CMS150 - Winter 2001

W11C1 Lecture
Trials

I. Housekeeping
II. Joan of Arc
A. Geopolitical Background
1. in Joan’s day, "France" as we know it, did not exist
a. Joan always says that she "went into" France; i.e., she doesn’t think that where she’s from is France
b. Locality called "France" that had a Capetian king
c. Aquitaine and Burgandy where "duchies" ­ under the control of a ducal family;  because of size and wealth, these duchies were often militarily, economically and politically far more important than the "kingdom" of France
2. in fact, what Joan arguably did was help forge the modern idea of France
B. Local geography/politics
1. inheritance crisis in the French Royal family (Capetians, since 996)
a. 1314: Philip IV of France dies, leaving 3 sons.
b. 1328, Charles IV, his last surviving son dies, leaving no heirs.
2. struggle for French throne
a. via Philip’s daughter? ­ Edward III, Plantagenet, English king and duke of Aquitaine
b. via Philip’s nephew ­ Philip of Valois
c. French choose Philip of Valois via "Salic law" argument [in the kingdom of the Franks, no woman shall inherit the throne].  NB ­ this is not inherent in the Salic law but was developed at this time precisely to block the claims of Edward III
3. 100 years war begin
a. first 30 years [1337-1360]
i. the English have the upper hand andkunder the Treaty of Brétigny get formal control of a lot of historically French territory
ii. French noble/ducal families start cutting deals with the English
b. 2nd 50 years [1360-1413]:
(i) Charles V, le Sage -> guerrilla tactics to win back territory
(ii) Plantagenets have their own succession crisis
(iii) another succession crisis  in the Valois family
(1) Charles V, le Sage dies leaving
(a) nephew: John of Burgandy
(b) younger son: Louis d’Orleans
(c) heir: Charles VI, le Fou
(2) Charles VI, le Fou, has six sons, only one of whom (the fifth, le Dauphin) is alive at his death
(3) 1407 rivalry between two branches of French Royal family: Burgundy and Valois
(a) John of Burgandy orders assassination of his cousin, Louis d’Orleans in 1407; but effect is to discredit his claim to control throne
c. 3rd period: 1413 ­ 1428
i. English under Henry V:
(1) win at Agincourt
(2) Treaty of Troyes: 1420
(a) Henry V marries Catherine, daughter of le Fou
(b) Their son (Henry VI, will be dual monarch of England and France)
ii. le Dauphin flees for Bourges [Valois territory in center of France]
(1) orders John of Burgundy assasinated [a ­ in retaliation for John’s murder of Louis; but b ­ drives John’s heir, Philip into alliance with English
(2) neither the French nor the English ever trust Burgundy
(3) Burgandy uses the conflict to increase his own holdings, position [being king of France is no great shakes, but being duke of Burgandy, that’s something]
iii. English and Burgandy begin military campaign against le Dauphin;
(1) first they have to control Loire Valley (to cut off escape and supply routes) -> siege of Orleans in 1428
(2) everyone anticipates they’ll attack Bourges as soon as Orleans falls; and that they’ll win.
(3) In the meantime Henry V dies; Henry VI is a minor; Duke of Bedford [Henry VI’s uncle] leads British forces in France
d. 4th period: 1429 ­ 1453
i. Jeanne le Pucelle appears;
(1) leads lifting of siege at Orleans
(2) leads Dauphin to Rheims for coronation
(3) is captured and killed
ii. Treaty of Arras: 1435 ­ Burgundy reconciled to French
iii. 1453 French expel Brits from all of France except Calais.

C. Religious Background
1. controversy over papal succession: Grat Schism
a. 2 popes ( 1 in Rome; 1 in Avignon) from 1378 ­ 1417
2. reconcilliation under Martin V [1415]
a. price was pope would defer to a General Council
b. intellectuals [esp Paris intellectuals] like this very much
c. // U of Paris pref for joint monarchy -> king wd defer to and rely on parliments ­ more power for advisors
3. Joan’s religious nationalism seemed a throw back to the divine right of Kings theory of secular government the intellectuals opposed.
D. Trial(s)
1. Poitiers
a. Was it a trial?
i. transcript
ii. trained investigators
b. What was its purpose?
2. Rouen ­ heresy
3. Rouen ­ relapse
4. Paris/Rouen ­ nullification trial