Richard I's attempts to win back his lands in France 1195-1199. How successful was he?

1. Fighting For His Territory
RICHARD I IN FRANCE

2. 12TH CENTURY FRANCE

3. RICHARD’S METHODS
 Diplomacy
 War
 Good preparation
 Skilled tactician
 Charismatic leader
 Momentum
 Generally thought to be winning in Normandy
before his untimely death
 Rebellions in Aquitaine more problematic

4. PREPARATIONS
 Built stronger fortifications along Norman Marches
 Gave Marcher lordships to men he trusted
 1195: whilst discussing
peace had large army land at
Barfleur 28th August
 Re-conquering Vexin required:
 Secure base – built Chateau
Gaillard in 2 years from 1195
 Weakening Phillip II’s position:
took his most important allies (diplomacy)

5. INITIAL SUCCESS – SKILLED TACTICIAN
 Richard made massive gains in Normandy
 But still not got the Vexin
 So war was not over – especially as
Richard now feeling MUCH stronger
 Spring 1196 Richard summoned sister-in-law,
Constance of Brittany to court
 Richard wanted her son, Arthur (9), heir to Brittany
 Control of Brittany required control of Arthur
 Constance  Normandy
 Kidnapped by new husband's men
 Bretons swapped allegiance to Phillip II
 Richard attacked and won
 BUT Arthur smuggled to Phillip II in Paris
 And is was Arthur he wanted

6. DIPLOMACY – FLANDERS
 Flanders = allied to Phillip II
 North & east of Phillip’s lands
 Port of Boulogne
 Access to key trading towns: Bruges, Ghent, Lille
 Richard used Artois to divide Baldwin IX and Phillip II
 Phillip II had taken Artois 1192
 Still in dispute
 Richard promised Baldwin:
 End English trade embargo with Flanders
 Give him large sum money
 1197 signed formal treaty

7. DIPLOMACY – TOULOUSE
 Count Raymond V died
 Richard made generous gesture to new
count, Raymond VI
 Renounced his claim on Toulouse
 Gave back all disputed territory
 Offered sister Joan in marriage
 Dowry = country of Argen
Would give Toulouse uninterrupted trade links
through Bordeaux, up to Channel

8. DIPLOMACY – RESULTS
 Deprived Phillip II of 2 key allies
 Richard I safer in south
 Also had alliance with Navarre – marriage
 Phillip II vulnerable to attack from Flanders
 Two prong attack on Phillip II in Normandy from Artois
(Baldwin) and Berry (Richard I)
 Baldwin – great victory; Phillip II surrendered
 16 month truce made
 But Richard still wanted Vexin …

9. MOMENTUM
 Success  barons re-thinking loyalties
 Barons of Champagne, Brittany, Count Renaud of
Boulogne
 So many defections to
Richard I shows:
 Military strength
 Financial strength
 Phillip II got Lord Aimar of Limoges and Count
Ademar of Angoulême to defect to him

10. RICHARD HAD CONTROL RICHARD HAD ALLIANCES WITH
 Normandy
 Except Vexin, Gisors castle
 Strengthened – Chateau Gaillard,
Marcher lordships
 Brittany
 Except its heir, Arthur
 Count of Boulogne
 St. Omer (in Artois)
 Area surrounding Gisors,
including fortresses nearby
 Berry, Anjou
 Loches – Touraine
 Much of Aquitaine – though still
rebellions occurring – Limoges,
Angoulême
 Flanders
 Toulouse
 Navarre
 Holy Roman Empire
(nephew Otto now
emperor)
 Barons of Champagne
JOHN’S FRENCH INHERITANCE