The Turning Tide of the Hundred Years’…

The Turning Tide of the Hundred Years’ War and the Construction of the Bastille (1370–1380)

By 1370, the tide of the Hundred Years’ War had begun to turn against the English, as French cities revolted and renowned commander Bertrand du Guesclin was named Constable of France. His guerrilla tactics and strategic warfare brought military success after years of French defeats.

At the same time, King Charles V of France, recognizing the vulnerability of Paris, ordered the construction of a large fortress on the eastern side of the city. This structure, which would later become the infamous Bastille, was built to defend against potential English attacks and mercenary raids.

The Rise of Bertrand du Guesclin and the French Resurgence (1370)

• Bertrand du Guesclin, a brilliant tactician, was captured five times during his military career but always managed to be ransomed.
• In 1370, he was appointed Constable of France, making him the king’s highest-ranking military officer.
• He pioneered a war of attrition, relying on:
  • Avoidance of pitched battles, instead using raids, ambushes, and skirmishes.
  • Recapturing towns and fortresses through sieges rather than direct confrontation.
  • Harassing English supply lines, forcing them into costly defensive positions.
• Under his leadership, France began regaining lost territory, pushing the English back after years of dominance.

The Construction of the Bastille (1370–1380)

• The main royal fortress of Paris had traditionally been the Louvre, but by the mid-14th century, the city had expanded eastward, leaving its eastern side vulnerable to attack.
• The capture of King John II at Poitiers (1356) and the subsequent unrest in Paris (1357–1358) under Étienne Marcel had exposed the city’s weaknesses.
• In 1357, Marcel expanded Paris’ defenses, adding a fortified gate at Porte Saint-Antoine, protected by:
  • Two high stone towers.
  • A seventy-eight-foot-wide (24-meter) moat.
  • This structure was called a "bastille", one of two in Paris (the other at Porte Saint-Denis).
• Marcel was later executed in 1358, but his defensive efforts influenced future fortifications.

Charles V’s Plan for a Grand Fortress

• In 1369, King Charles V, concerned about English attacks and mercenary raids, ordered a massive expansionof the Porte Saint-Antoine bastille.
• The new provost of Paris, Hugh Aubriot, began work in 1370, constructing:
  • Two additional towers behind the original bastille.
  • Two more towers to the north.
  • Two more towers to the south, forming a rectangular fortress.
• Though unfinished by Charles V’s death in 1380, his son Charles VI completed the project.

Final Structure and Features of the Bastille

• The Bastille was a massive fortress, measuring:
  • 223 feet (68 meters) wide
  • 121 feet (37 meters) deep
  • 78 feet (24 meters) high, with walls 10 feet (3 meters) thick at their base
• The eight towers and linking curtain walls formed a continuous, crenellated walkway for defenders.
• Each of the six newer towers contained:
  • Underground "cachots" (dungeons) for prisoners.
  • Curved "calotte" (shell) rooms in their roofs.

Significance of the Bastille’s Construction

• The Bastille became one of Paris’ most imposing military structures, initially serving as a fortress and later as a royal prison.
• It symbolized the growing strength of the French monarchy under Charles V, who sought to fortify and centralize power.
• It would later play a crucial role in French history, most famously stormed during the French Revolution in 1789.

The completion of the Bastille marked a turning point in Paris’ defenses, built in response to the unrest and war that plagued France during the Hundred Years’ War, reflecting Charles V’s efforts to stabilize and protect his kingdom.