Hundred Years' War (1369-1389)

The Caroline War was the second phase of the Hundred Years' War between France and England, following the Edwardian War. It was so-named after Charles V of France, who resumed the war after the Treaty of Brétigny (signed 1360). In May 1369, the Black Prince, son of Edward III of England, refused an illegal summons from the French king demanding him come to Paris and Charles responded by declaring war. He immediately set out to reverse the territorial losses imposed at Brétigny and he was largely successful in his lifetime. His less capable successor, Charles VI, made peace with the less capable son of the Black Prince, Richard II, in 1389. This truce was extended many times until the war was resumed in 1415.

The reign of Charles V saw the English steadily pushed back. Although their claimant, John V of Brittany, defeated and killed Charles of Blois at the Battle of Auray, John and his heirs eventually reconciled with the French kings. Breton commander Bertrand du Guesclin, who went over to the side of Charles V, became one of his most successful generals.

At about the same time, a war in Spain occupied the Black Prince's efforts from 1366. Pedro the Cruel, whose daughters Constance and Isabella were married to the Black Prince's brothers John of Gaunt and Edmund of Langley, linking these royal houses, was deposed by Henry II of Castile in 1370 with the support of Du Guesclin and Henry II went to war against England and Portugal.

Statue of Du Guesclin in Dinan.

Just before New Year's Day 1370, the English Seneschal of Poitou, John Chandos, was killed at the bridge at Château Lussac. The loss of this commander was a significant blow to the English. The Captal de Buch was also captured and locked up by Charles V who, like the English, was not bound by outdated chivalry. Du Guesclin continued a series of careful campaigns, avoiding major English field forces, but capturing town after town, including Poitiers in 1372 and Bergerac in 1377, until his death in 1380. Du Guesclin, who according to Froissart, had advised the French king not to engage the English in the field, was successful in these Fabian tactics, though the only 2 major battles he fought in, at Auray in Brittany in 1364 and Najera in Spain three years later, he was on the losing side and was captured on both occasions.

The English response to Du Guesclin was to launch a series of destructive military expeditions called Chevauchees. But by refusing to be drawn by them Du Guesclin was able to accomplish his objectives. The disastrous English defeat by the Castilian-French fleet at La Rochelle in 1372 was another key factor here, undermining English seaborne trade and supplies.

In 1376, the Black Prince died, and upon the death of Edward III in 1377, the underaged Richard II became King of England. It was not until Richard had been deposed by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV), that the English under the House of Lancaster would forcefully revive their claim to the French throne.

Despite the tactical reforms of Bertrand Du Guesclin and the victory of La Rochelle, there are two main points to remember, both to do with England's internal issues.
*The Black Prince (who was superior to Bertrand Du Guesclin in most aspects with a revolutionary mind in warfare by medieval standards, and the commander in charge of the defence of Aquitaine) was dismissed from the military after only two years of conflict with Charles the Wise in France; partly due to his illness, partly due to his brutality (particularly at the siege of Limoges in 1370), and partly because his problems with money had brought England into major debt. The Black Prince's early absence left Bertrand Du Guesclin with little significant competition in his attack on Aquitaine. Edward III was also too old to personally take command against Bertrand.
*The replacement commanders for the Black Prince and Edward III were easily distracted from the war in France: John of Gaunt was more interested in making himself king of Castile, rather than defend Aquitaine and Calais, nor was Richard II interested in war, thus leading to a lack of will among the English commanders.