Chapter 49: The War For Guyenne
August 1421
Pamplona
Messengers departed Pamplona with the news of Navarre's declaration of war against Auvergne. On one side was an alliance of Aragon, Castile, Navarre, and the Papal States; on the other, France, Scotland, Lorraine, Bourbonnais, Provence, and Auvergne. A massive, bloody war loomed ahead.
The messengers returning to Pamplona, however, brought ironic and surprising news: except for France, all allies on both sides dishonored their previous agreements.
"And what advice do you have now, Master Michel?"
"There is no need to panic, Your Majesty. We are separated from French territory; the only serious risk is if Aragon or Castile were to attack us."
"Speaking of my son-in-law Juan of Aragon, what do you say to this news?"
King Charles showed Michel the polite but firm refusals from both England and Aragon to requests for military access.
"Our request of England was quite frankly a longshot. As for Aragon, I have heard that Juan is quite a shrewd bargainer. I believe that he is holding out for a better deal. Perhaps it's time for a personal conversation between the two of you -- with the birth of your grandson Charles earlier this year, you need to persuade Juan of your common interests."
May 1422
Guyenne
Michel's prediction was accurate. A gift from Charles to his son-in-law reversed the earlier decision, granting Navarre's army transit rights through Aragonese territory. Soon the French province of Guyenne was put under siege. Navarre's army was undisturbed for several months until the spring of 1422, when two attempts by the French to relieve the city were driven off easily.
Paris
"And now, my dear kinsman Philippe, all that is required is your signature."
The Dauphin Charles tried to remember his lessons and his manners, but it was hard not to gloat. Burgundy had been thrashed, their armies destroyed, and many strongholds captured. Duke Philip of Burgundy was compelled to cede Artois to Charles, and Franche Comte to Charles's ally Lorraine.
With Burgundy dispatched, Charles then ordered his commanders to march southward. It was time to teach these Navarrese upstarts a lesson.
August 1422
London
"The King is dead!"
The reign of Henry V, so full of promise, was tragically cut short as Henry fell from dysentery. The King of England was now his infant son Henry VI, while the babe's uncles acted as regents. France would be safe from English interference for some time.
Paris
Charles successfully persuaded Provence to rejoin his alliance; they were in good position to cross the Rhone and put pressure on the pesky Navarrese, who had just captured Guyenne before Charles could send many reinforcements there.
In October, the same cry which had caused consternation in London brought relief in Paris: King Charles VI at last gave up his tortured fight for sane life and departed for what one hoped was eternal peace. The Dauphin now became King Charles VII of France in name as well as fact.
Pamplona
Very soon it was Navarre's Charles who was becoming nervous. Unable as yet to send large forces by land, the French had opted for the sea route, attempting to invade Bearn from the Bay of Biscay. Navarre's small defending force was enough to push back the first invasion, but the French soon returned with a larger force and laid siege.
Not surprisingly, Navarre's demand that France cede Guyenne was rudely dismissed at this time.
More bad news reached Navarre as their victorious army from Guyenne was unable to defeat a French force in Languedoc. Late in the year a second attempt was successful; nevertheless the French continued to besiege Bearn and had begun a siege to retake Guyenne as well.
1423
The first half of the year brought few victories and many defeats for Navarre. France captured Bearn in April and recaptured Guyenne in June. However, in Languedoc Navarre's army held in spite of several French counterattacks.
The summer brought mixed results with many small battles in Guyenne and Cevennes, but the Navarrese were unable to lay siege to Guyenne again.
November brought a turn of fortunes. Languedoc fell to Navarre, after which the army moved north to Lyons, defeating two determined French counterattacks.
1424
The French army returned in the spring, attempting to recapture the rich province of Languedoc. But Brother Juan and the Templar cavalry were waiting for them from the safety of Roussilon. Not only did the French fail to win the field in Languedoc, but in May Lyons also fell to Navarre.
Nevertheless, Navarre's attempts to recover their home territory met with failure, as Provence kept an occupying army in Bearn which Navarre was repeatedly unable to defeat.
Summer and fall passed with neither side achieving decisive victory. The French moved their army to Languedoc in order to recover this province; Navarre lost every attempt to uproot them, maintain a siege in Guyenne, or remove the Provencals from Bearn.
December finally brought a turnaround. Juan and the Templars demolished the French army in Languedoc, keeping this province under control of Navarre. They followed this with a victory in Guyenne and began the arduous process of siegecraft there. Nevertheless, Navarre's diplomats were consistently unable to reduce their enemies at the bargaining table, as both Auvergne and Provence refused to make peace.
1425
The winter was hard and cold, and King Charles of Navarre sensed it would be his last. In January, from his sickbed -- really, his deathbed as they all knew -- he called for Michel one last time.
"Your Maj--"
"Friend, call me Charles, my Christian name."
"As you wish, Sire. Your father would be proud of you, I know it. I just wish he were alive to see our victory."
"But we don't have it yet. The French still refuse to part with territory."
"Charles, do not be dismayed. You know well that our armies have the upper hand. The French will concede soon."
"But I will not be here to see it, Michel."
"As the priests quote from the letter to Hebrews, Charles, even from here we can see our victory by faith, the assurance of things unseen. We will finish this war in triumph, I promise you that."
"You have always been as good as your word, Michel. I hope and pray one last time that that will still be true."
"As I live and breathe, I swear it to you, Charles."
"Then one last thing I charge you: watch over my young grandson."
"The men of the Brotherhood will keep him safe, I swear it."
"Be wary of my son-in-law. He has great ambition, and little to restrain him."
Michel nodded; he shared his king's concerns. Michel clasped Charles's hands one more time. The two men embraced with tears, and Michel left the chamber. It was time for Charles's closest family, his daughter and her husband, and the little Charles, the hope of Navarre's royal line.
Michel stopped to pick up the boy. "Young Master, your grandfather is a great man. Remember him always." Then Michel bowed with deference to Blanche and Juan, and left the palace.
Charles III of Navarre died that night. His daughter Blanche became Queen, and Juan of Aragon became King of Navarre although technically he was only a regent serving the young Charles.
Michel kept his promise to Charles. Even as the old king lay dying, Navarre's reinforcements were being trained by the Templar officers. This new army then marched to Bearn and, at last, drove off the enemy from Provence. Meanwhile, Navarre's army in Guyenne safely withstood another French counterattack and slowly wore down the walls.
April 1426
Lyons
The rest of 1425 passed by with no major battles. Navarre slowly besieged both Bearn and Provence, while France was unable to reclaim either Languedoc or Lyons. When Guyenne finally surrendered to Navarre for the second time, King Charles VII of France conceded defeat. His representatives met with those of Blanche and Juan in Lyons in order to negotiate. Charles very naturally instructed his ambassadors to use France's great wealth in order to buy out Navarre if at all possible. But it wasn't. Navarre insisted on Guyenne; and when the treaty was signed, so it was.
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As mentioned in my last post I can't yet put in my intended screenshot here. In time I expect to have it. It will show France after this war, with Guyenne in Navarrese hands and Burgundy weakened.
