Treaty of London (1474)

The Treaty of London was an agreement between Charles the Bold of Burgundy and Edward IV of England signed on 25 July 1474. Charles agreed to support England militarily during an invasion of France and also to recognise Edward as the King of France.[1]

Background

Following the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses in 1455, England had not been in a position to pursue its claim to the French throne. Edward's position as King had been unstable during his first reign, and he was temporarily removed in 1470 with Lancastrian Henry VI replacing him as King. By 1471, his position on the throne was far more stable as Henry VI and his son Edward had died. With the domestic situation more secure, Edward IV was preparing to launch a military campaign against France, possibly in the hopes of regaining some of the territory which had been lost following the defeat in the Hundred Years War. It is unclear how serious Edward's intentions were, and preparations for the war faced resistance from the English parliament and a lack of support from allies Brittany and Burgundy.[2]

Treaty

Initially, Burgundy was unwilling to support England's plans, and an attempt to reach an agreement at Bruges in August 1473 proved unsuccessful. However on 25 July 1474, the Treaty of London was signed, ensuring Burgundian support for the English invasion of France. Edward agreed that Burgundy could retain all of its sovereign territory along with some territorial claims in France as long as it would recognise him as King of France and support the invasion which was to happen before 1 July 1475.[1]

Outcome

English troops landed at Calais in France in June 1475; however, Burgundy had failed to deliver the support that had been agreed, and Brittany could also not offer any help. In addition to this, it was relatively late in the campaigning season, and Edward was not eager to engage in battle.[3] Louis XI was happy to bribe Edward to leave and offered a lucrative agreement which included pensions to many important nobles. This agreement was formalised in the treaty of Picquigny which ordered the withdrawal of the English troops in exchange for 75,000 crowns and additional annual payments.[4]

References

Lander, J. R. (1981). Government and Community: England, 1450-1509. Harvard University Press. p. 287. ISBN 9780674357945.
Ross, Charles (1974). Edward IV. University of California Press. p. 224. ISBN 9780520027817.
Carpenter, Christine (1999). The Wars of the Roses: Politics and the Constitution in England, C.1437-1509. Cambridge University Press. p. 197. ISBN 9780521318747.
Scoble, Andrew R. (1873). The Memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton: Containing the Histories of Louis XI. and Charles VIII. Kings of France and of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy: To which is Added, The Scandalous Chronicle, Or Secret History of Louis XI. G. Bell and sons. p. 267.

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[Landers-1] Lander, J. R. (1981). Government and Community: England, 1450-1509. Harvard University Press. p. 287. ISBN 9780674357945.

[Ross-2] Ross, Charles (1974). Edward IV. University of California Press. p. 224. ISBN 9780520027817.

[3] Carpenter, Christine (1999). The Wars of the Roses: Politics and the Constitution in England, C.1437-1509. Cambridge University Press. p. 197. ISBN 9780521318747.

[4] Scoble, Andrew R. (1873). The Memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton: Containing the Histories of Louis XI. and Charles VIII. Kings of France and of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy: To which is Added, The Scandalous Chronicle, Or Secret History of Louis XI. G. Bell and sons. p. 267.