Truce of Malestroit

Truce of Malestroit

Type	Time-limited truce
Context	Hundred Years' War
Drafted	September 1343
Signed	25 September 1340 (1340-09-25)
Location	Malestroit, Brittany, France
Effective	19 January 1343
Expiration	29 September 1346 (1346-09-29). Repeatedly extended.
Expiry	June 1345
Mediators	Joan, Countess of Hainaut, Charles, Count of Alençon
Negotiators	English:  • Henry Burghersh, Bishop of Lincoln  • John, Duke of Brabant  • William, Count of Hainaut  • Reginald, Duke of Guelders  • William, Margrave of Jülich French:  • King John of Bohemia  • Charles, Count of Alençon  • Louis, Count of Flanders  • John, Count of Armagnac  • Adolph de la Marck, Prince-Bishop of Liège
Original signatories	Edward III of England Philip VI of France
Parties	Kingdom of England Kingdom of France

Commemorative plaque on the ruins of the Chapel of the Madeleine, reading: "Historic ruins of the Magdalene chapel, where was signed on 19th January 1343 during the Hundred Years' war by representatives of the English and French realms, the Truce of Malestroit, in the presence of Papal legates the Cardinals of Clermont and of Prenets."

The Truce of Malestroit was signed on 19 January 1343 between Edward III of England and Philip VI of France, in the chapelle de la Madeleine in Malestroit. After the signing of this truce, the basis of which was uti posseditis, the two monarchs recognized the status quo. The English sovereign and his troops then left Brittany for England, from which events in France soon raised the diplomatic tension again.

Scheduled to last only until 29 September, the truce was short-term; as of February Edward III ordered preparations for embarkation of military forces from Portsmouth. At this point, the French king, Philippe VI, put an end to the truce by executing without trial (and despite prior agreements) Olivier IV de Clisson in Paris on 2 August, and then on 29 November a further fourteen Breton lords: Geoffroi de Malestroit, Jean de Montauban, Alain de Quédillac, Denis du Plessis, Guillaume II des Brieux and his brothers Jean and Olivier, and others. These were all supporters of Jean of Montfort.

Despite these provocations, hostilities between England and France did not officially recommence until 1345; they were, however, pursued till 1362.

Sources

• Georges Bordonove, Les Rois qui ont fait la France - Les Valois - Charles V le Sage, tome 1, éditions Pygmalion, 1988.
• Arthur de La Borderie Histoire de la Bretagne réédition Joseph Floch Mayenne (1975), Tome troisième «Rupture de la trêve de Malestroit» p. 481-487.