture Paris after an uprising where their partisans kill thousands of Armagnacs.
1418 February The fortress of Falaise surrenders to the English.
1418 June Henry V takes Louviers. He hangs eight French gunners because the defending artillery hit the royal pavilion.
1418 20 July Henry V takes Pont de l'Arche, cutting Rouen off from reinforcements and supplies.
1418 29 July Rouen invested for siege by King Henry V, who builds 4 fortified camps, linked by trenches, around the city, and arranging for supplies to be shipped from England.
1418 mid October The besieged in Rouen are reduced to eating horseflesh.
1418 November A rumor reaches Rouen that an army is on it's way to relieve the besieged city. It proves to be false.
1418 mid December With it's citizens starving, the defenders of Rouen expel approximately 12,000 people from the city. Henry V refuses to let them pass the cordon of the siege, leaving them to die in the ditch.
1418 25 December Henry sends food to those in the ditch, via two priests, who are the only ones that the defenders will allow.
1418 31 December Rouen announces it wishes to parley with Henry V for the surrender of the city.
1419

1419   Thomas Montague, Earl of Salisbury, is made Lieutenant-Governor of Normandy.
1419 2 January A delegation from Rouen meets with Henry V. He makes them wait 'till he has finished hearing mass, and then takes them to task for keeping him from his 'rightful heritage'. Negotiations continue.
1419 12 January Henry V and the envoys of Rouen reach an agreement for the surrender of the city. If no help arrived for the defenders by 19 January, the city would surrender at noon, and pay 30,000 francs indemnity. The garrison would march away without it's weapons, and not fight the English for a year.
1419 19 January Rouen formally surrenders to Henry V. Robert de Linet, Vicar-General of Rouen is put in chains for excommunicating Henry from the walls during the siege.
1419 20 January Henry V rides into Rouen, with only a single squire bearing a lance with a fox tip on the end, and gives thanks at Rouen Cathedral.
1419 February-March Henry V spends two months at Rouen, repairing it's defenses and organizing the administration. Meanwhile Mantes, Honfleur, Dieppe, Ivry, La Roche Guyon, and Fecamp surrender to his commanders
1419 Summer The Armagnacs, led by the Dauphin Charles, and the Burgundians, led by Dike Jean de Bourgogne meet at Corbielle. The meeting seems to go well, and a second one is scheduled for September.
1419 July Henry V takes Pontoise, putting him within striking distance of Paris.
1419 10 September On a bridge over the Yonne, at Montereau, Duke Jean de Bourgogne is hacked to pieces while kneeling to pay homage to the Dauphin Charles. The Dauphin may have given the signal for the first blow. The rift between the Burgundians and the Armagnacs becomes complete.
1419 19 December Jean le Bon, Duke of Burgundy, son of the slain Jean sans Peur, formally allies with the English.
1420

1420 20 May After processing through the countryside, and praying at St. Denis, Henry V reaches Troyes, where a treaty is signed by the mentally imcompetent king Charles VI making Henry V the heir and regent of France, and betrothing Charles' daughter Catherine to Henry, despite the fact that Charles does not seem to know who Henry is. Queen Isabella justifies passing over the Duaphin Charles by saying he was illegitimate, the product of one of her many extramarital affairs.
1420 1 June Henry V marries Catherine de Valois. By all accounts they are eager enough for the match. The honeymoon is spent laying siege to Sens.
1420   Henry V and Philippe de Bourgogne take Montereau, where Philippe's father had been murdered. The body of Jean de Bourgogne is exhumed and taken to Dijon to be reburied.
1420 June Henry V and Philippe de Bourgogne lay siege to Melun with 20,000 men. The garrison of 700, commanded by Arnaud Guillaume de Barbazan puts up a spirited defense, blockading the breaches in the walls made by the English cannon and counter mining the English tunnels. Henry and Arnaud are amongst the fighters in the tunnels, and cross swords at least once.
1420 18 November It's supplies exausted, Melun surrenders to Henry V. Henry wants to execute Barbazan, but since they have fought, according to the laws of chivalry, he can't. He instead puts Barbazan in an iron cage, and contents himself with hanging some Scotsmen.
1420 1 September Henry V, Philippe de Bourgogne and Charles VI make a ceremonial entry into Paris. The people cheer, priests chant Te Deums in the streets. The Estates-General ratify the Treaty of Troyes, and the Parlement declare the Dauphin Charles unfit for the throne because of his 'horrible and dreadful crimes'.
1420 25 December Henry V keeps Christmas at the Louvre, in great state and splendour, while Charles VI is left in a dismal state at the Hotel de Saint-Pol, abandoned by all his court. Henry leaves the Duke of Exeter and a garrison of 500, and rides north.


1401-1410 Top of Page 1421-1430


Crustus an Mors
Web Design and Support
Webbed by Steven Proctor