History:List of feudal wars 12th-14th century

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This is a chronological list of feudal wars spanning from 1100-1400 during what can be considered the golden age of feudalism. Usually the wars will be caused by conflicting dynastic claims but also be fought over a variety of other normally personal Casus belli. Feudal wars were considered to be a lawful practice if they respected the given feudal contract.[1] In most countries it was traditionally considered the right of the nobility to fight personal feuds without incurring legal penalties, however the Kingdom of England was an exception due to its high level of royal power which could even go so far as to restrict tournaments. In France war was declared by sending a symbol to the enemy, normally a glove.[1] Also in France relatives as far as the seventh degree were supposed to be drawn into the conflict[1] but this was hardly ever the case especially when relatives of this kinship could be related to both families or live so far from the conflict that it was completely impractical for them to join. French customs relating to feudal warfare were adopted elsewhere.[2] Usually feudal wars would involve both parties plundering eachothers territories, skirmishes, sieges, and occasionally full battles.[3] Feudal wars were also marked by their lack of casualties and often there was a fine line between a Tournament and a feudal war (In 1119 Orderic Vitalis recounts that in a battle of 900 knights he knows of only three who died).[3] Often the leaders and participants of the feudal wars were related to some degree which helps explain the lack of casualties (to slay kin was considered much worse than to kill someone unrelated). As a result the, generally smaller the war was the smaller the percent of casualties it was likely to have (this also goes into the idea of genus or race). This list will not include religious wars.

  • Baussenque Wars 1144-1162 - Series of wars between the House of Barcelona (then ruling in the county of Provence) and the house of House of Baux
  • Flemish wars with Holland over Zeeland and Friesland 1166-1167 - Wars between the two counts first over Zeeland in 1166-1167, and later over Friesland.
  • Civil war era in Norway 1130-1240; Many different wars between several different parties of nobility vying for the throne of Norway. The main two parties which emerge are the Bagler (Croziermen; mostly landowning nobles and clergy), and the Birkebeiner (Mostly household Retainers, peasants, and men living on the eastern marches of Norway)
  • Bogen-Wittelsbach war for Regensburg 1192; Count Albert III von Bogen fought a coalition of nobles including Imperial County of Ortenburg, von Kraiburg, and the House of Wittelsbachs dukes of Bavaria over several fiefs on the Danube along with the Burgraviate of Regensburg (Governorship). His powerful alliance to the Kingdom of Bohemia through his marriage with princess Ludmilla of Bohemia must have contributed to his success in the war. Although the Bogenbergs won the war in combat, the emperor's threats were enough to conclude the war in a way which was detrimental to the von Bogen
  • Freiburg Noble Uprising 1198; Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen crushes a noble uprising in Freiburg im Breisgau
  • French invasion of Normandy (1202–1204); Following John, King of England's decision to steal Isabella of Angoulême from Hugh IX of Lusignan and wed her in order to take over Angouleme Hugh complained to the king of France who decided to revoke much of John's land in France as a punishment for his tyrannical actions (Isabella was already engaged to Hugh IX before John decided to marry her). The French were able to conquer Normandy impressively quickly despite a resistance lead in part by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (Often known as the greatest knight who ever lived)
  • Capetian conquest of Auvergne 1210-1213; After Guy II d'Auvergne count of Auvergne attacks an abbey and is excommunicated Philip II of France uses this as an excuse to declare war on him and take the majority of his lands.
  • First Battle of Ulrichen 1211 - Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen is defeated despite having a massive army by Savoyards while trying to expand his duchy east.
  • Portuguese Succession war of 1211 - The will of the previous king of Portugal grants important castles to king Afonso II of Portugal's sisters, he objects to it and many nobles are exiled
  • Battle of Steppes 1213 - Feudal war of the castle of Moha after the last of the counts of Moha died out the duke of Brabant Henry I, Duke of Brabant fights Louis II, Count of Loon, Bishop Hugues de Pierrepont, and Henry III, Duke of Limburg. The battle is a disaster for the Duke of Brabant who loses more than half his army and only kills 200 of the enemy and results in the loss of the castle to the Bishopric of Leige.
  • Anglo-French War (1213–1214) - Anti-French expansion coalition lead by John, King of England, Pope Innocent III, Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Renaud I, Count of Dammartin, and Henry I, Duke of Brabant declare war on Philip II of France and the kingdom of France in order to regain Normandy for King John which he had lost in 1204. The Pope felt threatened by the alliance emerging between Philip Augustus and Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor who were both considered at the time to be extremely successful and powerful kings. On the other hand Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor was trying to consolidate his position as Emperor against the claims of Frederick II who also claimed to be the Emperor. Additionally the House of Welf had traditionally got along well with the Papacy and the kingdom of England so it was a natural alliance. Renaud was originally a powerful friend and vassal of the king of France but fell out with him over a dispute with Philip of Dreux, subsequently paying homage to King John in 1212. The duke of Brabant was a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire and had chosen to support Otto over Frederick II. The conflict culminated at the Battle of Bouvines which was a french victory.
  • First Barons' War 1215-1217; Feudal war against the tyranny of John, King of England lead by Robert Fitzwalter with a foreign army under Louis VIII of France landing in England to help the rebels
  • War of the Succession of Champagne 1216-1222; Erard of Brienne-Ramerupt a champagne nobleman who married a daughter of the count of champagne unsuccessfully presses a claim against Blanche of Navarre, Countess of Champagne. Having the support of a good portion of the Champagne nobility and the Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine Erard is unable to face the overwhelming international support which Blanche receives from Philip II of France, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, Odo III, Duke of Burgundy, and Pope Innocent III. Despite losing the war Erard greatly enhances his prestige and wealth through caravan raids and a favorable peace treaty
  • William II Marshal's Campaign Against Llywelyn the Great 1223 - William Marshal has a successful campaign against the Prince of Wales
  • von Luternau vs St. Urban Abbey 1226 - Werner I. von Luternau attacks Saint Urban's Abbey over rights for Langenthal
  • de Clare-Afan Feud 1217-1228 - When Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Gloucester married the widow of John, King of England he came into armed conflict with Morgan Gam a welsh lord whose father had previously held Newcastle Castle, Bridgend under King John but now de Clare claimed it from his marriage to King John's widow. Gam was captured but was later released and later supported Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke's failed revolt.
  • William II Marshal's counter-campaign against Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster 1224-1226 - Successful defense of his lands against Hugh de Lacy
  • Danish-Holstein War 1225-1227 - Adolf IV of Holstein leads a successful war against the kingdom of denmark to regain the county of Schleswig which had been taken from his father by Valdemar II of Denmark at the Battle of Stellau in 1201. Adolf won the war by taking the King of Denmark prisoner after winning the Battle of Bornhöved (1227).
  • War of Friends 1231-1234 - Jean de Apremont Bishop of Metz and his allies Matthias II, Duke of Lorraine, Henry II, Count of Bar lose a three year war with the City of Metz over self-autonomy led by Roger de Heu a prominent patrician of Metz
  • The Marshal War 1233-1241 - A war which was born from Earl Richard Marshal offering refuge in his castle to the baron Gilbert Basset who Bishop Peter des Roches and Peter de Maulay (royal advisors) had tried to take a manor off of. The war originally took place in the Welsh marches but with no popular support there Richard went to Ireland. At the Battle of the Curragh in 1234 he died at the hands of the Royal commander Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly. This would start a feud which would result in several murders and "accidents" including the death of Earl Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke.
  • Saintonge War 1242-1243; part of a larger series of wars between the House of Plantagenet and the House of Capet. Henry III of England's brother is pitted against Alphonse, Count of Poitiers over the county of Poitiers. Despite Henry III and his brother having support of many of the barons in Poitiers along with the House of Lusignan and the Count of Toulouse the House of Capet Prevails.
  • Second Barons' War 1264-1267; Feudal war lead by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester in an attempt to empower the council of barons, succeeds at first but eventually the Royal forces change the tide of the war at Battle of Evesham in 1265 where de Montfort was killed.
  • First wars of Austrian Succession 1246-1278; After the death of the last Babenberg duke of Austria several claimants emerge to grab the duchy including Hohenstaufen, Ottokar II of Bohemia, Vladislaus III of Moravia, Herman VI, Margrave of Baden, Roman Danylovich, Frederick I, Margrave of Baden, until finally passing onto Rudolf I of Germany
  • Franco-Flemish War 1297-1305 - Philip IV of France was eager to establish French control over the county of Flanders lead by Guy, Count of Flanders. Philip used complaints about taxation to tighten his control over the county. When Count Guy makes a marriage alliance with England Philip uses it as an excuse to imprison the count and his two sons which begins the war. At the end of the war three cities are annexed to the Kingdom of France but the County of Flanders retains sovereignty.
  • War of Saint-Sardos 1323-1327 - When the French decide to build a Bastide in Saint-Sardos the French royal sergeant is killed by the Gascon (English) lord of Montpezat. Following a series of failed diplomatic negotiations the French invade Aquitaine and confiscate it from the king of England.
  • Hundred Years' War 1337-1453 - English try to reclaim the Duchy of Aquitaine and other lands and also try to press a claim to the Kingship of France. Ultimately the French win but the war goes in favor of the English for a long time.


References