Not for dancing
[image error] On 5 November 1281 Count Philip of Savoy wrote to Edward I, asking for military aid against the German emperor, Rudolph of Hapsburg. The emperor had, Philip wrote, invaded his lands and devastated his castles – 'depredat et incendio devastat et castra nostra obsidere intendat'. Unless the King of England sent help, Philip lived in terror of his fate.
This war was the direct consequence of Edward's uncle, Richard of Cornwall, granting three towns inside the empire to Philip's predecessor, Peter II. These towns were Payerne, Morat and Gumminen, granted by Richard during his term as King of Germany (1256-72).
Rudolph was determined to claw back the lost lands, and seized on any opportunity to attack Philip. He also waged war against Count Robert of Burgundy and Count Reynold of Montbelliard, who wished to transfer their lands from the empire to France. When the king of France, Philip III, threatened to bring an army against Rudolph, the emperor sneered:
“Let your king come if he has a mind, we will prepare a reception, and show that we are not here for dancing.”
Count Philip's request for aid threw Edward into a quandary. He had already been asked to supply troops by his aunt, Margaret of Provence, to join her anti-Angevin league against Charles of Anjou. Margaret and her sister, Eleanor, had cleverly arranged to have Edward's brother Edmund made Count of Brie and Champagne in France. This was done solely to give Edmund the necessary prestige and resources to join the coalition against Charles.
Edward's response was to send Othon Grandson, a trusted Savoyard emissary, to the German court to try and broker peace. Count Philip informed Edward that Rudolph refused to even grant the English envoys an audience, although Othon was allowed to talk with the emperor's representatives. This had some effect, as a truce was drawn up in the summer of 1283. The terms of the truce expressly mention Edward along with his aunt, Margaret, as two of those by whose request the agreement was reached. It seems that Margaret, one of the ablest politicians of her day, had her fingers in a great many pies.
There remained the issue of the war against Charles in Provence. This would prove much more difficult to untangle.
This war was the direct consequence of Edward's uncle, Richard of Cornwall, granting three towns inside the empire to Philip's predecessor, Peter II. These towns were Payerne, Morat and Gumminen, granted by Richard during his term as King of Germany (1256-72).
Rudolph was determined to claw back the lost lands, and seized on any opportunity to attack Philip. He also waged war against Count Robert of Burgundy and Count Reynold of Montbelliard, who wished to transfer their lands from the empire to France. When the king of France, Philip III, threatened to bring an army against Rudolph, the emperor sneered:
“Let your king come if he has a mind, we will prepare a reception, and show that we are not here for dancing.”
Count Philip's request for aid threw Edward into a quandary. He had already been asked to supply troops by his aunt, Margaret of Provence, to join her anti-Angevin league against Charles of Anjou. Margaret and her sister, Eleanor, had cleverly arranged to have Edward's brother Edmund made Count of Brie and Champagne in France. This was done solely to give Edmund the necessary prestige and resources to join the coalition against Charles.
Edward's response was to send Othon Grandson, a trusted Savoyard emissary, to the German court to try and broker peace. Count Philip informed Edward that Rudolph refused to even grant the English envoys an audience, although Othon was allowed to talk with the emperor's representatives. This had some effect, as a truce was drawn up in the summer of 1283. The terms of the truce expressly mention Edward along with his aunt, Margaret, as two of those by whose request the agreement was reached. It seems that Margaret, one of the ablest politicians of her day, had her fingers in a great many pies.
There remained the issue of the war against Charles in Provence. This would prove much more difficult to untangle.
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