RICHARD I IN FRANCE

Fighting For His Territory

12TH CENTURY FRANCE

RICHARD’S METHODS

Diplomacy

War

Good preparation

Skilled tactician

Charismatic leader

Momentum

Generally thought to be winning in Normandy

before his untimely death

Rebellions in Aquitaine more problematic

PREPARATIONS

Built stronger fortifications along Norman Marches

Gave Marcher lordships to men he trusted

1195: whilst discussing

peace had large army land at

Barfleur 28th August

Re-conquering Vexin required: Secure base – built Chateau

Gaillard in 2 years from 1195

Weakening Phillip II’s position:

took his most important allies (diplomacy)

INITIAL SUCCESS – SKILLED TACTICIAN

Richard made massive gains in Normandy But still not got the Vexin So war was not over – especially as

Richard now feeling MUCH stronger

Spring 1196 Richard summoned sister-in-law, Constance of Brittany to court Richard wanted her son, Arthur (9), heir to Brittany Control of Brittany required control of Arthur

Constance Normandy Kidnapped by new husband's men Bretons swapped allegiance to Phillip II

Richard attacked and won BUT Arthur smuggled to Phillip II in Paris And is was Arthur he wanted

DIPLOMACY – FLANDERS

Flanders = allied to Phillip II

North & east of Phillip’s lands

Port of Boulogne

Access to key trading towns: Bruges, Ghent, Lille

Richard used Artois to divide Baldwin IX and Phillip II

Phillip II had taken Artois 1192

Still in dispute

Richard promised Baldwin: End English trade embargo with Flanders

Give him large sum money

1197 signed formal treaty

DIPLOMACY – TOULOUSE

Count Raymond V died

Richard made generous gesture to new

count, Raymond VI Renounced his claim on Toulouse

Gave back all disputed territory

Offered sister Joan in marriage

Dowry = country of Argen

Would give Toulouse uninterrupted trade links

through Bordeaux, up to Channel

DIPLOMACY – RESULTS

Deprived Phillip II of 2 key allies

Richard I safer in south Also had alliance with Navarre – marriage

Phillip II vulnerable to attack from Flanders Two prong attack on Phillip II in Normandy from Artois

(Baldwin) and Berry (Richard I)

Baldwin – great victory; Phillip II surrendered

16 month truce made

But Richard still wanted Vexin …

MOMENTUM

Success barons re-thinking loyalties Barons of Champagne, Brittany, Count Renaud of

Boulogne

So many defections to Richard I shows: Military strength

Financial strength

Phillip II got Lord Aimar of Limoges and Count Ademar of Angoulême to defect to him

JOHN’S FRENCH INHERITANCE

RICHARD HAD CONTROL RICHARD HAD ALLIANCES WITH

Normandy Except Vexin, Gisors castle

Strengthened – Chateau Gaillard, Marcher lordships

Brittany Except its heir, Arthur

Count of Boulogne

St. Omer (in Artois)

Area surrounding Gisors, including fortresses nearby

Berry, Anjou

Loches – Touraine

Much of Aquitaine – though still rebellions occurring – Limoges, Angoulême

Flanders

Toulouse

Navarre

Holy Roman Empire

(nephew Otto now

emperor)

Barons of Champagne