Tournaisis campaign of 1340 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tournaisis campaign of 1340 Tournai Campaign
Part of the Hundred Years' War
Location Northern France & Flanders Result French victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England County of Flanders Holy Roman Empire County of Hainaut	Kingdom of France
Commanders and leaders
King Edward III	King Philip VI

The Tournai Campaign of 1340 was an important part of the Hundred Years' War. This big conflict was fought between the English and French kingdoms. In 1340, King Edward III of England led his army into northern France. He had help from allies like the Flemish and others. The goal was to challenge King Philip VI of France.

The Tournai Campaign of 1340

The Tournai Campaign was a military plan led by King Edward III of England. It happened during the early years of the Hundred Years' War. This long war was fought between England and France.

What Was the Campaign About?

King Edward III wanted to show his power in France. He gathered a strong army to do this. His army included soldiers from England. They were also joined by allies from:

• Flanders
• Hainault
• Brabant
• The Holy Roman Empire

The campaign involved a few key events. First, the Anglo-Flemish (English and Flemish) forces tried a small raid. This raid was called a chevauchée. It happened in the County of Artois. However, they were defeated at the Battle of Saint-Omer.

After that, Edward III's forces tried to capture the city of Tournai. This was known as the siege of Tournai. But the siege was not successful. The English-led forces could not take the city.

The End of the Campaign

Eventually, the English and French armies met near a place called Bouvines. King Edward III led the English side. King Philip VI led the French side. Even though the armies were close, a big battle did not happen.

The campaign ended with a special agreement. This agreement was called the Truce of Espléchin. A truce is like a temporary stop to fighting. After the truce, the English-led forces left the area.

What Happened After?

The truce agreed upon in 1340 did not last very long. It was broken in 1341. A new conflict started between England and France. This time, the fight was over who should rule the Duchy of Brittany.

King Edward III supported John de Montfort. King Philip VI supported Charles of Blois. This disagreement led to more fighting in the Hundred Years' War.