ALFONSO XI IN THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR
Alfonso XI in the Hundred Years War
During the reign of king Alfonso XI (1312-1350) the colision of interests between France &
England gave place to the conflict known later as "Hundred Years War". So, during the last years of his reign,
he was tempted with proposals of both sides. For French, Castile was the ally who could give them the
naval forces they needed to attack English possesions; France counted with the traditional rivality
between Cantabric and Aquitan sailors. For English, and apart from economical reasons, the domain of sea
was imprescindible for keeping contact with their possesions and armies in the continent. In the long
term, French proposals predominated over English ones: Alfonso signed a treaty of mutual assistance with
the king of France, so, when the war started, even if Castile itself remained neutral, Castilian ships
went to help the French side so, following the Chronicles of the time "people and ships from England
did not dare to navigate by the sea".
Actions of Luis de la Cerda.
Don Luis de la Cerda, oncle of the Castilian king, joined the French side, organizing a fleet of
Castilian & Genoese ships. In 1341, he conquered Dinan & Guerande to the English, but was defeated by Sir
Amery Clisson, in an action where the nephew of Luis de la Cerda (Alfonso de España) died. A more important
action took place next year, when de la Cerda intercepted, near Quimperle, a superior English navy,
commanded by the count of Pembroke. After the battle, both sides retired to the island of Guernsey,
where, the next day, a change of wheather compelled them to retire: English to Bretagne and Castilians,
with the captures of the battle, to the Spanish coast. When the wheather was favourable again, Luis de la
Cerda returned to La Rochelle, capturing some ships from Bayonne, and the harbour of Guerrande. This one is
considered the first naval battle where artillery was used (by Castilian fleet).
Nevertheless, in the following years, no more mayor battles took place in the area: this was a
war of privateers, while the own Castile kept its relations with England, and the own Alfonso XI tried
to mediate between both sides, in order to end the war. English troops centered themshelves in land
operations, where they crushed every French army who tried to oppose them, but the superior diplomatic
skills of the king of France managed to neutralize the effect of these victories. Edward III decided,
thus, to change his strategy, in order to eliminate Castilian corsairs.
Battle of Whinchelsea (August 29th, 1350).
In order to "save the sea from pirates", Edward III gathered a hughe (400 ships?) fleet in
Winchelsea, commanded by himself and his sons John of Gaunt (the Black Prince) and the count of
Richmond. When news were known in Castile, Don Carlos de la Cerda gathered his own fleet and attacked
the English. Chronicles of the battle are vague and contradictory: some English Chronicles seem to affirm
they were the attackers. In any case, English fleet rejected the attack, capturing or sinking between 14
and 26 ships, with only two losses (though their two mayor ships, while the Spanish losses where small
merchant boats). English claimed for the victory, and their king claimed the title of "King of the Sea" ...
and returned home, without finishing his campaign.
On August 1st 1351, Edward III signed in London a treaty with the leaders of the Castilian
sailors (remember that the own Castile was neutral). In a curious negotiation, Edward III, the
theoretical winner of the battle, yielded to all the claims of Castilians (the "pirates"),
including the free trade and fishing rights in the coast of England and Bretagne.
The new king of Castile, Pedro I approved the treaty in Valladolid, while Edward III ordered his
authorities to grant protection to Castilian ships and traders. A new period of English-Castilian
alliance started, only interrupted by the civil war in Castile which ended
with Pedro's reign.
Bibliography.
El Poder naval en los reinos hispánicos.
José Cervera Pery.
Ed. San Martín, Madrid 1992.