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Chapter 36 - England at Home and Abroad

from Part V - Political and Social Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2019

By
Anne Curry
Edited by
Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson
Affiliation:
University of St Andrews, Scotland
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Summary

For almost Chaucer’s whole life, England was at war. This chapter sets his own military career within the context of military activity. The principal conflict was between England and France (the Hundred Years War), with varying fortunes for both sides being revealed.It emphasises the significance of Scotland in this struggle, as the ally of France and thereby a thorn in the side of England. Large armies were sent to Scotland in 1385 and 1400. The heraldic dispute between Scrope and Grosvenor, in which Chaucer gave testimony, is linked to the 1385 expedition. The chapter also considers contemporary military organisation at the level of the army as a whole and of the individual soldier. It also looks briefly on the impact of war on politics and society in England.

Keywords

EnglandFranceScotlandCalaisHundred Years’ Warmilitary organisationsoldiersarmies
Type
Chapter
Information
Geoffrey Chaucer in Context , pp. 308 - 314
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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