Monday, May 25, 2020

The anniversary of the battle of Agincourt





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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