Chapter 14
The Continental war (1510 to the Peace of Poitiers 1511)
Throughout the summer of 1510, Francis of Anjouleme had been campaigning in Eastern France forcing the Brabantian troops to retreat further and further northwards.
In Italy Maximilian had been bound by Pope Julius' peace treaty with the Venetians.
Louis XII had been unwilling to abide by the treaty but wishing to remain in accord with the Pope he finally agreed to abide by the terms and accepted the small gain of Cremona by March 1510.
However Louis' Italian subjects were not overjoyed with their new French overlord - he faced a minor rebellion in Genoa in April, a second more serious rebellion in Northern Milan in June.
In July he began marching back to France in order to assist in the defence of his ravaged realm but was forced to return to Milan when the city broke into rebellion, murdered his governor and proclaimed the city's autonomy.
By September, an exhausted Louis was ready to return to France.
Edward V and his brother had made significant gains without fighting any major battle by Feburary 1510 they controlled much of Poitou and Anjou.
In accord with Edward's instructions Richard of York would now head north to take Caen and the major Norman towns whilst Edward headed south aiming to take La Rochelle and then Bordeaux.
A pitched battle between Richard of York's army and a French force took place in May outside Alencon and resulted in a French defeat. Richard was established in Caen by September.
The King had less success - the siege of La Rochelle was not lifted until June but his army was tiring and though morale was high supplies were increasingly stretched.
Louis XII's entreated the Pope to act against the English and on September 19th (just a day before the Scots were defeated) Julius issued a Papal demand to English.
They were ordered to desist their invasion of France or risk being put under Papal Interdict, he requested the English submit their complaints regarding their French claims to the Pope and were ordered to remove their troops from French territory.
Edward V feeling that the war was in his favour and especially overjoyed by news of the Scots defeat was in no meed to treat with the French and wasn't particularly willing to allow a Pro-French Pope adjudicate his claims.
He also ignored a letter from his sister Catherine urging peace.
However on September 29th Ferdinand of Aragon finally listened to his daughter the Queen of France's pleas and honoured his treaty obligations a Spanish Army would now march north through Gascony. (his hope was to mop up even more of Navarre).
Meanwhile in Brussell, the Electress Dowager of Brabant was in trouble torn between her desire to fulfill her late husband's territorial ambitions and to preserve his estate for her son and her loyalty to her brother the English King.
Her troops in France were surrounded and her late husband's gains were slipping away as the French liberated much of Lorraine.
Fearing open rebellion at home and under considerable pressure from the Estates who were now suggesting her regency be revoked and custody of her son be transferred to the estates themselves. With additional representation from Papal representatives she appealed to her father in law the Emperor for assistance.
This time Maximilian had no desire to get involved but he did inform the French and the Pope that he would not stand silent if his grandson was offered too harsh terms in any peace deal.
Anne of York now acted and offered terms to the French.
A return to the status quo in regard Flanders, Artois and Picardy, marriage of her son the young Elector Charles to the only daughter of Louis XII with France Comte returned to Charles as her dower, also marriage of the Duchess Marie of Brabant to Antoine of Lorraine.
Francis of Anjouleme believed that he could get more out of Anne particularly the provinces held by Charles that were technically outside the Empire and were regarded as French vassals, but Louis urged acceptance with a proviso that the Electorate must expel English soldiers from Picardy and Flanders and grant French merchants additional rights in Antwerp and Bruges and must pay an indemnity. He also insisted that the Princess Claude remain in France until her 12 birthday.
The Peace of Nancy was signed on November 16th 1510.
Edward V was now alone and without any allies.
By November, Edward was preparing to winter in La Rochelle having made little progress in taking Bordeaux. His brother, the Duke of York, had taken Caen and was preparing to winter in Rouen, but his army was hit by sickness.
Francis of Anjouleme had crossed France at breakneck speed and on December 9th as snow fell he met the English just south of Rouen at Louviers. Both armies were exhausted but Francis's were in slightly better shape, neither side could really claim victory though it was York who retreated back to Rouen after several hours of battle and Francis was quick to claim it a victory.
It was the first time the English had really been defeated in France for a year and French morale soared on news of the Victory of Louviers. Francis was even more delighted when news reached his encampment outside Rouen that his wife Catherine was pregnant.
After months with no response from the English the Pope declared England under Interdict on December 9th.
Although England's successes in 1509/10 had been good the tide was turning and both the French and English were running short on supplies and money.
With no major battles it might seem surprising that either side would seek some form of peaceful resolution but on December 16th Louis via the Bishop of Poitiers offered to discuss terms with Edward for an end to conflict.
Edward was reluctant but agreed to meet with Louis' representatives or Louis himself at the English-held city of Poitiers before Christmas.
Louis' masterstroke was to chose as his main representative Edward's pregnant sister Catherine of York.
Edward received his sister at Poitiers on Christmas Eve 1510, it was the first time they'd seen each other for more than twenty years and one witness described their joy at their reunion as angry letters were forgotten.
Louis' terms were generous:
He would recognise Edward Prince of Wales as heir to Brittany, in return England would recognise that Brittany was a French vassal. Margaret of Anjouleme was offered as a bride for the Prince of Wales, France would confirm the rights of England to retain Calais and Boulogne, neither side would pay any indemnity, La Rochelle would remain English in lieu of any dowery for Margaret of Anjouleme for a period of 10 years. England would again renounce any claims to any other territories held by the King of France. Louis also tried to rescue his old ally James IV by requesting his release. Under the terms of the treaty England, France and Scotland would recognise each others borders and would agree to a binding and lasting peace - they also agreed to make no treaties with another Prince that would threaten their individual territories.
Edward accepted the terms subject to the removal of any reference to Scotland or James IV.
The Peace of Poitiers was formally proclaimed on New Year's Eve 1510 and the Treaty of Poitiers was finalised on February 10th 1511.
On March 12th Margaret of Anjouleme was formally received in Rennes, she was married to Edward Prince of Wales at St Paul's Cathedral in London on April 4th 1511.
The same month Edward V met James V in York to discuss terms. James agreed to a truce for 20 years, he also ceeded Jedburgh and Coldstream to the English for the same period, and agreed to pay Edward an indemnity of 50,000 for his release.