Tag Archives: War

Day in History: 350 years since Charles II sold Dunkirk to France

October 22, 2012 at 7:33 pm by Artemisia

350 years ago Charles II sold Dunkirk to France for approximately £400,000. It was a hugely unpopular move that was influenced by financial and political needs. The port, although a valuable strategic outpost, was a huge drain on the King’s financial resources. However, there can be no doubt that even a greater motive was the vital need to forge closer relationships with France. Dunkirk was essentially a liability to the … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Historical Royals, The United Kingdom | Tagged Charles II of England, Finances, France, Louis XIV of France, War | 3 Comments

Day in History: Birth of Louis VIII the Lion

September 5, 2012 at 8:05 pm by Artemisia

Louis VIII of France earned his epithet “the Lion” for the courage he displayed on the battlefield, for seizing back many of the lands that were lost to the English (such as Avignon, Poitou, Saintonge, Languedoc) and for his strong, wilful character. Yet he is arguably most famous for being the only French Monarch who succeeded in invading most of England and claiming the English Throne, even if temporarily. Louis … Continue reading →