Walter Cowles-Costigan

The Boar who came out of Windsor: The Intersection of Chivalric Legacy and the Realities of Warfare in the First Phase of the Hundred Years War, 1337-1360

Abstract:

Chivalry, in its medieval context, was a system of martial and social protocol adhered to by the fighting class in order to accumulate renown and prestige, the building blocks of a lasting legacy. However, during the first phase of the Hundred Years War between England and France, Edward III, often regarded as a “chivalric dynamo” and one of greatest English kings, engaged in a number of military practices and maneuvers which were strikingly unchivalric. These methods included a focus on defensive tactics, extensive use of dismounted, non-noble troops, and violent raids known as chevauchées. This essay will attempt to analyze the ways in which Edward, a devout student of chivalry, selectively modified facets of the chivalric practice, particularly those that would hinder him, while retaining the essence of personal and martial chivalry. Through acts of pragmatism, Edward achieved the ultimate aim of chivalry, an honorable le gacy, while circumventing certain fundamental practices which did not suit his aims. Through considerations of contemporary chivalry, Edward’s character, both personal and public, and the intersection of chivalry with the realities of Edwardian warfare, one can glean a stronger understanding of this tendency.

Thesis Advisor:  S. Lyons