Moulins la Marche Basse-Normandie France

The Anglo-French Rivalry Over Berry and the 1177 Nonaggression Treaty

The peace agreement of 1174 between Henry II of England and Louis VII of France had failed to resolve their long-standing territorial disputes. By the late 1170s, tensions resurfaced as the two kings began to compete for control of Berry, a prosperous and strategically important region in central France.

Henry II’s Claim to Berry and His Political Maneuvering (1176–1177)

• Henry II had some rights to western Berry, but in 1176, he made a far-reaching claim that in 1169, he had agreed to give Berry to Alice (Alys), daughter of Louis VII, as part of her marriage settlement to Richard the Lionheart.
• If Louis VII accepted this claim, it would imply that Berry had already been under Henry’s control, giving Henry the right to occupy the province on Richard’s behalf.
• This move was designed to undermine Louis’ authority while allowing Henry to legitimately expand his influence in central France.
• In response, Henry mobilized his armies, preparing for war to force Louis to recognize his claim.

The Papal Intervention and the September 1177 Nonaggression Treaty

• As hostilities loomed, the Papacy intervened, urging the two kings to seek a peaceful resolution.

• Likely as Henry had anticipated, the Papal mediators encouraged Henry and Louis to sign a nonaggression treaty in September 1177, which:

  • Committed both kings to peace.
  • Promised joint participation in a Crusade, aligning them with Papal interests.

• This diplomatic agreement temporarily de-escalated tensions and allowed Henry to pursue his territorial ambitions through arbitration rather than war.

Henry II’s Diplomatic Victory: Control Over Berry and La Marche

• The dispute over Berry and the Auvergne was submitted to an arbitration panel, which ruled in Henry’s favor.
• Strengthened by this success, Henry followed up by purchasing La Marche from the local count, further expanding his Angevin holdings.

The Fragility of the Peace and Its Consequences

• While Henry’s diplomatic maneuvering allowed him to expand his power without military conflict, his gains directly threatened French security.
• The expansion of the Angevin Empire into central France once again unsettled Capetian authority, putting the fragile peace at risk.
• This ongoing territorial competition set the stage for continued conflict between the Plantagenets and the Capetians, tensions that would eventually lead to the rise of Philip Augustus and the erosion of Angevin dominance in France.

Henry’s 1177 territorial gains in Berry and La Marche were a major success, but they also ensured that the rivalry between the Angevins and Capetians would continue to define medieval European politics.