Ordinance of Normandy facts for kids
The Ordinance of Normandy is the name of an old document. It was supposedly written by Philip VI of France, a king of France, on March 23, 1338. This paper was later shown in the Parliament of England on September 8, 1346.
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What Was the Ordinance of Normandy?
The Ordinance of Normandy was a plan for a new Norman conquest of England. This would have been a second invasion of England by people from Normandy, a region in France. The document said that an army led by the Duke of Normandy (who later became King John II of France) would invade England.
The Plan to Invade England
If the invasion worked, England would be divided up. The land would be split between the Duke of Normandy and his important nobles. They would then owe loyalty to the King of France. The document even claimed that King Philip VI wanted to "destroy and ruin the entire English nation and country."
How the English Found It
The English army found this document in the city of Caen, France. This happened after the Battle of Caen in 1346. This battle was part of a larger English invasion of Normandy led by King Edward III.
The Document in England
A nobleman named the Earl of Huntingdon brought the document to England. He had to go home because he was injured or sick. Once in England, the document was read aloud in St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The Archbishop of Canterbury, a very important church leader, read it.
The document was also shown in the English Parliament on September 8, 1346. Parliament was called together to approve money and supplies for the king. At that time, King Edward III was busy trying to capture the city of Calais in France. Showing this document likely helped convince Parliament to support the war.
Was It a Forgery?
Even though the document caused a stir, some historians believe it was actually a fake. They think it might have been created by the English to make King Philip VI look bad. This would have helped rally support for the war against France during the Hundred Years' War.
