Part Three: The First Wars, Section Two
Caen, Normandie, Normandy
The front in the war was stable for now but now on the 17th of November Louis received disturbing news. The peasants are trying to rebel, luckily they have no central organization and pose little threat but most of the peasants are now unhappy. Now most of his country was still happy but outside the towns and cities his people were not happy. A minor man of court estimated that 2/3rds of the country were not happy with him.
Bourges, Bourbonnais, Bourbonnais
Charles I stared at the dispatch again. The Burgundians had declared war on him and were marching to take over his country. It was his worst nightmare come true. Slowly he strapped on his armor and left his palace to join his army and meet the Burgundian army. He did not figure he would be the King of Bourbonnais by New Years. He was correct, by New Years he was a frozen corpse and his country was controlled by the Burgundians.
Caen, Normandie, Normandy
On January 27th Louis got a letter. It was from Henri VI and it stated that Henri wanted an alliance. It was simple as that. Louis did not want the alliance but Guyenne was the largest and most stable country in southern France and after what had happened to Bourbonnais this offer had to be considered, Normandy did share a boarder with Burgundy after all. So Louis accepted it and even send his cousin to marry into Henri's family. He also started three more regiments that are finished on March 1.
Finistère, Brittany
After seven months Finistère fell to the Normans. The first army stayed in Finistère however hoping to join the second army soon.
Armor, Brittany
The second army marches to Armor to meet the rebels in battle. The battle raged from March 25th to April 8th, ending with a Norman retreat. Out of 3,000 Normans 336 died, the most so far in this war. Out of 5,000 rebels 190 of them died. As soon as the second army got back to Normandie they were ordered back as the first army marched to Morbihan. While the two Norman armies marched the Britton army battled the rebels and the Norman army sat on the side lines and watched. When the rebels routed Brittany soundly the Norman army retreated.
Finistère, Brittany
Although the first army reached Morbihan and no Britton army was in sight they heard reports that the Britton army was "retreating" to Finistère. Both armies got to Finistère at about the same time and from 15th of April till the 27th of April. The battle ended with Norman victory and the Brittons are followed to Morbihan.
Morbihan, Brittany
June 7-8 was the Battle of Morbihan. Of 3,000 Normans 68 lost their life, while out of 2421 Brittons 102 of them became corpses.
Battle of Morbihan
After the battle the first army settled in for a siege.
Armor, Brittany
The second army marched back into Armor on August 4th and from then until September 17th they fought back and forth against the rebels. On the 17th the Normans retreated back to Normandie but they considered it a win. It was a win because of 3,000 Normans only 411 died while 538 of the 4642 rebels were killed. In late December Armor falls to the rebels which causes the Normans to try once more. They are hoping for another battle like the last, at one point near the end of the last battle they almost routed the rebels. Maybe this time they could do it. The battled was January 9th through the 24th and it was not like the last battle. 143 Normans were left in Armor as the Normans retreated another time while only 93 of 4104 rebels died. The second army returned to Armor with two mercenary regiments with them. They attacked the weakened garrison the attack ended soon enough. 100 dead Normans and 37 dead rebels.
Morbihan, Brittany
On the 26th of January 1456 the rebels attack Morbihan and it ended February 28th. 3,000 Norman defenders started the attack and only 2,610 retreated to Finistère. 512 of the 4012 rebels died though which was good.
Caen, Normandie, Normandy
Louis was wishing the war would end but the few times Brittany offered peace it was white or they would only give up Finistère and after this many Normans gave their life there was no way he was going to settle for that little. But this war was draining his powers and he had to cut research as well as raise war taxes.
Nantes, Vedèe, Brittany
Pierre was in over his head. Not only did he have to face the Norman army but the rebel army as well. Well lucky for him the Normans were starting to break the rebel army for him. But now Province declared war on him and his main army went to attack Province. He would die in battle on 3 May 1456. His successor would be François II who became a general and would lead the main army in Pierre II's place.
Armor, Brittany
One regiment of Britton troops attacked the Normans entrenched here in April and from April till July the army kept going back and forth between Armor and Finistère losing the battle every time with moderate losses. Norman losses were light and it is assumed that in the battles in those 4 months only 100 Normans died. On the seventh of August Armor falls to the Normans.
Morbihan, Brittany
After the fall of Brittany the 8,000 men making up the first and second armies of Normandy coordinated their movements to enter Morbihan on the 16th of August and attack the rebels on two fronts. The battle lasted until September 9th with the complete rout of the rebel force who was never heard from again. 143 of 8,000 Normans died while 545 of 3383 rebels fell in battle.
The Norman rout of the rebels.
Morbihan holds out until December 11 when the garrison surrenders to the Norman army.
Caen, Normandie, Normandy
While the Normans were sieging Morbihan, five thousand peasants stood ready to fight Louis' reign. They did not want to be Catholic. The Papal States have decreed that if any such event happens the peasants are to be dealt with harshly but Louis is not a very pious man and he is not going to sacrifice his war now while he had broken Brittany's back so he let them pick their own faith.
Nantes, Vedèe, Brittany
François II agrees to a white peace with Province and as he is marching back to Vedèe the Norman second army gets there first. The battle between the one regiment there and the Normans lasted from the 23 to the 28th. 94 of the 888 died while only 49 of 5,000 Normans lost their lives. 12 days later François II agreed to peace with Normandy. Because of the insult Pierre II gave at that first battle almost two years ago and for all the Norman blood lost in this war the terms were harsh. Brittany had to surrender Armor, Finistère, and Morbihan to Normandy. As the Normans went home the mercenary units were disbanded.
Post war budget
Post war Europe. Province's war with Savory ended the next day with a white peace.
The war is now over. Normandy has tripled in size and has a decent sized military. Louis is now allies with Henri VI. What is next for France?
