Dick Harrison is a Swedish historian and prolific writer. OK, let me
guess. The prof is retired? ;-)
“Hundraårskriget” is Harrison´s popularized
introduction to the Hundred Years´ War, a series of military conflicts between
England and France between 1337 and 1453. I admit that I found it boring and
slightly depressing. But then, the author might have done so, too! I mean, it´s
not a pretty story.
Most of the Hundred Years´ War is a long and (from our
perspective) meaningless conflict between different French aristocratic
factions (even England was ruled by a French-derived royal dynasty) for sheer
control over turf, with the civilian population as usual stuck somewhere in the
middle. The only character that stands out and could be seen as a hero is, of
course, Joan of Arc. Perhaps also the Breton nobleman Bertrand de Guesclin, one
of the few successful French commanders for most of the war, who systematically
harassed the English with guerilla tactics. All the other French lords seem to
have been a bunch of decorated fools.
As for arch-villains, there are at least
two: the Black Prince (on the English side) and Gilles de Rais on the French
ditto. The latter was a Satanist and paedophile who murdered children during
torture orgies at his castle. During his trial, he “recanted” and got the
satisfaction of seeing the locals pray for his soul as he was led to the place
of execution. A sociopath if there ever was one. Bizarrely, he was a
comrade-in-arms of Joan of Arc!
And yes, the battle of Agincourt, made world
famous by “Fawlty Towers”, took place during the Hundred Years´ War. No
relation to Yom Kippur, though...
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