Chroniques de J. Froissart, tome 03/13 : 1342-1346 (Depuis la trêve entre Jeanne de Montfort et Charles de Blois jusqu'au siége de Calais)

The opening pages plunge listeners into the volatile world of 1342, when Edward III stages spectacular jousts in London that attract nobles, knights and a chorus of ladies from across Europe. Amid the glitter of armor and the tangled politics of courts, a young French prince meets a tragic end, while diplomatic overtures set a fragile truce with Scotland. These early scenes weave together personal ambition, fleeting romance and the looming threat of war, giving a vivid sense of the era’s restless energy.

Shifting to the storm‑tossed coasts of Brittany, the narrative follows Jeanne de Flandre, comtesse de Montfort, as she seeks English support against Charles de Blois. An English fleet under Robert d’Artois collides with a French armada, their clash broken by a sudden tempest that scatters ships and reshapes the campaign. The story then narrows on the tense siege of Vannes, where seasoned commanders and daring adventurers alike press forward, their confrontations hinting at larger conflicts yet to unfold.