Radio War Nerd EP #175 — Annibale's The Hundred Years War (Part I)
Guest: "Annibale"
Recorded: March 29, 2019
First, the War Nerd and Ames discuss the long-anticipated collapse of the Russiagate conspiracy hysteria — and with it, whatever's left of the established media and political class's credibility. It's a giant silver platter gift for Trump 2020's campaign. But as Ames argues, it's more than just a question of narratives and credibility, as the last American freak-out over Russian "active measures" was used to justify a massive domestic spying and political harassment campaign . . .
At 37:00 — we're joined by popular Radio War Nerd guest "Annibale" to walk us through the Hundred Years War — roughly 1337-1453, depending on who you ask — one of the most catastrophic wars in history that depopulated entire swathes of Europe . . . We know so little about the Hundred Years War, though it's arguably the narrative basis for George RR Martin's "Game Of Thrones". To help us understand this war, Annibale first helps us to understand the world of the Middle Ages, weeding out the Enlightenment-era myths that persist through today. We learn about local economies, societies, politics, and military technologies and tactics of the time, and how they began to change with the war.
"Annibale" is an Italian fellow war nerd. He was a RWN guest for our 3-part "Years Of Lead" series on Italy in the Cold War (episodes 135, 136, 139); as well as episode #131 on the Italian Resistance in WWII, and episode #134, an introduction to Italy's postwar "Years Of Lead" period.
*Maps
*Europe, 1330
*Map of France during Hundred Years War
*4 Maps of France during 100 Years War
Total time: 2:19:05
Comments (32)
I’m listening to this in May of 2025 and the russiagate commentary is prophetic
February 2026 and we’re still rollin’
Link is down isnt it
seems to work, still not working for you?
I think this link is down right now
lots of medieval misconceptions. - gambeson and mail offer great protection. - people in the middle ages generally led ok lives. serfs made fixed payments to lords (effectively rent/taxes) and kept the surplus. - bathing was also common, especially in warmer countries.
Hi Annibale, I talked about the Battle of Crecy with a Pal, and he keeps telling me that the French cavalry charged the Genoese arbaletriers by mistake. Is there anywhere where I could find arguments to hold my point of view besides your wonferful podcast? Thanks for your time
Both versions have been described! The version where the Genoa crossbowmen are killed on purposes by King Philippe knights is from Froissart (the order being given by the King himself). But there's another interpretation of the same order (I'm sure to have read it but I don't remember where!) and this versions says Philippe's order was to charge prematurely, and the Genoese where simply caught by the cavalry front while trying to fall back towards the French lines
Please do weather and war! That would be so cool!
There were some pretty strong "end of the world" scares in the middle ages too. Read up on the Child Crusade. Taborites in Böhmen.
He got the nickname because when Henry II first named the successors to his various territories, John, who was a very young child at the time, wasn't assigned any.
John Lackland - I never thought to take it literally as landless.
In Italian is called "Senza Terra" (landless, without land)
How do you spell that cavalry charge tactic you were talking about in the middle half of the episode?
<a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevauch%C3%A9e" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevauch%C3%A9e</a>
Very excited for this! Hope you all get around to mentioning Chaucer’s experience as a POW (and being bailed out) after being captured during the Siege of Rheims. It was this exposure to the dire realities of continental Europe (and his travels to Italy where he allegedly met Boccaccio) that inspired his later literary output. Also I recommend watching “Chimes at Midnight” for an excellent, almost collage-like distillation of the Henry plays. Has one of the most brutal, protracted battle scenes I’ve ever watched, and Welles as Falstaff is a treat.
Welles as in Orson Welles? I never heard about this!
I can wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation of Maurice Druon's The Accursed Kings series. In his opening, Druon makes the point that France at the time of Philip the Fair (IV Capet) functioned as a centralised state that was effectively run by the Capet family. I remember in the 80's the BBC showed a French adaptation of it which was really good. Funnily enough, at the end of the last book, Druon said he was ending the story as his favourite character had now died and he felt depressed about continuing. The story ends as the English land in France. the series is about the fall of the house of Capet. As mentioned, they were called accursed because they were cursed (along with the Pope (Clement V) and the King's first minister) by the grand master of the Templars as he burned on the stake. The King was short of cash and moved to take the Templars money. Philip was a serious piece of work. He is famous for physically grabbing a Pope (Boniface VIII), throwing him off the papal throne and then imprisoning him. To give an idea of how strong these people were, Druon refers to the ability of the King and of his (Druons) favourite character to bend a horse shoe with one hand. Their successors, the Valois ended in much the same way in the late 16th century with a dynastic crisis and were replaced by the Bourbons. Didn't the French bring in the Salic law to keep Edward off the throne? The 7 books if the series (The Iron King is the first) have been recently re-published: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=druon&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=druon&ref=nb_sb_noss_1</a> Tim Parks' book on the Medici (Medici Money) describes the dichotomy between the Italian Church and money-lending: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medici-Money-metaphysics-fifteenth-century-Florence/dp/1861977573/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=tim+parks&qid=1554288311&s=gateway&sr=8-8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medici-Money-metaphysics-fifteenth-century-Florence/dp/1861977573/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=tim+parks&qid=1554288311&s=gateway&sr=8-8</a> Great show, as ever! I particularly liked the economic background that Annibale gave as that part is not mentioned in the books I think.
I know you guys aren't hardware fetishists and are usually more focused on the historical and political side of things, but the digression re: medieval arms & armor, and the tactics they spawned, could be a really great episode all its own. There's been HUGE advances in this research just in the last 20-30 years, much of it due to the so-called HEMA (historical European martial arts) community. I vote that you guys get Matt Easton or Toby Capwell on!
That's an excellent idea. We're not anti-hardware, it's just that hardware isn't the decisive factor in some kinds of contemporary war. It was in other wars and medieval armor is just inherently cool anyway.
Not to take away a star guest, but I could listen to Annibale read the phonebook—he should start his own podcast!
Shhhh!!
Former British Chief Justice Jonathan Sumption has written 4 parts of a 5 part series about the Hundred Years War. It's thankfully not jingoistic, and is very detailed.
Thanks, I'll look into it!
Regarding Annibales comment about height and size of the people big persons have been around for some time <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6865741/The-violent-group-people-lived.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6865741/The-violent-group-people-lived.html</a>
Thanks for that link. Such is the bloody history of Europe that I'd never even heard of these guys.
Return of the conquering hero!
M M Oo
This makes my week! Annibale is so wonderful!
Great episode, can't wait for the next part.
Can you update the RSS feed?
You had me at the episode title