Since the 732 battle (a.k.a. Tours) is the one I seem to find searching I put the year to distinguish it. Anyway...
John II of France was advised to surround and starve Edward, known as the Black Prince, something the latter feared, prior to the Battle of Poitiers. He decided agaisnt this OTL, but what if he decided there was some piece of military intelligence that made him feel Edward really did fear this?
There are a number of itneresting thoughts.
1. French win, Edward goes home. This means no hostage situation, no ransoms draining the treasury, etc.. Does Edward try again?
2. Edward is captured. Would the English give up their claims? Since his son isn't born yet, the English might be a bit skittish and make a pretty hefty payment. I'm not sure who the rightful heir would be then once his father dies. (And if the Black Prince does it's even messier)
3. It's possible surrounding them doesn't work, and in the greater chaos - or becuase of diseases which come because of sieges sometimes - John II isn't just captured, but dies. His son, Charles V, seem s to hve been a pretty ble administrtor. He would be reigning instead of just regent while John is in England for a while, and have a few years longer to rebuild the treasury. Might he be able to build things up so France is more able to withstand the English should they come again?
What results?
John II of France was advised to surround and starve Edward, known as the Black Prince, something the latter feared, prior to the Battle of Poitiers. He decided agaisnt this OTL, but what if he decided there was some piece of military intelligence that made him feel Edward really did fear this?
There are a number of itneresting thoughts.
1. French win, Edward goes home. This means no hostage situation, no ransoms draining the treasury, etc.. Does Edward try again?
2. Edward is captured. Would the English give up their claims? Since his son isn't born yet, the English might be a bit skittish and make a pretty hefty payment. I'm not sure who the rightful heir would be then once his father dies. (And if the Black Prince does it's even messier)
3. It's possible surrounding them doesn't work, and in the greater chaos - or becuase of diseases which come because of sieges sometimes - John II isn't just captured, but dies. His son, Charles V, seem s to hve been a pretty ble administrtor. He would be reigning instead of just regent while John is in England for a while, and have a few years longer to rebuild the treasury. Might he be able to build things up so France is more able to withstand the English should they come again?
What results?