Chroniques de J. Froissart, tome 10/13

The tenth volume of these medieval chronicles opens in the tumultuous years following the accession of Charles VI, when France’s crown was still reeling from loss and internal strife. Against this backdrop, the English forces led by the Earl of Buckingham march into Brittany, their advance marked by uneasy encounters with local lords and the wary eyes of French commanders. The narrative captures the stark realities of 14th‑century warfare—marshy rivers, fortified towns, and the constant threat of siege.

As the English army reaches the Breton coast, diplomatic overtures begin between Buckingham’s envoys and the Duke of Brittany. Negotiations unfold in cramped halls and forest clearings, while the city of Nantes braces for an imminent assault. The chronicler’s eye follows the shifting alliances, the hurried dispatches, and the tension that hangs over both soldiers and civilians, offering a vivid portrait of a kingdom on the brink of conflict. Listeners will be drawn into the gritty details of strategy, politics, and the human drama that defined this pivotal chapter of the Hundred Years’ War.