Black Monday (1360)

The History of that Most Victorious Monarch Edward III by Joshua Barnes

Black Monday took place on Easter Monday (1360) during the Hundred Years' War (1337–60), when a huge hail storm struck and killed an estimated 1,000 [1]English soldiers. The storm was so devastating that it caused more English military casualties than any of the previous battles of the war.[2]

In early April 1360, Edward III of England army sacked the suburbs of Paris and began a move towards the cathedral city of Chartres. At Chartres the French refused battle, instead sheltering behind their fortifications, and a siege ensued.

On Monday April 13th, on the first night Edward's army made camp outside the town in an open plain, when a sudden storm materialized. Lightning struck, killing several people. The temperature fell dramatically and huge hailstones along with freezing rain, began pelting the soldiers, scattering the horses. Two of the English leaders were killed, and panic set in among the troops, who had little to no shelter from the storm. One described it as "a foul day, full of myst and hayle, so that men dyed on horseback." Tents were torn apart by the fierce wind and baggage trains were strewn around.[3] During the storm Edward is said to have disembarked from his horse and kneeled in the direction of the cathedral of Our Lady making a vow to God for peace.

In a half-hour, the incitement and intense cold killed nearly 1,000 Englishmen and up to 6,000 horses. Among the most prominent of those killed was English nobleman and military commander Sir Guy de Beauchamp, the eldest son of Thomas de Beauchamp the 11th Earl of Warwick. Guy de Beauchamp died of his wounds sustained during the storm two weeks later on the 28th of April.[4]

Edward III of England was convinced the phenomenon was a sign from God against his endeavors. French friar Jean de Venette credited it as the result of the English looting of the French countryside during the observant week of Lent. Shortly after Audrouin de La Roche Abbot of Cluny arrives with peace proposals. Edward agrees with the counsel of his trusted aid Henry of Grosmont, the 1st Duke of Lancaster.[5]

On May 8, 1360, three weeks later, the Treaty of Brétigny was signed, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War.[6] The legacy was mentioned in Shakespeare.[7][8]

“It was not for nothing that my nose fell a- bleeding on Black Monday last, at six o'clock i' the morning.” —Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, ii. 5.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/archives/archive-features/image-of-the-month/title1/a-king-is-born-at-windsor.html
  2. ↑ Mortimer, Ian (2014-02-22). Edward III: The Perfect King. RosettaBooks. ISBN 9780795335464.
  3. ↑ Sumption, Jonathan (2011-10-06). Hundred Years War Vol 2: Trial By Fire. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571266593.
  4. ↑ "Guy de BEAUCHAMP, Knight d. 28 Apr 1360 France: Our Family History". www.familyrecord.net. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  5. ↑ Tuchman, Barbara W. (2011-08-03). A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307793690.
  6. ↑ Bothwell, James (2001). The Age of Edward III. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 978-1-903153-06-2.
  7. ↑ Notes and Queries. Oxford University Press. 1879-01-01.
  8. ↑ "Hail kills English troops". HISTORY.com. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
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