Season 6 | 4. First Blood

Summary

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For Season 6, Episode 4: "First Blood" Release Date: December 17, 2024 Host/Author: Sony Music Entertainment

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1. Introduction: The Siege of Southampton

The episode opens with a vivid reenactment of a French raid on the English port town of Southampton on Monday, October 5th, 1338 (02:00). The tranquility of a regular autumn day is shattered as French galleys, led by Admiral Nicolas Becher, descend upon the town. The narrative paints a gruesome picture of chaos and violence:

Narrator: "Blades slice through soft flesh. Skulls are cracked as more and more raiders arrive." (04:15)

This attack serves as a stark introduction to the escalating conflict between England and France during the early stages of the Hundred Years’ War.

2. The Plantagenet Conflict: Edward III vs. Philip VI

Historian Dan Jones delves into the intricate power struggle between King Edward III of England and his French counterpart, Philip VI. The conflict is rooted in Edward's ambition to claim the French throne, which Philip vehemently opposes. The host sets the stage for the ensuing battles:

Podcast Host: "Edward's first priority has to be taking control of the sea. If he can't do that, he'll never be King of France and may well not even be king of England for much longer." (05:30)

3. French Raids and Their Impact

Admiral Nicolas Becher becomes the face of French aggression, orchestrating a series of devastating raids along England’s southern coast. These attacks have severe economic and social repercussions:

Narrator: "It's a major blow to King Edward. Besides the humiliation, ships and crews are expensive. Even worse, the wool aboard is meant to be sold on the markets of Antwerp..." (08:50)

Becher's strategy aims to cripple England's maritime strength and destabilize its economy by targeting valuable exports like wool.

4. Edward's Strategic Response

In response to the relentless French assaults, Edward III undertakes decisive measures to bolster England’s defenses. The episode highlights his transformation from a reactive monarch to a proactive military leader:

Podcast Host: "Edward isn't just going to sit by and let his country burn." (10:20)

Edward organizes a Home Guard defense system, assigning English earls to oversee coastal defenses and ensuring that every major port city is fortified against further raids.

5. The Rise of Robert Morley

Central to Edward's military resurgence is the introduction of Robert Morley, a seasoned and formidable baron. Morley's extensive military experience and unwavering loyalty make him indispensable:

Historian: "Morley is incredibly competent, brave, resourceful in battle... He's still fighting when he dies in 1360." (30:36)

Morley’s leadership is pivotal in reversing the tide of the war, showcasing the importance of skilled commanders in medieval conflicts.

6. The Battle of Schloss: Tactics and Triumph

The climax of the episode centers on the Battle of Schloss in early June 1340. Facing a superior French fleet chained together in a fortified formation, Edward III employs innovative naval tactics:

Podcast Host: "Archers on two of the ships shoot hundreds of arrows from longbows... the third ship will get close enough to throw out grappling hooks." (12:45)

This coordinated assault leads to a devastating victory for England, significantly diminishing French naval dominance:

Narrator: "By the end of it, Edward and his men have captured three quarters of the French ships and burn several dozen more." (14:10)

7. Consequences of the Victory

The triumph at Schloss marks a turning point in the Hundred Years’ War. It not only disrupts French naval power but also elevates Edward III’s status as a formidable leader on the continental stage:

Narrator: "Schloss announces Edward as a true player in continental warfare and politics." (24:50)

Furthermore, the victory leads to the minting of a golden coin, symbolizing Edward’s success and solidifying his legacy:

Narrator: "Nearly 15 years later, he has a golden coin called a Noble minted to celebrate his win." (25:30)

8. Historian’s Insights: The Legacy of Robert Morley

In the concluding segment, historian Dan Jones provides an in-depth analysis of Robert Morley's character and his significance in Edward III's campaigns:

Historian: "Morley's a really fascinating character... He's a baron, his dad was a baron. He's been in and amongst it since Edward II's reign." (29:27)

Morley's dedication and strategic prowess not only contribute to Edward's victories but also embody the martial spirit of the Plantagenet dynasty.

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Key Takeaways

• Edward III's Ambition: Edward's determination to control the seas was crucial in challenging French dominance.
• Naval Strategy: The innovative tactics employed at the Battle of Schloss highlight the evolution of naval warfare during the medieval period.
• Robert Morley’s Role: As a key military leader, Morley's actions were instrumental in England’s resurgence against French incursions.
• Long-term Impact: The victories achieved under Edward III laid the groundwork for England's sustained involvement in the Hundred Years’ War and shaped the future of European geopolitics.

Notable Quotes

• Podcast Host on Edward’s Determination: "Edward isn't just going to sit by and let his country burn." (10:20)
• Historian on Morley's Character: "Morley's a really fascinating character... He's still fighting when he dies in 1360." (30:36)
• Narrator on the Battle Outcome: "By the end of it, Edward and his men have captured three quarters of the French ships and burn several dozen more." (14:10)

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Conclusion "First Blood" offers a gripping exploration of Edward III's military strategies and the pivotal moments that defined the Plantagenet dynasty's struggle against France. Through rich storytelling and insightful analysis, Dan Jones brings medieval history to life, highlighting the enduring legacy of one of Europe's most powerful and tumultuous families.

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For more detailed discussions and future episodes, visit sonymusic.com/podcasts.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

NPR's Throughline podcast sort of feels like stepping into a time machine. Each episode, our Peabody Award winning show travels beyond the headlines. To answer the question how did we get here? Listen to one of Apple's favorite podcasts of 2024 by searching for Throughline on Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast app.

[Podcast Host]

Hi everyone. Just a reminder that the next episode is already out. Over on this Is History plus, alongside a whole addition episode of bonus content, we'll play a clip at the end. The lone church bell begins tolling in the late afternoon. At first, no one pays it much attention. It's a regular autumn day in the English port town of Southampton, and the streets are filled with people going about their business. A couple of pigs are being driven away from the market. A boy pushes a barrow filled with vegetables. Laughter drifts out from one of the town's many taverns. Yet the bell keeps on tolling, and eventually more bells start to join in too. It's confusing. Bells are supposed to ring throughout the day to mark the church's hours, times when regular prayers are sung from sunrise to sundown. But this isn't one of those times, and the discordant clatter of the bells run chaotically over the top of each other suggests something much more ominous. Then someone sees it. A pinprick of light just visible against the horizon further down the coast. It's a fire. And it's a fire lit with a dreadful meaning. For years, England has had a public warning system in place to alert the residents of coastal settlements like Southampton if they're in immediate danger from attack. Today, on Monday the 5th of October, 1338, that's what's happening in the streets. Panic erupts as the bells keep ringing. There are yells of terror, and people start running to get back to their homes and their loved ones, or to grab whatever valuables they have and get out of the town altogether. But it's too the first of the galleys appears. It's a low, sleek, narrow boat with a tor mast and dozens of pairs of oars emerging from either side as the men pulling the oars heave. The ship is cutting through the water at a phenomenal rate, bearing down on Southampton's harbour like a hungry shark. Behind it come three, four, five more similar vessels. On each of them a flag flutters, blue and gold, catching the dying light of this October day. There's no mistaking what's happening here. The French are coming. The bells are still peeling as the first of the galleys surges into the harbour. Oars are pulled back into the galleys with a scrape and the rowers leap over the bows onto dry land. They're carrying knives and swords and clubs and they're screaming bloody murder. Men, women and children scatter, howling in terror as these wild eyed raiders bear down on them. There's no escape. Blades slice through soft flesh. Skulls are cracked as more and more raiders arrive. Doors are kicked down and homes are set alight. The bells have fallen silent now as the town falls to a bloody sack. Anything that can be robbed is hauled off to the galleys. Dead townsfolk are left in the streets where they fall. Women and children are dragged away to be taken for ransom or sold into slavery. The taverns which were so recently full of happy revellers, are now overrun with rampaging invaders who break open barrels of ale and casks of wine and drink themselves stupid all night long. It's a grim scene and it's one that's being repeated all along England's south coast. The Plantagenet King of England, Edward iii, is at war with his French counterpart and rival, Philip vi. And although the war is still in its early stages, the gloves are off. The front line of the war in England is the coast. That means Edward's first priority has to be taking control of the sea. If he can't do that, he'll never be King of France and may well not even be king of England for much longer. But becoming master of the English Channel is easier said than done. The French have a powerful navy and they're backed by galleys and crews King Philip hires from the city states of Italy. As things stand, the French king can terrorize Edward's people at will. It's going to take a raid of unbelievable daring and skill if Edward wants to knock Philip off his perch. I'm Dan Jones and from Sony Music Entertainment. This is history Season 6 of A Dynasty to Die For Episode 4 First Blood throughout the long story of British history, whenever danger comes, it normally comes by sea. Which is as you'd expect, ever since the last land bridge to continental Europe disappeared at the end of the most recent Ice Age, we've been an island people. The sea has been our first line of defence, but also an access point for anyone with enough manpower and ships. So when the Romans came under Claudius in the first century, they came by boat. Ditto the vikings in the 8th century. William the Conqueror, the Spanish Armada in the Second World War. Hitler's plan to invade this country, Operation Sea lion, relied on huge barges and troop transporters crossing the English Channel. Thankfully, that one never came off, even in our Plantagenet stories. So far, we've seen Henry ii, Louis the lion of France and Edward's mum, Queen Isabella, invade England by sea. All of that means that towns like Southampton on the south coast of England find themselves right in harm's way when wars start. And that's exactly what happens in the late 1330s, as Edward's War with Philip VI of France starts hotting up. We heard last time how Edward's decision to shelter the French renegade nobleman Robert of Artois inflamed tensions with Philip, and how that kicked off a tit for tat series of campaigns. Edward piling troops into Flanders and Philip meddling in Scotland and Edward announcing himself King of France. The French raids on the south coast are part of these spiralling tensions. And it's not just Southampton that gets it in the neck. Galleys of raiders, mostly a mixture of mercenaries and pirates given the royal blessing to go nuts, show up everywhere. They're led by the Admiral of France, a guy called Nicolas Becher, a long standing henchman of Philip vi, who started out as his accountant and is now his go to man for all dirty deeds. In spring 1338, Bayochet begins a reign of terror. First he hits Portsmouth, tricking his way into the harbour there by arriving with English flags fluttering from his ship's masts. The town is badly burned, warehouses are raided and townsfolk are butchered or kidnapped. Then Becochet heads out to sea. He goes down to the Channel Islands, where Jersey is assaulted so badly that half the island's buildings are destroyed. Sark and Guernsey are captured and taken into French hands. Finally, Berce goes to France, Flanders and intercepts a huge consignment of English wool being shipped into port, seizing five ships, including two of Edward's only three warships and slaughtering the crews. That's a major blow to King Edward. Besides the humiliation, ships and crews are expensive. Even worse, the wool aboard is meant to be sold on the markets of Antwerp so that the profit can be used to pay Edward's mounting bills. He's not exactly flavour of the month with his creditors, and the Italian banking houses he uses are starting to worry that he's living in his overdraft and might even be running himself and them close to bankruptcy. Then, as we heard at the start of this episode, it's Southampton's turn. At this point, it's starting to look like the French are going to make Edward pay a disastrously heavy price for having the cheek to challenge them. But Edward isn't just going to sit by and let his country burn. The summer and autumn of 1338 are a bloody nightmare for the English. But the following year, Edward gets his country organised and the balance of power in the Channel starts to turn. First, Edward organises a basic Home Guard defence. English earls are given personal responsibility for sorting out the defences of stretches of the coastline, and Edward lets them know that if they screw up, he'll haul them over the coals for it. Ships and troops are sent to guard every major port city, so that when the French raiders turn up in 1339, they find them bristling with men and weapons. Attacks on towns from Harwich in the east to Plymouth in the west are repelled, so that Boschet has to switch tactics and settle for targeting ships at sea rather than towns on land. It's a military victory and a big PR win for Edward, too. By the summer, Edward has a full fleet of his own at sea to rival Beochet's. It's led by a baron called Robert Morley, who is a serious hardman. He's been fighting since the 1320s, when he was on Old Edward II's side at the Battle of Boroughbridge, where Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, was undone. Since then, Morley has been front and centre in young Edward III's military operations. He's been in the thick of things in Scotland and saw action in the Battle of Haladon Hill. He's also organised a big tournament for Edward and distinguished himself jousting there, if he can stay alive. Morley has a huge military career ahead of him and Edward trusts him to get the job done. In 1339, Morley definitely gets the job done. That July, dozens of French ships head for the Cinque ports in Kent and Sussex. But Morley brings out the English fleet, intercepts them and chases them back to France. It's the first time the French have been given a shock like this and they really don't like it. Upham, or to be precise, the Italian mercenaries in the French navy don't like it. Upham. It's easy work plundering defenceless towns. Having a head case like Morley on the loose is a whole different vibe. So their captains go to Philip VI of France and tell him that since things are getting a lot spicier out in the Channel, they want to be paid danger money. It's not a totally unreasonable ask, but Philip, who isn't the most touchy feely of kings and doesn't always have a great radar for difficult decisions, gets angry. He throws a dozen or so of the Italians in jail for their impertinence, and tells the rest of them to get on with a job and stop whining, which is not a great move, because now the Italians are fed up and they decide that actually there's far better work to be had elsewhere. They take their ships and sail off back to their home city of Genoa, leaving Philip not only irate, but missing a crucial bit of his navy, more than half his ships and men, in fact. It's a colossal blunder, and it won't be the last Philip makes in his tussle with Edward iii. To keep the momentum going, Morley now gives Philip a taste of his own medicine, taking the English fleet up and down the French coast, raiding and burning as he sees fit. Needless to say, back home in England, this goes down a storm. And even though Morley's raids are nowhere near as damaging to French trade and national security as Bayochets were to England, it feels like it's now Edward and not Philip who's making all the running in the war. But Morley is only just getting started, and what he tries next is an audacious move with the potential to either give England the edge over France or sink their chances once and for all.

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To the next level today. Shopify.co.uk thisishistory in early June 1340, the servants waiting outside the council chamber look at each other, grim faced. The Royal Council, assembled by Edward iii have been in there for hours and their debate has been steadily getting louder and and more heated. Though the wooden door is thick, they can make out certain voices clearly. There's the King, who seems to be banging the table as he speaks in reply. They can also hear the protesting tones of John Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the King's most senior officials. These two are going at it hammer and tongs. A scraping of chairs suggests they're on their feet. There are a couple of loud crashes, then the door is flung open and out of it sweeps Archbishop Stratford behind him. The King yells contemptuously. Those who are afraid can stay at home. Stratford doesn't reply. He storms off down the corridor. Inside the council room, an unseen royal advisor kicks the door shut. The servants wince. Whatever's going down, it's not pretty but knowing Edward iii, if it comes to a battle of wills, there's only going to be one winner. This epic blowout comes down to naval strategy. Last episode, we heard that in January 1340, Edward unveiled his new Plantagenet brand identity. French lilies quartered with English lions to symbolise his claim to be King of France as well as England. In the five months since then, Edward has been trying to cobble together a fleet to sail an army over to Flanders to hit Philip's kingdom from the north. The trouble is he can't get enough ships together. English kings rely on borrowing or demanding the hire of merchant ships to make up their navies. The English merchants typically hate lending their ships and dodge the draft however they can. Edward has kept having to postpone his sailing date. Now, because of this heel dragging, the French fleet led by Bayochet, has sailed to the mouth of the River Zwin and blocked off a port called Schloss. This means Edward's cut off from his troops in Flanders. The very survival of his French war hangs in the balance. Archbishop Stratford reckons this is game over, time to ditch the whole idea of sailing troops to Schloss and rethink. Edward thinks that, frankly, his archbishop is being a world class pussycat, hence his barb in the council chamber, that anyone who's afraid can stay at home. In the end, Edward wins the argument. He spends the next 10 days in demon mode, riding to the biggest ports on England's North Sea coast and berating merchants in person, overseeing the refitting of commercial ships as warships and tearing strips off anyone who gets in his way. In just 10 days, he has more than 100 ships ready to go in the River Orwell, the perfect place to launch towards Flanders. They sail on the 22nd of July. Edward is right there with them, leading the charge. Two of his old mates from the Nottingham castle days, William de Boone and William Clinton, are his wingmen. Robert Morley is in the mix too. Edward needs his best people by his side because everything rests on this mission. Two days later, Edward has his whole fleet off the coast of Flanders. In view of Berschet and the French ships, the French navy makes a daunting sight. There are nearly twice as many French vessels as English. It's also, for Edward, an infuriating sight, because right in the middle of them is a monster ship known as the Cog Christopher, which Bayochet stole from the English two years ago. The ships are lined up in three rows across the wide mouth of the River Zwin. Bershe has ordered them to be chained together to make a sort of floating fortress blocking the way. The challenge to Edward is run the gauntlet, if you dare. Edward very much dares, because what he and men like Morley realise is that Beochet has made some basic tactical errors. It's all very well blocking the river, but by holding that position and lashing the ships together, he's made the French fleet very hard to manoeuvre. If Edward's captains can act with daring and agility, the French are there for the taking. And that is exactly what they do. The English sail up close to the French lines, three ships at a time. Archers on two of the ships shoot hundreds of arrows from longbows to cause chaos on the enemy decks. Then the third ship will get close enough to throw out grappling hooks, so that men at arms think knights, but not on horses, can leap aboard and start hacking and slashing, hurling enemy troops overboard and then either taking control of or setting fire to the ship. It's not a subtle approach, but it's deadly effective. The English have a better position, more nimble ships and a clear advantage of range, thanks to those longbowmen who wreaked havoc at Halleton Hill in Scotland earlier in the decade. The battle is slow. It starts at 3pm or thereabouts, and rages through the night. But at the end of it, Edward and his men have captured three quarters of the French ships and burn several dozen more. They don't take prisoners. Instead, thousands of French sailors and soldiers are thrown in the sea to drown. Those who swim to the shore are snatched by Flemish allies of Edwards and typically beaten to death. Bodies will be washing up on the beaches of Flanders for days afterwards. And there's a joke that if the fish of the region continues could talk, they'd speak French because they've eaten so many Frenchmen. It's gruesome to say the least. And it's total victory for Edward in the fighting. The French naval mastermind Nicolas Bechet is captured. After all the misery he's inflicted on English towns, there's going to be no mercy. He's hoisted up and hanged from the mast of his own ship. It's a savage defeat for King Philip and utter vindication for Edward. He's gambled his reputation on the campaign and put himself in the crosshairs when wise old heads like Stratford told him that was insanity. Now he's been proven right, but it's so far from game over. The Battle of Schloss, as it comes to be known, won't stop French raiding on the English coast. And when Edward takes his troops onto the city of Tournai, they fail to capture it. But Schloss does two very important things. It massively reduces French naval dominance in the Channel, so that Edward can now contemplate much more ambitious invasion plans. But even bigger than that, Schloss announces Edward as a true player in continental warfare and politics. Nearly 15 years later, he has a golden coin called a Noble minted to celebrate his win. It has an image of a warship on one side and a slogan that translates as Jesus passing through the midst of them went on his way. You know, when you're comparing yourself to Jesus that things are going pretty well. So being present at Schloss is kind of a big deal. Another I was there moment that bonds the band of brothers. Edward is building after Schloss. His naval genius. Robert Morley is owed a ton of money. Eleven hundred pounds, which is like a couple of million today. It's a sign of how deeply Morley has bought into Edward's vision of a heroic, daring, chivalric monarchy that he asks to be paid with a lifetime supply of venison instead. And things are only just getting started, because if Morley has a taste for venison burgers, Edward has a taste for winning big against Philip. He's smashed him at sea. The next big test will be on land. It's going to be one of the most extraordinary campaigns ever fought by a Plantagenet. It'll go down in chivalric legend. What's more, it's going to launch the career of Edward's famous eldest son, known to history as the Black Prince. But that's for next time on this is History.

[Historian]

Morley's a really fascinating character in a sense. I mean, in a sense, Morley isn't that unusual. There are, you know, you chuck a stone in Edward III's England and you're gonna bang a Morley type in the head. But then he's probably going to like.

[Podcast Host]

Bang you in the head with something.

[Historian]

Much more painful than a stone.

[Podcast Host]

Morley's just like the classic mid ranking.

[Historian]

Somewhere between a knight and a noble. You know, he's a baron, his dad was a baron. He's been in and amongst it since Edward II's reign. He's on the kingside at Boroughbridge, but he declares for Edward III in 1326. He's Edward III's kind of guy. He's incredibly competent, brave, resourceful in battle, you know, he put. He pays his dues in Scotland, he's at Hallidon Hill in 33. He's religious in a sort of demonstrative, I wouldn't say performative way, but it seems like he goes to Santiago de Compostela on pilgrimage, then he's back in Scotland. He gets his hands dirty. He's also a kind of county man, and by that I mean. So his power base is East Anglia in eastern England.

[Podcast Host]

He sits as a judge, you know.

[Historian]

When later in the century, Edward passes the labor laws, he's a labour law commissioner. He has the commission to defend the.

[Podcast Host]

Coast in 1338 after the French raids.

[Historian]

And then he's willing to go to sea and get his hands dirty there as well.

[Podcast Host]

I mean, this is a really Edward III guy. He's the kind of guy that Edward likes to have around at court.

[Historian]

So 1331, he organizes a tournament at Stepney to celebrate the birth of the Black Prince, as we call Edward's eldest son. Later on, 1345, we see him turn up in a tournament leading a team. He's dressed as the Pope and all.

[Podcast Host]

His team are dressed as cardinals. You know, he's just an Edward kind of.

[Historian]

He ends up getting, you know, a.

[Podcast Host]

Job as constable of the Tower of.

[Historian]

London and he dies in 1360. He's still fighting, you know, when he goes down. So you couldn't get much more of.

[Podcast Host]

A sort of Edward III type of.

[Historian]

Kind of chivalrous minor nobleman.

[Podcast Host]

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