Wars, Plagues and Papal Bulls

Ch 9

Really was 106 years (1337-1443) with numerous years of relative peace

Was fought over succession of the king of France after Charles IV died without an heirThe French nobility selected Philip of Valois,

a cousin of the last king through the male line.He was chosen in preference to King Edward

III of England, whose mother was the daughter of the late king, Philip IV.

King Edward III then makes a claim to the French throne

I. 100 Years’ War (Intro)

I. 100 Years’ War (Intro)A longer standing issue was

the status of lands within France that belonged to English kings.

Edward was a vassal of Philip’s, holding sizable French territories as fiefs from the king of France

Flanders wants its independence from French control. Asks England for help. Major Wool Industry

French AdvantagesPopulation of about 16,000,000.Far richer and more populous than England.At one point, the French fielded an army of over 50,000

At most, Britain mustered only 32,000.Completely on their own territory

British AdvantagesBetter Weapon Technology (longbow) In almost every engagement, the English were outnumbered.Britain’s most successful strategies:

/ Avoid pitched battles./ Engage in quick, profitable raids

I. 100 Year’s War

The use of the English defensive position was the use of the longbow.

Its arrows had more penetrating power than a bolt from a crossbow.Could pierce an inch of

wood or the armor of a knight at 200 yards

Shoot up to 400 yardsA longbow could be

fired more rapidly.6 arrows per minute.

Most affective use was the Battle of Crecy 1346 & Battle of Poitiers 1356

The Longbow as a Weapon

Early English Victories

France’s problemThe English captured the French king, John

II [r.1350-1364].France was now ruled by the Estates General

A representative council of townspeople and nobles.

Created in 1355.Purpose to secure funds for the war.

In theory, the French king could not levy taxes on his own!!

I. 100 Year’s War

I. 100 Year’s WarTrouble on the Home Front

FranceThe Jacquerie, 1358Peasant Rebellion that followed the French disaster at Poitiers, It was a response to the longstanding economic and political

grievances in the countryside worsened by warfare.The rebels were defeated by aristocratic armies.

EnglandPeasant Revolt in 1381 was put down by King Richard II

After charges of tyranny, Richard II was forced to abdicate in 1300.

Parliament elected Henry IV, the first ruler from the House of Lancaster.Henry avoided raising war taxes.He was careful not to alienate the nobility.

France and England declare a brief truce to deal with these problems

I. 100 Year’s WarKing Henry V (r. 1412-1422)

Renewed his family’s claim to the French throne.

At Agincourt in 1415, the English, led by Henry himself, goaded a larger French army into attacking a fortified English position. With the aid of the dukes of

Burgundy, Henry gained control over Normandy, Paris, and much of northern France

Result of the Duke’s Assassination

I. 100 Year’s War Treaty of Troyes (1420)

Charles VI’s son [the future Charles VII], was declared illegitimate and disinherited.

Henry V married Catherine, the daughter of Charles VI.Henry was declared the legitimate heir to the French

throne! A final English victory seemed assured, but both Charles

VI and Henry V died in 1422.This left Henry’s infant son, Henry VI [r. 1422-1461],

to inherit BOTH thrones.

I. 100 Year’s WarThe French Re-conquest

The two kings’ deaths ushered in the final stage of the 100 Years’ War [1422-1453].

In 1429, with the aid of the mysterious Joan of Arc, the French king, Charles VII, was able to raise the English siege of Orleans.This began the re-

conquest of the north of France.

I. 100 Year’s WarJoan of Arc (1412-1432)

The daughter of prosperous peasants from an area of Burgundy that had suffered under the English.

Like many medieval mystics, she reported regular visions of divine revelation. Her “voices” told her to go to the king and assist him in driving out the English.

She dressed like a man and was Charles’ most charismatic and feared military leader!

She brought inspiration and a sense of national identity and self-confidence.

With her aid, the king was crowned at Reims [ending the “disinheritance”].

She was captured during an attack on Paris and fell into English hands. Because of her “unnatural dress” and claim to divine guidance, she

was condemned and burned as a heretic in 1432. Became a symbol of French resistance and later declared a saint

(1920)

The End of the WarFrance continued with the momentum gained by Joan

of Arc, taking back much of their lost territory1453- Charles VII and the Duke of Burgundy made

peace and joined forces against the EnglishAll of the English positions were lost except for CalaisThe War was ended with both sides agreeing that

they were done fighting for now.Outcome

France became unifiedEngland became more independent with the

clothing/textile’s market.

I.100 Year’s War

AKA Bubonic PlagueBacterial infection that spreads from fleas

This case, fleas found ratsNamed for the buboes that form along the

lymphatic systemUsually kills within 4 days of the onset of symptoms

and still has a fatality of 30%Called the Black Death due to the septicemic

form

II. The Black Death1347-1350

The Disease Cycle

Flea drinks rat blood that carries the

bacteria.

Flea’s gut cloggedwith bacteria.

Bacteriamultiply inflea’s gut.

Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound.

Human is infected!

Situations that led up to the outbreak The Famine of 1315-1317

By 1300 Europeans were farming almost all the land they could cultivate.

A population crisis developed.Climate changes in Europe produced three

years of crop failures between 1315-17 because of excessive rain.

As many as 15% of the peasants in some English villages died.

One consequence of starvation & povertywas susceptibility to disease.

II. The Black Death

1347- The Plague reaches ConstantinopleWas originally spread through Asia by the

MongolsSoon spread rapidly through the trade routes

II. The Black Death

“Cures”

II. The Black Death

CausesPoor diets/hygiene, unsanitary living

conditions, and no concept of how epidemics spread?

The JewsBlamed due to the fact that they had slightly less

cases of the plagueWere segregated from the rest of the townsReligion was very focused on being “clean” and

avoiding anything “unclean”Pogroms were instituted to punish the Jews and

help alleviate the spread.Didn’t work very well

II. The Black Death

Affects on SocietySociety became obsessed with deathDrop in population of Europe (30-70%)Catholic Church started to fall out of favor

People thought God was angry with themCatholic church could do nothing to stop the

plagueMany adopted the “Eat, Drink and be Merry”

attitudeFocus on materialism and the finer things of life

Greater demand for skilled artisansIncrease in laborer wages

Loss of power for many of the landowning nobles

II. The Black Death

Conflict between the Popes and the GovernmentThe church was very wealthy and on most

occasions was not allowed to be taxedDoctrinal Issues

Indulgences, Excommunication, Purgatory, etc.Later visited upon in the Reformation

Avignon Papacy (1309-1377)A period where the Pope moved to France.Eventually leads to the Papal Schism

III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church

Avignon PapacyPeriod of 68 years in which 7 Popes resided in

AvignonResult of heavy French influence

Papacy was very influenced by French cultureStarted with Clement V and ended with

Gregory XIPower of the Pope was questionedLeads to the Great Schism

III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church

The Great Schism 1378-1417Began after the death of Pope Gregory XI1378- Pope Urban VI elected

Takes up office in RomeWants to reform Curia

Angered French CardinalsCharles V was not happy and makes an effort to

change thingsFrench Cardinals form their own conclave and

elected Pope Clement VIICharles V’s cousinMoves back to Avignon

III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church

Great Schism continuedAllegiance to the 2 popes was divided along

secular alliancesEach other tried to get the other to back down

Both excommunicated the otherCaused great distress among their followers

Questioned the power/position of the popeCouncil of Pisa 1409-1410

Deposed of the other two popes and made Pope Alexander V in charge

Now there are 3

III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church

Council of Constance 1414-1417Deposed of the other Popes or forced to resignSet up Pope Martin VGave the Council of Cardinals supremacy and

the power to elect the new pope.

III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church

Early ReformersJohn Wycliffe 1320-1384

Called Morning Star of the ReformationEnglishPersonal merit was only reason to hold church officeTranslation into vernacular EnglishBible is the only true authorityDied then tried as heretic and burnt at the stake

Jan (John) Hus 1369-1415Czech Priest who was influenced by WycliffeSpoke out against indulgences

Jesus Christ was means of salvationOpposed Crusades and Holy WarsBurnt at the stake for heresy

III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church

How did the Avignon Papacy, Great Schism and Bubonic Plague pave the way for the Reformation?

How did the previously mentioned start to turn peoples’ focus from Papal rule to the Secular Rule?

IV. Conclusion