King Juan I of Castile (d. 1390)

Juan or John I of Castile (1358 - 1390), son of Henry of Trastámara and Juana Manuel of Castile. He married (1) Eleanor of Aragon, daughter of Pere IV, king of Aragon, in 1375 (2) Beatrice of Portugal, daughter of king Ferdinand I of Portugal. Juan succeeded the throne of Castile in 1379 until 1390, taking the title "Juan I".

John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster (d. 1399)

John of Gaunt (1340-99): duke of Lancaster, son of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III, king of England, who was a pretender to the Castilian throne by right of his marriage to Constanza, eldest daughter of Pedro I, king of Castile, who died in 1369. John of Gaunt was an important person in English political and military life during the last quarter of the fourteenth century, exercising great influence in domestic and foreign policy in England during the reign of Richard II, despite periods of unpopularity and strife with his royal nephew.

Constanza and Isabel of Castile

The daughters of Pedro I of Castile, Constanza and Isabel.

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

João Fernandes de Andeiro

Juan Férnandez de Andeiro, Portuguese ambassador, count of Ourém, who exercised a great influence over the Portuguese court at this time.

Portugal

King Juan I of Castile (d. 1390)

Juan or John I of Castile (1358 - 1390), son of Henry of Trastámara and Juana Manuel of Castile. He married (1) Eleanor of Aragon, daughter of Pere IV, king of Aragon, in 1375 (2) Beatrice of Portugal, daughter of king Ferdinand I of Portugal. Juan succeeded the throne of Castile in 1379 until 1390, taking the title "Juan I".

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (d. 1402)

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (1341 - 1402), duke of York; fifth son of Edward III, king of England, earl of Cambridge and later duke of York, uncle of king Richard II.

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

Plains of Salenences

Border plains between Badajoz (Spain) and Elvas (Portugal).

Castilians

Castilians

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

King Juan I of Castile (d. 1390)

Juan or John I of Castile (1358 - 1390), son of Henry of Trastámara and Juana Manuel of Castile. He married (1) Eleanor of Aragon, daughter of Pere IV, king of Aragon, in 1375 (2) Beatrice of Portugal, daughter of king Ferdinand I of Portugal. Juan succeeded the throne of Castile in 1379 until 1390, taking the title "Juan I".

Portugal

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (d. 1402)

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (1341 - 1402), duke of York; fifth son of Edward III, king of England, earl of Cambridge and later duke of York, uncle of king Richard II.

Lisbon

Lisbon at the mouth of the river Tagus, district of Lisbon, Portugal.

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean westward of Portugal and France.

Edward of Norwich, second duke of York (d. 1415)

Called ‘Jean’ by Froissart but in fact named Edward. Edward of Norwich (1373 - 1415); killed at Agincourt), son of Edmund of Langley and his first, wife Isabella of Castile, cousin and courtier of Richard II. He inherited his father’s titles earl of Cambridge and duke of York, and he was also bestowed with the title of duke of Aumale by Richard II in 1397. He married Philippa of Mohun but they had no children.

Portugal

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

Beatriz of Portugal

Beatriz, daughter of Fernando I, king of Portugal, was first betrothed to Enrique of Castile, then to Edward, son of Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge, and finally to Juan I of Castile whom she married in 1383.

Edward of Norwich, second duke of York (d. 1415)

Called ‘Jean’ by Froissart but in fact named Edward. Edward of Norwich (1373 - 1415); killed at Agincourt), son of Edmund of Langley and his first, wife Isabella of Castile, cousin and courtier of Richard II. He inherited his father’s titles earl of Cambridge and duke of York, and he was also bestowed with the title of duke of Aumale by Richard II in 1397. He married Philippa of Mohun but they had no children.

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (d. 1402)

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (1341 - 1402), duke of York; fifth son of Edward III, king of England, earl of Cambridge and later duke of York, uncle of king Richard II.

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

Portugal

King João I of Portugal (d. 1433)

King João I of Portugal (1357 - 1433), the illegitimate son of Pedro I of Portugal and a Galician noblewoman Teresa Lourenço. He was the grandmaster of the Order of Aviz until he became king in 1385 upon the death of his legitimate brother, Fernando I by the cortes at Coïmbra in April. Froissart returns time and again to the notion of the contested or controversial succession of an illegitimate or bastard son. João I reigned until 1433.

King of Portugal

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (d. 1402)

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (1341 - 1402), duke of York; fifth son of Edward III, king of England, earl of Cambridge and later duke of York, uncle of king Richard II.

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster (d. 1399)

John of Gaunt (1340-99): duke of Lancaster, son of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III, king of England, who was a pretender to the Castilian throne by right of his marriage to Constanza, eldest daughter of Pedro I, king of Castile, who died in 1369. John of Gaunt was an important person in English political and military life during the last quarter of the fourteenth century, exercising great influence in domestic and foreign policy in England during the reign of Richard II, despite periods of unpopularity and strife with his royal nephew.

King Fernando I of Portugal (d. 1383)

Fernando I (1345 - 1383), king of Portugal (1367-83), son of king Pedro I of Portugal and his second wife Constance of Penafiel.

Castile

King Richard II of England (d. 1400)

Richard was born on 6 January 1367 in Bordeaux. Froissart called him Richard of Bordeaux after his place of birth. He was the second son of Edward, the Black Prince, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, and Joan of Kent. After the death of his elder brother Edward in 1372, and of his father, in 1376, Richard was created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester on 20 November 1376. He succeeded to his grandfather, King Edward III the following year, and became king on 22 June 1377. He reigned as king of England until 1399, when he was forced to abdicate by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard married his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, on 14 January 1382. In 1396, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Isabella, daughter of the French king, Charles VI.

Robert de Vere, ninth earl of Oxford (d. 1392)

Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford (1362 - 1392), ninth earl of Oxford, marquess of Dublin, duke of Ireland; son of Thomas de Vere, earl of Oxford, and Maud Ufford. Robert de Vere had a great influence on the young Richard II. De Vere was accused of treason along with others in 1388.

King Richard II of England (d. 1400)

Richard was born on 6 January 1367 in Bordeaux. Froissart called him Richard of Bordeaux after his place of birth. He was the second son of Edward, the Black Prince, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, and Joan of Kent. After the death of his elder brother Edward in 1372, and of his father, in 1376, Richard was created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester on 20 November 1376. He succeeded to his grandfather, King Edward III the following year, and became king on 22 June 1377. He reigned as king of England until 1399, when he was forced to abdicate by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard married his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, on 14 January 1382. In 1396, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Isabella, daughter of the French king, Charles VI.

Robert de Vere, ninth earl of Oxford (d. 1392)

Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford (1362 - 1392), ninth earl of Oxford, marquess of Dublin, duke of Ireland; son of Thomas de Vere, earl of Oxford, and Maud Ufford. Robert de Vere had a great influence on the young Richard II. De Vere was accused of treason along with others in 1388.

King Richard II of England (d. 1400)

Richard was born on 6 January 1367 in Bordeaux. Froissart called him Richard of Bordeaux after his place of birth. He was the second son of Edward, the Black Prince, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, and Joan of Kent. After the death of his elder brother Edward in 1372, and of his father, in 1376, Richard was created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester on 20 November 1376. He succeeded to his grandfather, King Edward III the following year, and became king on 22 June 1377. He reigned as king of England until 1399, when he was forced to abdicate by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard married his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, on 14 January 1382. In 1396, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Isabella, daughter of the French king, Charles VI.

The duke of Lancaster and the earl of Cambridge, oncles of King Richard II

The uncles of Richard II of England are John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge.

King Richard II of England (d. 1400)

Richard was born on 6 January 1367 in Bordeaux. Froissart called him Richard of Bordeaux after his place of birth. He was the second son of Edward, the Black Prince, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, and Joan of Kent. After the death of his elder brother Edward in 1372, and of his father, in 1376, Richard was created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester on 20 November 1376. He succeeded to his grandfather, King Edward III the following year, and became king on 22 June 1377. He reigned as king of England until 1399, when he was forced to abdicate by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard married his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, on 14 January 1382. In 1396, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Isabella, daughter of the French king, Charles VI.

The duke of Lancaster and the earl of Cambridge, oncles of King Richard II

The uncles of Richard II of England are John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, and Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge.

John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster (d. 1399)

John of Gaunt (1340-99): duke of Lancaster, son of Philippa of Hainault and Edward III, king of England, who was a pretender to the Castilian throne by right of his marriage to Constanza, eldest daughter of Pedro I, king of Castile, who died in 1369. John of Gaunt was an important person in English political and military life during the last quarter of the fourteenth century, exercising great influence in domestic and foreign policy in England during the reign of Richard II, despite periods of unpopularity and strife with his royal nephew.

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (d. 1402)

Edmund of Langley, earl of Cambridge (1341 - 1402), duke of York; fifth son of Edward III, king of England, earl of Cambridge and later duke of York, uncle of king Richard II.

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

Castile

France

The kingdom of France, populated up until the Black Death of 1348-9 by 12-16 millions souls and including up to the Treaty of Brétigny (1360) the Ile-de-France together with the apanages of Normandy, Anjou, Bourbon, Champagne, Valois, Auvergne and Languedoc, plus a number of important fiefs such as the counties of Blois, Nevers and Foix, and (from 1349) Montpellier and the Dauphiné; diminished from 1354 by the growing activity and influence in the Cotentin and other parts of Normandy of the king of Navarre, Charles of Evreux, and by English conquests resulting in an enlarged duchy of Guyenne (essentially Gascony; will become the principality of Aquitaine) stretching from the borders of the great and at times pro-English duchy of Brittany to the Pyrenees (save for the neutral county of Béarn) and eastwards to embrace the Poitou, Limousin and Rouergue (on the border with the Languedoc); Ponthieu and Guines are also in English hands. The French re-conquest under Charles V and Du Guesclin progressively drives the English from the realm, leaving them (by 1370-80) the ports of Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, Bordeaux and Bayonne, and a much-reduced Aquitaine. Brittany returns to French allegiance from 1365 onwards (Treaty of Guérande).

Scotland

King Richard II of England (d. 1400)

Richard was born on 6 January 1367 in Bordeaux. Froissart called him Richard of Bordeaux after his place of birth. He was the second son of Edward, the Black Prince, prince of Wales and Aquitaine, and Joan of Kent. After the death of his elder brother Edward in 1372, and of his father, in 1376, Richard was created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall and earl of Chester on 20 November 1376. He succeeded to his grandfather, King Edward III the following year, and became king on 22 June 1377. He reigned as king of England until 1399, when he was forced to abdicate by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. Richard married his first wife, Anne of Bohemia, on 14 January 1382. In 1396, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Isabella, daughter of the French king, Charles VI.

Robert de Vere, ninth earl of Oxford (d. 1392)

Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford (1362 - 1392), ninth earl of Oxford, marquess of Dublin, duke of Ireland; son of Thomas de Vere, earl of Oxford, and Maud Ufford. Robert de Vere had a great influence on the young Richard II. De Vere was accused of treason along with others in 1388.

Robert de Vere, ninth earl of Oxford (d. 1392)

Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford (1362 - 1392), ninth earl of Oxford, marquess of Dublin, duke of Ireland; son of Thomas de Vere, earl of Oxford, and Maud Ufford. Robert de Vere had a great influence on the young Richard II. De Vere was accused of treason along with others in 1388.

Edmund who is speaking, and his older brother, John, duke of Lancaster, lay claim to the throne of Castile on the basis of their marriages to sisters Constanza and Isabella, daughters of king Pedro I of Castile (1334 - 1369).

The use of the present tense (either the dramatic present or the immediate present) is a little surprising here, but remains a fairly common feature in Middle French where a paragraph is predominantly in the preterite, to heighten tension.

That is, ‘child’. The scribe is, linguistically speaking, conservative, maintaining the distinction here between the nominative — li enfes — and accusative, l'enfant.

England found itself regularly under joint pressure from France and Scotland during this period.