Abdication of King Edward II
Edward IIs reign had seen military failures, disputes with France over Gascony and the outbreak of the Despenser Wars, a civil war between Edward II and disgruntled Barons. As a result, he lost the confidence of…
January 1415. Walter Blake imprisoned in the Marshalsea Prison
On 27 January 1415 Walter Blake was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Prison. This was a result of his involvement in a plot to overthrow King Henry V. He was later tried and executed. King Henry V…
How the Black Prince operated in France: 1355 Chevauchee
In 1355 the Black Prince used a Chevauchee, that is a rapid deployment into enemy territory, against the French. It was designed to surprise towns, villages, and fortifications. Along the way, the raiders would destroy…
French proclaim a ‘taille’ to pay for resuming warfare
On 30 January 1404 the French proclaimed a ‘taille’ to pay for resuming warfare against England. This took place at a time when King Charles VI was unwell, with French Princes seeing opportunities to take…
Paying for your own imprisonment
On 31 January 1438 a charge made by French nobles, to the English, for the upkeep of an English Knight who they held captive. This was a relatively common practice during the Hundred Years War,…
Petition to Henry VI from Dutch Merchants
On 20 January 1445 a Petition to Henry VI was received from Dutch Merchants. It concerned fraud and the use of counterfeit bills in Calais. A.D. 1445, January 20. Petition to the king from certain…
Edmund Mortimer Earl of March d1425
Edmund Mortimer was a hugely significant man during his lifetime and in the decades that followed. One of his grandmothers was Philippa, daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence, the second eldest of Edward IIIs sons.…
Papacy returned to Rome, 1377
On 17 January 1377 the Papacy returned to Rome from Avignon. From 1307 the Pope had resided in Avignon, France, rather than at the Vatican in Rome. It was a period in which the church faced…
King Edward IIIs second crown returned from being pawned
On 16 January 1344 King Edward IIIs second crown was returned from being pawned. In 1339 Edward III had found himself in urgent need of additional finance. In order to stave off the threat posed by France…
State Funeral of supporters of Charles II of Navarre
10 January 1358 saw a State Funeral for supporters of Charles II of Navarre. They had been executed in 1356 and their bodies left dangling in chains at the high point of Bichorel which overlooked Rouen.…