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.