King Henry VI of England looking every inch the mild mannered simpleton that he was. When Joan of Arc was executed at Rouen in May 1431, Henry VI was but nine years of age. The Maid might be gone, but the prospect of a France ruled by the English crown was very far from becoming …
The 23rd of May 1430 saw the end of Joan’s illustrious military career. ‘At Compiegne in the heat of battle, Joan was thrown from her saddle! Captured by the Burgundians, was she now up the creek without a paddle? Joan was now the prisoner of the commander of the forces, Jean de Luxembourg. At this …
Charles VII is crowned at Reims. ‘Oh for the French, 1429, what a glorious summer! As for the English, well, they never felt dumber! Orleans! Oh Orleans! What a victory, the French did gush! And well they might, for there, they gave the English army, the bum’s rush!’ Target Paris! Despite the celebrations surrounding the …
‘ But how to save France from English aggression! Oh, how to ensure the Dauphin’s right to regal succession!’ In January 1429, Jeanne travelled to the town of Vaucouleurs and asked the garrison commander to allow her to visit the Dauphin at Chinon. The commander was astounded at her audacity to say the least, and …
Jeanne d’Arc The Duke of Bedford’s lament! Oh how the poor man did lament! The defeat at Orleans cast terrible thoughts into his mind and boy, did they ferment! The Duke of Bedford was beside himself with shame and sorrow when the French army, commanded by a teenage French girl, freed the city of Orleans. …
Henry VI 1421-1471 ‘His journey was not that of the average pilgrim! The odyssey was awkward, hard and grim!’ Henry was born on December 6th 1421 at Windsor. He was never to know his father, Henry V, who was the very epitome of the warrior king. King Henry V died on campaign in France on …
‘How sweet it is! Oh how sweet it is! With Paris as his next target, Henry would ask: ‘Who could possibly deny me the throne of France? The old French king has lost his marbles and is now a gibbering idiot whilst his son, the wretched Dauphin is in deep disgrace. Everyone blames him for …
On July 31st, 1418, Henry arrived at Rouen, the capital of Normandy and besieged the city. It was to be a long and bitter siege, causing immense hardship to its citizens. The siege of Rouen, 1418 – 1419. The siege was to last six months and when the food supply began to run low in …
After Agincourt, Henry sallied forth to Calais without fear of apprehension, and from there sailed to England. The conquering Hero, King Hal! Henry V. The king’s entry into London that November was a rapturous affair. The citizenry turned out in their thousands to welcome the conquering hero. As Henry rode through the streets, the Londoners …
‘King Henry marched his men from Harfleur towards Calais! But, it was at tiny Agincourt village where he had his most victorious day!’ The march to Calais. On October 6th Henry left Harfleur with an army of around 7,000 men to travel to Calais. There he would formulate plans for the recovery of the French …