On 20 February 1405 Thomas of Lancaster was appointed as Admiral of the Kings Fleet. This allowed John Beaufort Earl of Somerset to concentrate his efforts on land based operations around Calais. Thomas of Lancaster Thomas of…
On 19 February 1371 the French Garrison at Montpon agreed to surrender. Montpon lay in the Dordogne Valley, in the Duchy of Aquitaine. The Castle had been captured by Bertrand du Guesclin in 1370 which was a…
On 17 February 1400 Richard IIs body began its journey from Pontefract to London. King Richard II had died in captivity at Pontefract Castle on 14th February 1400. He had been deposed in 1399 by Henry Bolingbroke, Henry…
The Ball of the Burning Men (Bal des Ardents) took place on 29 January 1393. A masquerade ball was held involving men dressed in ‘wild’ costumes coated in pitch and flax. One of these men…
William de la Pole duke of Suffolk was impeached by the Commons on 28 January 1450. He was accused of abusing his position, found guilty, and sent into exile. He was murdered whilst making his…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…