Ch 9

1. Ch 9 Wars, Plagues and Papal Bulls

2. I. 100 Years’ War (Intro) • Really was 106 years (1337-1443) with numerous years of relative peace • Was fought over succession of the king of France after Charles IV died without an heir • The French nobility selected Philip of Valois, a cousin of the last king through the male line. • He was chosen in preference to King Edward III of England, whose mother was the daughter of the late king, Philip IV. • King Edward III then makes a claim to the French throne

3. I. 100 Years’ War (Intro) • A longer standing issue was the status of lands within France that belonged to English kings. • Edward was a vassal of Philip’s, holding sizable French territories as fiefs from the king of France • Flanders wants its independence from French control. • Asks England for help. • Major Wool Industry

4. I. 100 Year’s War • French Advantages • Population of about 16,000,000. • Far richer and more populous than England. • At one point, the French fielded an army of over 50,000 • At most, Britain mustered only 32,000. • Completely on their own territory • British Advantages • Better Weapon Technology (longbow) • In almost every engagement, the English were outnumbered. • Britain’s most successful strategies: • Avoid pitched battles. • Engage in quick, profitable raids

5. The Longbow as a Weapon • The use of the English defensive position was the use of the longbow. • Its arrows had more penetrating power than a bolt from a crossbow. • Could pierce an inch of wood or the armor of a knight at 200 yards • Shoot up to 400 yards • A longbow could be fired more rapidly. • 6 arrows per minute. • Most affective use was the Battle of Crecy 1346 & Battle of Poitiers 1356

6. Early English Victories

7. I. 100 Year’s War • France’s problem • The English captured the French king, John II [r.1350-1364]. • France was now ruled by the Estates General • A representative council of townspeople and nobles. • Created in 1355. • Purpose to secure funds for the war. • In theory, the French king could not levy taxes on his own!!

8. I. 100 Year’s War • Trouble on the Home Front • France • The Jacquerie, 1358 • Peasant Rebellion that followed the French disaster at Poitiers, • It was a response to the longstanding economic and political grievances in the countryside worsened by warfare. • The rebels were defeated by aristocratic armies. • England • Peasant Revolt in 1381 was put down by King Richard II • After charges of tyranny, Richard II was forced to abdicate in 1300. • Parliament elected Henry IV, the first ruler from the House of Lancaster. • Henry avoided raising war taxes. • He was careful not to alienate the nobility. • France and England declare a brief truce to deal with these problems

9. I. 100 Year’s War • King Henry V (r. 1412-1422) • Renewed his family’s claim to the French throne. • At Agincourt in 1415, the English, led by Henry himself, goaded a larger French army into attacking a fortified English position. • With the aid of the dukes of Burgundy, Henry gained control over Normandy, Paris, and much of northern France • Result of the Duke’s Assassination

10. I. 100 Year’s War • Treaty of Troyes (1420) • Charles VI’s son [the future Charles VII], was declared illegitimate and disinherited. • Henry V married Catherine, the daughter of Charles VI. • Henry was declared the legitimate heir to the French throne! • A final English victory seemed assured, but both Charles VI and Henry V died in 1422. • This left Henry’s infant son, Henry VI [r. 1422-1461], to inherit BOTH thrones.

12. I. 100 Year’s War • The French Re-conquest • The two kings’ deaths ushered in the final stage of the 100 Years’ War [1422-1453]. • In 1429, with the aid of the mysterious Joan of Arc, the French king, Charles VII, was able to raise the English siege of Orleans. • This began the re-conquest of the north of France.

13. I. 100 Year’s War • Joan of Arc (1412-1432) • The daughter of prosperous peasants from an area of Burgundy that had suffered under the English. • Like many medieval mystics, she reported regular visions of divine revelation. • Her “voices” told her to go to the king and assist him in driving out the English. • She dressed like a man and was Charles’ most charismatic and feared military leader! • She brought inspiration and a sense of national identity and self-confidence. • With her aid, the king was crowned at Reims [ending the “disinheritance”]. • She was captured during an attack on Paris and fell into English hands. • Because of her “unnatural dress” and claim to divine guidance, she was condemned and burned as a heretic in 1432. • Became a symbol of French resistance and later declared a saint (1920)

14. I.100 Year’s War • The End of the War • France continued with the momentum gained by Joan of Arc, taking back much of their lost territory • 1453- Charles VII and the Duke of Burgundy made peace and joined forces against the English • All of the English positions were lost except for Calais • The War was ended with both sides agreeing that they were done fighting for now. • Outcome • France became unified • England became more independent with the clothing/textile’s market.

15. II. The Black Death1347-1350 • AKA Bubonic Plague • Bacterial infection that spreads from fleas • This case, fleas found rats • Named for the buboes that form along the lymphatic system • Usually kills within 4 days of the onset of symptoms and still has a fatality of 30% • Called the Black Death due to the septicemic form

16. The Disease Cycle Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria. Bacteria multiply in flea’s gut. Human is infected! Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound. Flea’s gut cloggedwith bacteria.

18. II. The Black Death • Situations that led up to the outbreak • The Famine of 1315-1317 • By 1300 Europeans were farming almost all the land they could cultivate. • A population crisis developed. • Climate changes in Europe produced three years of crop failures between 1315-17 because of excessive rain. • As many as 15% of the peasants in some English villages died. • One consequence of starvation & povertywas susceptibility to disease.

19. II. The Black Death • 1347- The Plague reaches Constantinople • Was originally spread through Asia by the Mongols • Soon spread rapidly through the trade routes

20. II. The Black Death • “Cures”

21. II. The Black Death • Causes • Poor diets/hygiene, unsanitary living conditions, and no concept of how epidemics spread? • The Jews • Blamed due to the fact that they had slightly less cases of the plague • Were segregated from the rest of the towns • Religion was very focused on being “clean” and avoiding anything “unclean” • Pogroms were instituted to punish the Jews and help alleviate the spread. • Didn’t work very well

22. II. The Black Death • Affects on Society • Society became obsessed with death • Drop in population of Europe (30-70%) • Catholic Church started to fall out of favor • People thought God was angry with them • Catholic church could do nothing to stop the plague • Many adopted the “Eat, Drink and be Merry” attitude • Focus on materialism and the finer things of life • Greater demand for skilled artisans • Increase in laborer wages • Loss of power for many of the landowning nobles

23. III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church • Conflict between the Popes and the Government • The church was very wealthy and on most occasions was not allowed to be taxed • Doctrinal Issues • Indulgences, Excommunication, Purgatory, etc. • Later visited upon in the Reformation • Avignon Papacy (1309-1377) • A period where the Pope moved to France. • Eventually leads to the Papal Schism

24. III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church • Avignon Papacy • Period of 68 years in which 7 Popes resided in Avignon • Result of heavy French influence • Papacy was very influenced by French culture • Started with Clement V and ended with Gregory XI • Power of the Pope was questioned • Leads to the Great Schism

25. III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church • The Great Schism 1378-1417 • Began after the death of Pope Gregory XI • 1378- Pope Urban VI elected • Takes up office in Rome • Wants to reform Curia • Angered French Cardinals • Charles V was not happy and makes an effort to change things • French Cardinals form their own conclave and elected Pope Clement VII • Charles V’s cousin • Moves back to Avignon

26. III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church • Great Schism continued • Allegiance to the 2 popes was divided along secular alliances • Each other tried to get the other to back down • Both excommunicated the other • Caused great distress among their followers • Questioned the power/position of the pope • Council of Pisa 1409-1410 • Deposed of the other two popes and made Pope Alexander V in charge • Now there are 3

27. III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church • Council of Constance 1414-1417 • Deposed of the other Popes or forced to resign • Set up Pope Martin V • Gave the Council of Cardinals supremacy and the power to elect the new pope.

28. III. Breakdown of the Catholic Church • Early Reformers • John Wycliffe 1320-1384 • Called Morning Star of the Reformation • English • Personal merit was only reason to hold church office • Translation into vernacular English • Bible is the only true authority • Died then tried as heretic and burnt at the stake • Jan (John) Hus 1369-1415 • Czech Priest who was influenced by Wycliffe • Spoke out against indulgences • Jesus Christ was means of salvation • Opposed Crusades and Holy Wars • Burnt at the stake for heresy

29. IV. Conclusion • How did the Avignon Papacy, Great Schism and Bubonic Plague pave the way for the Reformation? • How did the previously mentioned start to turn peoples’ focus from Papal rule to the Secular Rule?