Treaty of Amiens (1423)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Amiens was a defensive agreement between John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford
, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and Arthur III, Earl of Richmond and Duke of Brittany
, in which the three dukes acknowledged Henry VI of England
as King of France, and agreed to aid each other against the Dauphin Charles VII of France
.
The Treaty of Amiens was signed on 13 April 1423, and formed in the aftermath of the Treaty of Troyes
. It helped maintain the Anglo-Burgundian alliance until 1435, and the basis of the dual-monarchy of the two kingdoms of England
and France
first formed by King Henry V of England
at Troyes
.
, and the marriage of Arthur III, Earl of Richmond to the Duke of Burgundy's older sister Margaret of Burgundy
, widow of Louis, Dauphin of France. Furthermore the treaty stated that all three dukes would willingly acknowledge Henry VI of England as King of France, as had been promised by their oaths taken at the Treaty of Troyes
two years before.
, Henry V and his heirs would inherit the Kingdom of France
after Charles VI's
death. However Henry V died four weeks before the death of Charles VI, and so never inherited the French throne.
Henry V's son, though still an infant, became Henry VI, King of England on his father's death, and shortly thereafter became King of France as well. The accession
of an infant king made it easier for the French nobility
to refuse him and support the Dauphin Charles. The infant king of the dual-monarchy thus required a regent
. John, Duke of Bedford, who was governor of Normandy
and younger brother of Henry V, was made regent of France, and ruled with a joint French administration in Paris until the king came of age to rule his two kingdoms.
Anglo-Burgundian relations now centred on the two personal figures of the Duke of Bedford and the Philip, Duke of Burgundy, who was as strong as any other monarch. In 1422, Bedford had sought to bind Brittany
and Burgundy more to his young nephew's interest. Bedford had concluded with a marriage contract in which he would marry Anne of Burgundy, younger sister of Philip, while Arthur III, Earl of Richmond would marry Margaret of Burgundy, older sister of Philip.
In February 1423, Bedford appealed for a formal alliance
, suggesting that both dukes would come to Amiens
for negotiation. The talks ended in April when they signed a personal alliance that would lapse on the signatories' death. The military
commitment was that each individual would aid with five-hundred men-at-arms
and archers
in time of need. The main part of the agreement was the signatories commitment to work for "the good of our lord the king and his kingdom of France and England", a clause that recognised Henry VI's title to the French throne, and rejected the authority of the Dauphin Charles.
The treaty also gave an unusual clause in which the three dukes would give relief to the poor and those suffering. Despite being fifteen years her senior, Bedford's marriage to Anne of Burgundy turned out to be a love match.
and the Burgundians
held a secret meeting in which the two agreed to remain friends if either duke would reconcile himself with the Dauphin Charles. Although for the time being both recognised Henry VI as their sovereign, adherence to the Treaty of Amiens wavered for their own personal interests.
The English and Burgundians were masters on the battle
field. They won the Battle of Cravent
in 1423, a victory celebrated by the people of Paris
, and their victory at Verneuil
in 1424 was known as the second Agincourt
to many of the Armagnacs
(supporters of the Dauphin) who were fighting against the English. This important victory meant there was a smaller need for important administration in Paris.
However, a quarrel between Bedford and Richmond caused the latter to offer his services to the Dauphin in 1424 despite having been created Count of Touraine
by Bedford. The same year, Anglo-Burgundian strain had been shown when Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester (the brother of Bedford), attacked the Low Countries
in favour of his wife's right there, thus bringing Anglo-Burgundian confrontation.
Anne of Burgundy was the primary mediator between Philip and Bedford. Her death in 1432 deeply shook the relations between the two. Henry VI's French coronation
and consecration
at Notre Dame in Paris could do nothing to stop the French from pushing further into English territories. By 1433, the Duke of Burgundy had not completely dismissed negotiations with the Dauphin, and having only agreed with a small peace settlement near Burgundian-Valois territory, he now started reflecting on a possibility of a Franco-Burgundian reconciliation. But the advent of Joan of Arc
in 1429 had shown English dependence on Burgundy, and Burgundian disillusionment in failing to dominate the Paris administration.
In 1435, the Duke of Burgundy withdrew from the alliance, thus terminating the agreement of recognising Henry VI as King of France. Burgundy had a Papal legate
which enabled him to break the oath he had made at Troyes, and reconciled with and recognised Charles as King of France. Brittany had always stuck to its tradition of joining the strongest side. When it declared war on England in 1426, Brittany's eastern frontier remained unprotected, besides sending raids into English held territory. In 1427, Brittany was forced to a previous status quo
as vassal
. Even after the expulsion of Henry VI from France in 1453, the English kings continued to style themselves as Kings of France.
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford, KG , also known as John Plantagenet, was the third surviving son of King Henry IV of England by Mary de Bohun, and acted as Regent of France for his nephew, King Henry VI....
, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy and Arthur III, Earl of Richmond and Duke of Brittany
Arthur III, Duke of Brittany
Arthur III , known as the Justicier and as Arthur de Richemont, was Lord of Parthenay and titular Count of Richmond in England and for eleven months at the very end of his life, Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort after inheriting those titles upon the death of his nephew.-Biography:Belonging...
, in which the three dukes acknowledged Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
as King of France, and agreed to aid each other against the Dauphin Charles VII of France
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
.
The Treaty of Amiens was signed on 13 April 1423, and formed in the aftermath of the Treaty of Troyes
Treaty of Troyes
The Treaty of Troyes was an agreement that Henry V of England and his heirs would inherit the throne of France upon the death of King Charles VI of France. It was signed in the French city of Troyes on 21 May 1420 in the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt...
. It helped maintain the Anglo-Burgundian alliance until 1435, and the basis of the dual-monarchy of the two kingdoms of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
first formed by King Henry V of England
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
at Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
.
Terms
The Treaty of Amiens arranged the marriage of the John, Duke of Bedford to the Duke of Burgundy's younger sister, Anne of BurgundyAnne of Burgundy
Anne of Burgundy, Duchess of Bedford was a daughter of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and his wife Margaret of Bavaria.-Marriage:...
, and the marriage of Arthur III, Earl of Richmond to the Duke of Burgundy's older sister Margaret of Burgundy
Margaret of Burgundy (1393-1441)
Margaret of Burgundy was the daughter of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, and Margaret of Bavaria. Her maternal grandparents were Albert I, Duke of Bavaria and Margaret of Brieg....
, widow of Louis, Dauphin of France. Furthermore the treaty stated that all three dukes would willingly acknowledge Henry VI of England as King of France, as had been promised by their oaths taken at the Treaty of Troyes
Treaty of Troyes
The Treaty of Troyes was an agreement that Henry V of England and his heirs would inherit the throne of France upon the death of King Charles VI of France. It was signed in the French city of Troyes on 21 May 1420 in the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt...
two years before.
Background
As formalised by the Treaty of TroyesTreaty of Troyes
The Treaty of Troyes was an agreement that Henry V of England and his heirs would inherit the throne of France upon the death of King Charles VI of France. It was signed in the French city of Troyes on 21 May 1420 in the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt...
, Henry V and his heirs would inherit the Kingdom of France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
after Charles VI's
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
death. However Henry V died four weeks before the death of Charles VI, and so never inherited the French throne.
Henry V's son, though still an infant, became Henry VI, King of England on his father's death, and shortly thereafter became King of France as well. The accession
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of an infant king made it easier for the French nobility
French nobility
The French nobility was the privileged order of France in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods.In the political system of the Estates General, the nobility made up the Second Estate...
to refuse him and support the Dauphin Charles. The infant king of the dual-monarchy thus required a regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
. John, Duke of Bedford, who was governor of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and younger brother of Henry V, was made regent of France, and ruled with a joint French administration in Paris until the king came of age to rule his two kingdoms.
Anglo-Burgundian relations now centred on the two personal figures of the Duke of Bedford and the Philip, Duke of Burgundy, who was as strong as any other monarch. In 1422, Bedford had sought to bind Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and Burgundy more to his young nephew's interest. Bedford had concluded with a marriage contract in which he would marry Anne of Burgundy, younger sister of Philip, while Arthur III, Earl of Richmond would marry Margaret of Burgundy, older sister of Philip.
In February 1423, Bedford appealed for a formal alliance
Alliance
An alliance is an agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests.See also military alliance and business alliance.-International relations:...
, suggesting that both dukes would come to Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
for negotiation. The talks ended in April when they signed a personal alliance that would lapse on the signatories' death. The military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
commitment was that each individual would aid with five-hundred men-at-arms
Man-at-arms
Man-at-arms was a term used from the High Medieval to Renaissance periods to describe a soldier, almost always a professional warrior in the sense of being well-trained in the use of arms, who served as a fully armoured heavy cavalryman...
and archers
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
in time of need. The main part of the agreement was the signatories commitment to work for "the good of our lord the king and his kingdom of France and England", a clause that recognised Henry VI's title to the French throne, and rejected the authority of the Dauphin Charles.
The treaty also gave an unusual clause in which the three dukes would give relief to the poor and those suffering. Despite being fifteen years her senior, Bedford's marriage to Anne of Burgundy turned out to be a love match.
Aftermath
The Treaty of Amiens (1423) was almost immediately undermined. On the 18 April 1423, the BretonsBreton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
and the Burgundians
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
held a secret meeting in which the two agreed to remain friends if either duke would reconcile himself with the Dauphin Charles. Although for the time being both recognised Henry VI as their sovereign, adherence to the Treaty of Amiens wavered for their own personal interests.
The English and Burgundians were masters on the battle
Battle
Generally, a battle is a conceptual component in the hierarchy of combat in warfare between two or more armed forces, or combatants. In a battle, each combatant will seek to defeat the others, with defeat determined by the conditions of a military campaign...
field. They won the Battle of Cravent
Cravent
Cravent is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France....
in 1423, a victory celebrated by the people of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and their victory at Verneuil
Battle of Verneuil
The Battle of Verneuil was a battle of the Hundred Years' War, fought on 17 August 1424 near Verneuil in Normandy and was a significant English victory.-The black time:...
in 1424 was known as the second Agincourt
Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
to many of the Armagnacs
Armagnac (party)
The Armagnac party was prominent in French politics and warfare during the Hundred Years' War. It was allied with the supporters of Charles, Duke of Orléans against John the Fearless after Charles' father Louis of Orléans was killed at the orders of the Duke of Burgundy in 1407...
(supporters of the Dauphin) who were fighting against the English. This important victory meant there was a smaller need for important administration in Paris.
However, a quarrel between Bedford and Richmond caused the latter to offer his services to the Dauphin in 1424 despite having been created Count of Touraine
Touraine
The Touraine is one of the traditional provinces of France. Its capital was Tours. During the political reorganization of French territory in 1790, the Touraine was divided between the departments of Indre-et-Loire, :Loir-et-Cher and Indre.-Geography:...
by Bedford. The same year, Anglo-Burgundian strain had been shown when Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester (the brother of Bedford), attacked the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
in favour of his wife's right there, thus bringing Anglo-Burgundian confrontation.
Anne of Burgundy was the primary mediator between Philip and Bedford. Her death in 1432 deeply shook the relations between the two. Henry VI's French coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
and consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
at Notre Dame in Paris could do nothing to stop the French from pushing further into English territories. By 1433, the Duke of Burgundy had not completely dismissed negotiations with the Dauphin, and having only agreed with a small peace settlement near Burgundian-Valois territory, he now started reflecting on a possibility of a Franco-Burgundian reconciliation. But the advent of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
in 1429 had shown English dependence on Burgundy, and Burgundian disillusionment in failing to dominate the Paris administration.
In 1435, the Duke of Burgundy withdrew from the alliance, thus terminating the agreement of recognising Henry VI as King of France. Burgundy had a Papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
which enabled him to break the oath he had made at Troyes, and reconciled with and recognised Charles as King of France. Brittany had always stuck to its tradition of joining the strongest side. When it declared war on England in 1426, Brittany's eastern frontier remained unprotected, besides sending raids into English held territory. In 1427, Brittany was forced to a previous status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
as vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
. Even after the expulsion of Henry VI from France in 1453, the English kings continued to style themselves as Kings of France.