Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The year 1428 was a turbulent one for England, marked by military setbacks, political shifts, and the tragic fate of a legendary figure. Here are the key occurrences:
Anglo-Burgundian forces suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the French army in Normandy. Thousands of English and Burgundian soldiers were killed, significantly weakening England's position in France during the Hundred Years' War.
Early in 1428, Joan of Arc — the French peasant girl who claimed divine guidance — was captured by Burgundian forces and handed over to the English. She faced an ecclesiastical trial in Rouen on charges of heresy and witchcraft. Despite recanting under pressure, she was condemned and burned at the stake, becoming a martyr and enduring symbol of French resistance.
King Henry V's younger brother, Thomas, Duke of Clarence, died suddenly of camp fever (likely dysentery) while on campaign in France. His death removed a key military leader from the English command.
Following earlier victories under Henry V, the infant Henry VI was symbolically crowned King of France in Paris. This ceremonial act reinforced England's claim to the French throne, though actual control was rapidly eroding.
Together, these events signaled the beginning of the end for English territorial ambitions in France and set the stage for the eventual French resurgence.