The Visigothic Expansion into Saintonge

In 419 CE, the Visigoths continue their consolidation of power in Gaul, extending their control northward to Saintonge, a region north of the Gironde estuary along the Bay of Biscay. This expansion strengthens their hold over Aquitania Secunda, further securing their presence in southwestern Gaul.

At this time, the Western Roman Empire remains in a fragile state, struggling to recover from the invasions of 406–407and ongoing civil conflicts. The Visigoths, who had been settled in Aquitania as Roman foederati, increasingly act in their own interests, pushing beyond their designated lands. The conquest of Saintonge is significant for several reasons:

1. Strategic Control – The region lies along vital trade and communication routes between the interior of Gaul and the Atlantic coast. Securing Saintonge strengthens the Visigoths’ influence over key economic centers and supply lines.
2. Weak Roman Authority – By 419, Roman control in Gaul is weakening, with imperial forces largely unable to contain the Visigoths’ growing ambitions. Their occupation of Saintonge signals their ability to act independently of Roman oversight.
3. Foreshadowing Further Expansion – Though still officially federates of Rome, the Visigoths are increasingly behaving as a sovereign power, laying the groundwork for the expansion of their kingdom into Toulouse, Iberia, and beyond.

By establishing control over Saintonge, the Visigoths further entrench themselves as the dominant power in southwestern Gaul, a position they will use to press deeper into Iberia over the following decades. This expansion is an early indicator of the transformation of the Western Roman world, as former allies become rulers of their own kingdoms, reshaping the map of post-Roman Europe.

• Saintes – A fortified city with strong ecclesiastical and military influence.
• Gascony – A rugged region with a strong Basque presence, added to Charibert’s holdings to secure Frankish influence in the southwest.

By consolidating these territories, Charibert establishes one of the first distinct Frankish sub-kingdoms in Aquitaine, a foreshadowing of future divisions in the Merovingian realm.

2. Charibert II’s Rule from Toulouse

• Charibert governs from Toulouse, making it the political and military hub of Aquitaine.
• His rule is semi-autonomous, meaning he owes allegiance to Dagobert I but governs independently.
• His kingdom serves as a buffer against the Vascones (Basques) in the Pyrenees, reinforcing Frankish control in the southwest.

3. The Short-Lived Aquitanian Kingdom

• Charibert’s reign is brief, lasting only three years.
• In 632 CE, he dies under mysterious circumstances, possibly assassinated on Dagobert’s orders.
• His infant son, Chilperic of Toulouse, is also killed shortly after, effectively ending the independent rule of Aquitaine.
• Following their deaths, Dagobert I absorbs the entire kingdom, reuniting the Frankish realm under his rule.

4. The Legacy of Charibert II’s Rule

• Though short-lived, his reign establishes Aquitaine as a distinct political entity, setting a precedent for later Merovingian and Carolingian sub-kingdoms.
• His control over Gascony marks one of the earliest Frankish efforts to govern the Basque frontier, an issue that will persist for centuries.
• The collapse of his kingdom after his death in 632 CE reinforces the centralized power of Dagobert I, at least temporarily.

Conclusion: A Brief but Significant Expansion of Frankish Power

Charibert II’s rule over Aquitaine, Agen, Cahors, Périgueux, Saintes, and Gascony represents a key moment in the territorial organization of the Frankish kingdom. His death in 632 CE leads to the reabsorption of Aquitaine into Dagobert I’s realm, but his reign foreshadows future struggles for regional autonomy in southern Gaul.

The Foundations of the Angevin Empire

Henry’s marriage to Eleanor laid the foundation for the Angevin Empire, which would later include:

• England (when Henry became King Henry II in 1154).
• Normandy, Anjou, and Maine (from his father, Geoffrey Plantagenet).
• Aquitaine, Poitou, Aunis, and Saintonge (through Eleanor’s inheritance).

This marriage set the stage for a century-long conflict between the Plantagenets and Capetians, as the Angevin holdings in France overshadowed Capetian power, leading to constant war and territorial disputes.

Though Eleanor had once been Queen of France, her marriage to Henry secured her a far greater empire, making her one of the most influential figures in medieval European history.

Henry Plantagenet’s War with Louis VII and Separation from Eleanor (1152 CE)

Following his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine on May 18, 1152, Henry Plantagenet was immediately drawn into conflict with her ex-husband, King Louis VII of France, and his Capetian allies.

From May to August 1152, Henry was occupied in warfare against Louis VII, who, still furious over the loss of Aquitaine, sought to challenge Henry’s territorial expansion.

Henry’s War with Louis VII (May–August 1152)

• Louis VII allied with powerful French nobles, hoping to contain Henry’s growing power.
• The war was centered around Normandy and the territories Henry had gained through Eleanor, including Poitou and Anjou.
• Despite the intensity of the fighting, Henry held his ground, proving himself to be a skilled military commander.
• By August 1152, the conflict remained unresolved, but Henry rushed back to Eleanor, recognizing the need to strengthen his new alliance through their marriage.

Henry and Eleanor’s Brief Time Together (August–November 1152)

• After months apart, Henry returned to Eleanor in August, and the couple spent a few months together, likely in Poiters or Angers.
• Their time together was significant, as Eleanor was now central to Henry’s political ambitions, and their relationship needed to solidify the Angevin hold on Aquitaine.

Their Parting in Late November 1152

• Around the end of November 1152, Henry departed from Eleanor, heading to visit his mother, Empress Matilda, in Normandy.
• After spending several weeks with her, Henry set sail for England, preparing for his next major political ambition—securing the English crown.

This period foreshadowed the future dynamic of Henry and Eleanor’s marriage—one in which Henry’s relentless political and military campaigns often kept them apart, while Eleanor exercised increasing influence over her vast domains in Aquitaine.

Simon de Montfort and Henry III’s Failed Invasion of France (1242): The Capetian Victory at Taillebourg and Saintes

Simon de Montfort, a French noble by birth, went to England in 1229 to claim family lands and the earldom of Leicester. By 1238, he had joined the court of Henry III and strengthened his position by marrying Eleanor of England, the king’s sister.

When Henry III invaded France in 1242, de Montfort joined the campaign, despite his past conflicts and reconciliations with Henry. However, the campaign ended in disaster for the English, as Louis IX decisively defeated them at the Battles of Taillebourg and Saintes, securing Capetian dominance over Poitou.

Henry III’s Attempt to Reclaim Poitou

• Henry III allied with rebellious vassals in southern France, hoping to restore Plantagenet influence in Poitou.
• His invasion was poorly coordinated, facing the well-organized and disciplined forces of Louis IX of France.
• Simon de Montfort accompanied Henry, despite their prior disputes.

The French Victory at Taillebourg and Saintes (July 1242)

• Louis IX met Henry III’s army at Taillebourg on July 21, 1242.
• The French forces, better prepared and numerically superior, overwhelmed the English and their allies.
• After a crushing defeat, Henry retreated to Saintes, but Louis pursued him, forcing a final confrontation.
• The Battle of Saintes (July 24–26, 1242) further demoralized Henry’s Poitevin allies, leading to their collapse.

Aftermath: Henry III’s Retreat and Truce at Bordeaux

• Henry III, realizing the war was lost, was forced to seek a truce.
• In Bordeaux, a peace agreement was arranged, effectively ending Plantagenet ambitions in Poitou.
• The southern French lords abandoned their rebellion, leaving Louis IX’s authority unchallenged in the region.

Impact on Simon de Montfort

• The failed campaign further strained de Montfort’s relationship with Henry III.
• De Montfort would later turn against the king, becoming a leader of the English baronial opposition and a key figure in the Second Barons’ War (1264–1267).

The French victories at Taillebourg and Saintes in 1242 were a decisive moment in the Capetian-Plantagenet struggle, securing Capetian control over western France and further weakening English claims on the Continent.

Du Guesclin’s Simultaneous Campaign in Auvergne

• Du Guesclin, as Constable of France, led direct sieges and territorial reclamation efforts in Auvergne.
• His experience in siege warfare and guerrilla tactics allowed him to expel the English from multiple strongholds, further pushing the English toward collapse in the region.

Strategic Importance of the Recaptured Cities

• Loudun – A vital fortified town in western France, its capture weakened English control over Poitou and the Loire Valley region.
• Saint-Jean-d'Angély – A key garrison town along the Charente River, providing the English with a defensive stronghold south of Poitiers.
• Saintes – Located in Saintonge, this city’s fall further isolated English positions in Aquitaine.

The French Offensive of 1372

• Following a decade of French military resurgence, Charles V and his commanders continued the reconquest of English territories.
• French forces, led by Bertrand du Guesclin and Olivier de Clisson, targeted weakened English garrisons, exploiting:
  • Local revolts against English taxation.
  • English supply shortages due to their declining territorial hold.
• The sieges of these cities were successful, as English resistance collapsed in the face of French pressure.

Impact on the Hundred Years' War

• The loss of these cities weakened English control over western France, further tightening the noose around English-held Aquitaine.
• The collapse of English garrisons in Poitou and Saintonge made it clear that the French were on the offensive, forcing Edward III’s forces into defensive positions.
• The recapture of these cities set the stage for the decisive Battle of La Rochelle later that year, where the French navy crushed the English fleet, ending English dominance at sea.

The fall of Loudun, Saint-Jean-d'Angély, and Saintes in 1372 marked a critical turning point in the war, as France continued to reclaim its lost territories, signaling the decline of English power in the region.

The History of Saintonge and Its Transition to French Rule (Antiquity–1375)

The province of Saintonge, located in southwestern France, derives its name from the Santones, an ancient Gallic tribe that once inhabited the region. Over the centuries, Saintonge was contested between the French and English crowns, particularly during the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453). By 1375, it had finally fallen under French control, marking the end of English dominance in the region.

Ancient and Early Medieval History

• During antiquity, Saintonge was part of Gallia Aquitania, a province of the Roman Empire.
• Saintes became its first capital, playing a key role as a center of Roman administration in southwestern Gaul.
• In the early medieval period, Saintonge came under the rule of the kings and dukes of Aquitaine, the counts of Anjou, and the counts of Poitiers before becoming integrated into the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Saintonge as a Contested Frontier (1152–1451)

• Following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II of England in 1152, Saintonge became part of the Anglo-Aquitaine territories, placing it in the Plantagenet sphere of influence.
• The province lay on the frontier between Capetian France and English-controlled Aquitaine, leading to constant struggles between rival lords who were torn between their allegiance to Anglo-Aquitaine and loyalty to Paris.

Decline of English Rule in Saintonge (Mid-14th Century–1375)

• Saintonge remained primarily attached to Anglo-Aquitaine until the mid-14th century, but a series of military and political missteps by the English weakened their position.
• Two key figures contributed to this decline:
  • Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, whose strategic errors undermined English control in western France.
  • Edward, the Black Prince, whose taxation policies and failures in the Castilian campaign alienated local lords and weakened English authority.
• By 1375, as French forces under King Charles V continued their reconquest, Saintonge officially passed to the French Crown, ending more than two centuries of Anglo-Aquitaine rule.

Impact and Legacy

• The loss of Saintonge further reduced English holdings in France, strengthening Charles V’s territorial reconquests.
• The region was now firmly integrated into the French kingdom, though it remained a target for future English campaigns.
• The shifting control over Saintonge illustrated the broader struggle of the Hundred Years' War, as local nobility often found themselves caught between two competing powers.

The incorporation of Saintonge into the French kingdom in 1375 marked another significant milestone in the gradual collapse of English rule in western France, reinforcing Charles V’s successful military strategy and laying the foundation for France’s resurgence in the later stages of the war.