Author Topic: The Mad war/ Guerre folle 1485-1488 gendarmes (Read 15596 times)

bluewillow · « **Reply #90 on:** August 31, 2021, 07:44:38 PM »

Quote from: tomrommel1 on August 31, 2021, 08:36:35 AM

What a wonderfull project!!!

Thank you it has been a labour wading through historical documents for information in French and English. I have been piecing it together for 3 years so far. I plan on doing a article for a magazine or perhaps a pamphlet about the period like my 100years war ones with leading identity’s and armorials.

Cheers
Matt

Atheling · « **Reply #91 on:** September 01, 2021, 10:06:35 AM »

Quote from: bluewillow on August 31, 2021, 07:44:38 PM

Thank you it has been a labour wading through historical documents for information in French and English. I have been piecing it together for 3 years so far. I plan on doing a article for a magazine or perhaps a pamphlet about the period like my 100years war ones with leading identity’s and armorials.

What a great idea Matt and what an excellent way of bringing a fairly murky war (at least in English) to light

A pamphlet would be brilliant, and preferable IMHO as all the info is comprehensive and available easily as opposed to having to trawl though a pile of wargames mags to find the info- yes, I still buy hard copies of wargames mags

Patrice · « **Reply #92 on:** September 01, 2021, 10:51:05 AM »

Quote from: bluewillow on August 31, 2021, 07:09:52 AM

I think if the army had leapt onto the French vanguard rather than let them deploy and bring up the guns they may of had a chance, but too much indecision.

The ground suited cavalry so the Italian heavy cavalry mercenaries smashed the Breton Ordonnance, after being softened up by the French field artillery, the fire was devastating, the Germans failed against the Swiss left. The reckless charge by Edward Woodville did not help things breaking the French line, but unsupported was always going to fail.

A chance was taken but ultimately failed.

Yes. But anyway the overall (political, financial, diplomatical) situation of Brittany was bad in these years. Pr Jean Kerhervé of Brest University did a lot of research about the Breton state administration and finance of the 15th century and explains it well.

France was the main European power at the time (and remained so till c.1520) having defeated Burgundy in 1477 and taken a large part of its territory, artillery, finances etc. It could afford to pay an army to walk along the Breton border every year even if doing nothing else, while Brittany was quickly going to bankrupcy if trying to face it every time. And other countries did not dare interfere by fear of fighting France.

bluewillow · « **Reply #93 on:** September 01, 2021, 10:59:07 AM »

Quote from: Atheling on September 01, 2021, 10:06:35 AM

What a great idea Matt and what an excellent way of bringing a fairly murky war (at least in English) to light

A pamphlet would be brilliant, and preferable IMHO as all the info is comprehensive and available easily as opposed to having to trawl though a pile of wargames mags to find the info- yes, I still buy hard copies of wargames mags

I plan to release a downloadable PDF from our website on the second war of Breton Succession, and on the wargames vault also I think. Probably do the same for the three phases of the 100 years war, notable battles plus the first Breton War of Succession 1341-65 (which occured all around us).

Then some 13th century ones, for the Plantagenet civil war, the brothers vs Father, then Breton Arthur Plantagenet vs John Lackland war, then Bouvines, and perhaps some English Scottish wars . Nothing better to do this winter!

cheers
Matt

bluewillow · « **Reply #94 on:** September 01, 2021, 11:29:45 AM »

Quote from: Patrice on September 01, 2021, 10:51:05 AM

Yes. But anyway the overall (political, financial, diplomatical) situation of Brittany was bad in these years. Pr Jean Kerhervé of Brest University did a lot of research about the Breton state administration and finance of the 15th century and explains it well.

France was the main European power at the time (and remained so till c.1520) having defeated Burgundy in 1477 and taken a large part of its territory, artillery, finances etc. It could afford to pay an army to walk along the Breton border every year even if doing nothing else, while Brittany was quickly going to bankrupcy if trying to face it every time. And other countries did not dare interfere by fear of fighting France.

Yes I have a number of Jean Kerhervé documents, it cleared up relationships a lot for me. Always hard to beat someone with more money than you.

I feel the only hope was to Marry Anne to a outside in influence of the French, not that the French Monarchy would allow that. Francis II of Brittany failed to be decisive I feel, although he was in a hard place. The other suitors for Anne of Brittany were many, she was betrothed to several, Edward Prince of Wales(Edwards IV sons killed in the tower), Henry Tudor (while in asylum was refused by Francois II), Maximilian I of Austria, (marriage was completed by Proxy, but then renounced after France threatened to Invade),Alain I of Albret (48 years old and totally unsuitable as first cousin), John IV of Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange (first Cousin), Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (nephew of King Edward IV, and nephew of Edward Woodville), Francis de Rohan ( son of Viscount John II of Rohan, another relative), and finally Louis d'Orleans (the future King Louis XII king of France, whom she married anyway after marrying after Charles VIII died!)

A male heir was needed, sadly the line was failing after Arthur III failed to have a son to carry on the legacy with any of his three wives. and two older relatives become duke and failed to produce male heirs. Brittany still could of been saved if Anne and Louis XII had the arranged marriage of her daughter, Claude, heiress of the Duchy, to Charles of Austria. This match would reinforce the Franco-Spanish alliance and ensure French success in the Italian Wars. However it was not to be and Brittany become part of France after Annes death in 1514.

cheers
Matt

Charlie_ · « **Reply #95 on:** September 01, 2021, 06:10:28 PM »

Quote from: bluewillow on September 01, 2021, 11:29:45 AM

John IV of Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange

I believe he was her cousin as well.

bluewillow · « **Reply #96 on:** September 01, 2021, 06:47:53 PM »

Yes first cousin, every one was a bloody relative in most royal households!

cheers
Matt

bluewillow · « **Reply #97 on:** September 21, 2021, 07:02:28 AM »

Aragonese Arbalète - Crossbow completed, over 1000 Aragonese foot fought as mercenaries in the Breton army at the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier, again Perry Minatures based for impetus.