The Navarrese Crisis and Edward III’s Strategy (1363)

By 1363, the French Crown was locked in conflict with Navarre, particularly as the Navarrese sought to exploit the captivity of King John II in England and the weakness of the Dauphin (the future Charles V). The Kingdom of Navarre, located near southern Gascony, was ruled by Charles II of Navarre ("Charles the Bad"), a scheming noble with dynastic claims and political ambitions in France.

Navarre’s Power Play Amidst French Instability

• Since 1354, Navarre had been in conflict with the French Crown, resisting Valois control while cultivating alliances with England and other French dissidents.
• With King John II still in English captivity (since Poitiers, 1356) and the Dauphin struggling to consolidate power, Charles II of Navarre sought to expand his influence in northern and western France.
• Seeing an opportunity to weaken France, Edward III of England secretly supported Navarre’s moves, even though no formal treaty existed between them.

Edward III’s Deliberate Stalling of Peace Negotiations

• Edward III, knowing that Navarre’s actions could destabilize France, saw a potential gain for himself:
  • If Navarre successfully challenged Valois authority, Edward might secure control over parts of northern and western France.
  • The continued instability would make it harder for the French to reclaim lands ceded in the Treaty of Brétigny.
• With this in mind, Edward intentionally slowed down peace negotiations, ensuring that the conflict within France remained unresolved.

Impact on the Hundred Years' War

• Navarre’s rebellion and English interference prolonged France’s internal instability, preventing the Dauphin from immediately restoring royal authority.
• The conflict exacerbated divisions within the French nobility, weakening France’s ability to recover from its defeats.
• Edward’s manipulation of the political crisis further delayed a true resolution of hostilities, ensuring that the Hundred Years’ War remained unresolved.

Edward III’s support for Navarre in 1363 was part of a broader strategy to exploit French weakness, ensuring that France remained politically fractured while England strengthened its foothold on the continent.