Hundred Years' War - 1337-1453
The Hundred Years' War comes into the diccussion with respect to the history of Belchamp Walter and
to that of the country in that Sir John de Botetourt served Edward II in
Gascony, presumably prior to the Edwardian Phase, 1377-1378
(Edward III).
Sir John de Botetourt, 1st Lord Botetourt, died in 1364 and there is a chantry chapel in St. Mary's Belchamp Walter
with the Botetourt coat of arms.
The chantry containing the possible tomb of Sir John is not recorded in the village's history in
any manner relating to his services for any of the Kings Edward I, Edward II or Edward III.
See other pages on this website that pursue these connections in greater depth.
Sir John de Botetourt (1st Lord Botetourt), is recorded to have been born in 1265 and died in 1324 would have been long dead
to have accompanied Edward the Black Prince, Edward III's son at Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356).
However, in 1337 Gascony was in English hands and was reported to have been in service to Edward III
in Gascony.
The Sir John that I first thought to be commemorated in Belchamp Walter was the 1st Lord Botetourt. However
Second Lord Botetourt
is more likley to be the Sir John that is memorialised in the church of St Mary as he was more likely to have fought in the
Hundred Years war. He was also a contempoary of Sir Rober Swynbourne, who did fight in the Hundred Years War and has been
identified as being memorialised in St. Mary's church by Martin Stuchfield as being depicted on a tomb matrix in the
asile of the Nave
Wikipedia says about the Hundred Years War:
"
The Hundred Years' War (French: Guerre de Cent Ans; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts fought
between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from English
claims to the French throne initially made by Edward III of England. The war grew into a broader
military, economic and political struggle involving factions from across Western Europe, fueled by
emerging nationalism on both sides. The periodization of the war typically charts it as taking place
over 116 years. However, it was an intermittent conflict which was frequently interrupted by external factors,
such as the Black Death, and several years of truces.
Top
Gascon campaign (1294–1303)
"
The Gascon campaign of 1294 to 1303 was a military conflict between English and French forces over the
Duchy of Aquitaine, including the Duchy of Gascony. The Duchy of Aquitaine was held in fief by King Edward I
of England as a vassal of King Philip IV of France. Starting with a fishing fleet dispute and then naval
warfare, the conflict escalated to open warfare between the two countries. In spite of a French military
victory on the ground, the war ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1303, which restored the status
quo. The war was a premise to future tensions between the two nations culminating in the Hundred Years' War.
Joan of Arc
"
Joan of Arc (French: Jeanne d'Arc [ʒan daʁk]; Middle French: Jehanne Darc [ʒəˈãnə ˈdark];
c.1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her
role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronation of Charles VII of France during the
Hundred Years' War. Claiming to be acting under divine guidance, she became a
military leader who transcended gender roles and gained recognition as a savior of France.
"
Joan was put on trial for heresy[199] in Rouen on 9 January 1431.[200] She was accused of having
blasphemed by wearing men's clothes, of acting upon visions that were demonic, and of refusing
to submit her words and deeds to the church because she claimed she would be judged by God alone.[201]
Joan's captors downplayed the secular aspects of her trial by submitting her judgment to an
ecclesiastical court, but the trial was politically motivated.[202] Joan testified that her visions
had instructed her to defeat the English and crown Charles, and her success was argued to be evidence
she was acting on behalf of God.[203] If unchallenged, her testimony would invalidate the English claim
to the rule of France[204] and undermine the University of Paris,[205]
which supported the dual monarchy ruled by an English king.[206]
Edwardian Period - 1337 to 1360
The Battle of Crécy - 26 August 1346
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 in northern France between a French army commanded by King Philip VI and an
English army led by King Edward III. The French attacked the English while they were traversing northern France during the Hundred
Years' War,
resulting in an English victory and heavy loss of life among the French.
Sir Robert Swynbourne - b. 1327 - would have been 21 years old at the time of the battle and could have fought in it.
Sir John de Botetourt, 2nd Lord (1318 - 1385) - would have been 28 and again could have fought at Crecy.
The previous battle of the Hundred Years War is the Battle of Caen
The next battle of the Hundred Years War is the Siege of Calais
Battle of Poitiers 19 September 1356
Swynbourne would have been 29, and Botetourt 38, so they could have fought at Poitiers as well
Battle of Caen - 26th July 1346
The Battle of Caen in 1346 was the first battle fought by Edward III on his "trip" to France in 1346.
The Battle of Caen was an assault conducted on 26 July 1346 by forces from the Kingdom of England, led by King Edward III,
on the French-held town of Caen and Normandy as a part of the Hundred Years' War.
Seige of Clais 4th September 1346 and 3rd August 1347
