War and Peace in France

It seems that after a bright start, the campaign of the English king Eduardo to claim the French crown has ended in stalemate and a truce.

The English won a great sea-battle in the early summer, defeating a much larger French fleet at Sluys, somewhere off the coast of Flanders. However, a defeat on land for Eduardo’s Flemish allies at St. Omer and a drawn out siege of Tournai robbed the English campaign of its impetus. Further news that a group of treacherous vassals to the north of his realm were taking the opportunity afforded by his absence to rebel, made him keen to accept the French offer of a truce. It is said that another factor bringing the two sides together is simply a mutual dearth of funds – for war is an expensive business. No-one expects the peace to last but there has been a cessation of hostilities for now.

Roman sympathies lie with the English simply because everyone in this city hates the French, but in truth few in Rome have a dog in the fight. The merchants of Tuscany depend heavily on the English wool trade for their prosperity so are minded to favour the King of England. However, if rumours that the English King plans to default on his debts prove true, it will be a bitter blow to the banking houses of Florence, particularly the Bardi and Peruzzi, with whom he is reputedly heavily invested. If so sentiments may change.

The Genoese have long been considered allies to the French. It is said that there were six Genoese galleys commanded by Egidio Boccanegra, the brother of Simone, Doge of Genoa, in the French fleet in the defeat off the Flemish coast. It seems the French are unhappy with his performance in the battle, and have accused him of cowardice and treachery for disobeying the orders of the French admiral. For his part Boccanegra has publicly denounced the French as idiots and the admiral's orders stupid. He has refused to answer their summons.

Civil War in Trebizond

It seems that beyond the Bosphorous in far off Trebizond, King Basil has died and there is Civil War over the succession. This is likely to presage disruption to the Black Sea trade in which many Italian states are involved, most notably the Genoese.

War Between the English and the French

Word comes from the North that the English King Edward, the Third of that Name, has made a case that his mother being the last remaining descendant of Phillip the Fair of France, he is the rightful heir to the throne of France. Needless to say, the French see it differently and war is in prospect between these two nations.

While this is of little matter to most in Italy, it is said that Edward is borrowing heavily from some of the great Banking Houses of Florence, notably the Bardi. In Rome sympathies tend to lie with the English, but this is simply because they are not French.