Treaty of Bourges facts for kids
The Treaty of Bourges was an important agreement made a long time ago, on May 18, 1412. It was signed between King Henry IV of England and Charles, Duke of Orléans, a powerful French leader.
In this treaty, a group of French nobles called the Armagnacs asked King Henry IV for military help. They wanted his soldiers to fight against another powerful French group, the Burgundians. In return for this help, the Armagnacs promised King Henry IV that he would have full control over a region in France called Gascony.
However, this treaty was never fully put into action. This was because the Armagnacs and Burgundians made a temporary peace. Also, King Henry IV died soon after, in 1413.
Contents
Why the Treaty Happened
A War in France
In November 1407, a very important French leader named Louis I, Duke of Orléans was sadly killed. This event started a big fight in France, known as the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War. It was like a civil war, with two main groups of French nobles fighting each other for power.
Seeking Help from England
Because of this war, both the Armagnacs and the Burgundians needed more soldiers and support. They both looked to King Henry IV of England for help.
In 1411, King Henry IV actually sent a small group of soldiers to help John the Fearless, who was the leader of the Burgundians. But then, in 1412, the Armagnacs made a new offer. They promised to give England back control of a large area called Aquitaine if King Henry IV would send his army to help them instead.
What the Agreement Said
The Deal Made
On May 18, 1412, the Armagnacs and King Henry IV officially agreed to the treaty. The Armagnacs said that King Henry IV would be the ruler of the Duchy of Aquitaine. In exchange, King Henry IV promised to send an army of 4,000 men to help the Armagnacs.
What Happened Next
As part of this agreement, Thomas of Lancaster, who was the Duke of Clarence and King Henry IV's son, led an English army. They marched through western France, south of the Loire River, causing a lot of damage.
However, as mentioned before, the promises made in the treaty were never fully kept. This was because the Armagnacs and Burgundians stopped fighting for a short time. Also, King Henry IV passed away in 1413, which changed everything.
