Every dynastic war in history is an amalgamation of many events and stories that seemingly
led to one bloody conclusion, and the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, and
their allies is no different.
Yet, among many incidents that made that war inevitable, one stands apart.
This is the story behind the liaison that caused the Hundred Years’ War – the Tour
de Nesle Affair.
The king Philip IV Capet, called the Fair, was one of the most successful rulers in the
medieval French history.
Although often criticized for the Great Exile of the Jews in 1306 and the extermination
of the Templar Order in 1307, with later appropriation of the property of both these groups, Philip
managed to do much in order to centralize France, by fighting off the nobles and via
the dynastic marriages.
He married off his daughter Isabel to the heir of the English throne, future Edward
II, while his heir Louis married Margaret - the daughter of the duke of Burgundy -one
of the strongest feudals of the realm.
King’s younger sons Philip and Charles married daughters of the count of Burgundy – Joan
and Blanche.
The mother of the latter two – Mahaut was the countess of Artois.
These marriages should have ensured the security and expansion of France, however the tragedy
was just around the corner.
According to the sources, in 1313 Isabel was visiting her father’s court and gifted ornate
purses to her sisters-in-law.
Upon her return to London, Isabel noticed that two Norman knights Philip and Gautier,
who accompanied her, had the purses on them.
Some chroniclers claim, that Isabel selected these two knights to accompany her, on the
advice of Robert d’Artois, who lost the county of Artois to Mahautm and was in a bitter
rivalry with her.
In any case, Isabel saw the purses as the evidence that her sisters-in-law are unfaithful
and in 1314 informed her father of the fact.
After a month-long investigation, Philip ordered the arrest of his daughters-in-law and two
knights.
The latter were tortured and admitted to have an affair with Margaret and Blanche at the
tower called Tour de Nesle.
The knights were executed in a horrific fashion, Margaret and Blanche were imprisoned in Château
Gaillard.
There was no proof that Joan was unfaithful or even knew of the affair, but she was still
put under a house arrest.
On top of that, no one but the adulterers knew when this affair has started, so the
legitimacy of Margaret’s daughter Joan was also under suspicion.
Philip IV passed away shortly after, possible from the shock.
His son Louis X succeeded him.
The new king needed to divorce Margaret to remarry and gain an heir, however only the
Popes were allowed to divorce the Catholics.
Unfortunately, for Louis, Pope Clement V died and it took the Conclave more than a year
to elect a successor.
Once again, the sources are conflicting, but Margaret died in 1315, either from a common
cold or murdered on the orders of her husband.
A few months later Louis married Clementia of Hungary.
Using the celebratory mood, Louis’ brother Philip asked Joan of Burgundy to be released
from the confinement, as there was still no proof of her infidelity.
The king himself died in 1316 from a lung disease at 26, while his wife was with child.
She gave birth to a son in November, however John I was a king for just 5 days.
Once again, there are theories claiming that he was poisoned or was hidden from the possible
poisoners and a commoner child died in his stead.
The French lords needed to decide who will rule them.
The daughter of Louis and Margaret Joan was the heir, as no proof of her illegitimacy
was presented, yet Louis’ brother Philip had the support of the nobles, and the assembly
declared that the women can’t rule France.
Philip V became the next king.
He had 4 daughters, so when de died in 1322 at the age of 29, the ruling that brought
him to power, was used against his daughters.
His brother Charles IV managed to divorce Blanche, and remarry twice, but his only offspring
was a daughter and when he died in 1328 aged 33, the main Capetian line ended.
The candidates for the throne were the cousin to Charles Philip Valois and the son of Isabel,
the English king Edward III.
The nobles preferred Philip, as Edward had too many holdings in France and him being
a king of two kingdoms would have made him too powerful.
The fact that he was an heir matrilineally was cited once again.
Philip VI would become the new king and establish the Valois dynasty.
This would be one of the reasons the Hundred Years’ War started, as Edward would assume
the title of the king of France.
The fate would prove its cruelty yet again – Robert d’Artois who never stopped his
attempts to gain the county of Artois would be exiled from France, and would became one
of the catalysts for the English invasion of the continent.
Thus, the Tour de Nesle affair caused one of the bloodiest wars in history…
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