Лобанов А. М. Герцог Бедфорд, регент Франции и наследник двух корон Ланкастеров, на поле боя [Электронный ресурс] // Vox medii aevi. 2024. Vol. 2 (11). С. 58–74. URL: https://voxmediiaevi.com/2024-2-lobanov/
DOI: 10.24412/2587-6619-2024-11-58-74
Alexander Lobanov
PhD, independent scholar
alobanov83@gmail.com
Duke of Bedford, regent of France and heir to the House of Lancaster’s two crowns, on the battlefield
After the death in 1422 of Henry V and Charles VI and the proclamation of the infant Henry VI as king of France by the Treaty of Troyes, the actual government of the French kingdom as part of the Lancastrian dual monarchy was left to the new king’s eldest uncle John, duke of Bedford (1389–1435). He took upon himself the regency of France and retained it until his death, being also the heir to the crowns of both kingdoms. He is often described as an able administrator and cunning diplomat, setting aside Bedford’s significant military experience and the facts of his engagement in military operations in his capacity as regent. The paper analyses such episodes — the journée of Ivry followed by the battle of Verneuil (1424), the confrontation at Montépilloy (1429), the sieges of Meulan (1423) and Lagny-sur-Marne (1432) — and the role played by the regent on the battlefield. It appears that Bedford personally took command of the armies when facing a serious threat to the Lancastrian power in France or their control of Paris. It may be assumed, therefore, that for Bedford, his participation in military operations was not a way of earning military glory, but rather a part of his obligations and responsibilities as a ruler.
Keywords: Hundred Years War; John of Lancaster, duke of Bedford (1389–1435); Lancastrian France; Military leadership; Regency