May 21 - The Treaty of Troyes

This Day in History: 21 May 2020

 

21 May 1420

 

600 years ago, today, the Treaty of Troyes was signed, after King Henry V's successful military campaign in France. This agreement declared that Henry and his heirs would inherit the French crown upon King Charles VI death. It was also a key event in the latter phase of the Hundred Years' War, that was finally won by the French in 1453, at the Battle of Castillon. The treaty arranged for the marriage of Charles' daughter, Catherine of Valois, and Henry V, who was made regent of France. This acknowledged his succession and disinherited the Dauphin Charles VII of France. Later that year, the treaty was ratified by the Estates-General of France, after Henry V entered Paris.

 

However, the agreement was undermined by the deaths of both monarchs within two months of each other in 1422. Henry VI, who was an infant at the time, became King of both countries, but Charles VI also claimed the throne, although he only ruled a region of France. The terms were later confirmed in the Treaty of Amiens in 1423, when Burgundy and Britany confirmed the recognition of Henry as the King of France. They subsequently agreed to form a triple-defensive alliance against Charles. However, in 1429, after the appearance of Joan of Arc, commanding the Valois forces, the course of the war shifted dramatically, allowing Charles to be crowned as the King of France. His claim to the throne was recognised by the Burgundians in 1435, and Charles' military victory over Henry caused uncertainty over the treaty . English kings continued to pursue their French claim until 1801, and their last territory in France, being Calais, was lost in 1558.

 

Want to find out more about the Treaty of Troyes and the Hundred Years' War? Click here for more information on the treaty, and here for more on the Hundred Years' War. Want to hear this information instead? Click here for a 10-minute video explaining the Hundred Years' War.