War between England & Burgundy February 1471

For a brief period of time, England, allied with France, was at war with Burgundy. This came about due to the domestic problems between King Edward IV and his cousin and erstwhile ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. On 3 October 1470 the king fled to Burgundy and Warwick assumed control of the government. In November 1470 French ambassadors arrived in England to close an agreement between Warwick and King Louis XI to make war on Burgundy. On 6 February 1471 the bishop of Bayeux wrote to his king to confirm that the alliance between Warwick and France against King Edward and Charles, Duke of Burgundy, was now agreed.  The same day Warwick wrote to Calais ordering them to begin the war. He had already begun preparations in England to assemble a force which he would personally take command of to support the king of France against Burgundy.

Following the outbreak of hostilities by the French and their success in taking St Quentin, Charles of Burgundy was terrified at the prospect of an Anglo-French alliance and he met with the exiled English king in early January 1471. Charles now had no doubt of the expediency of fully supporting his brother-in-law and provided the necessary resources for King Edward to return to England and regain his throne.  In March the king landed at Ravenspur and by 14 April Warwick was dead on the battlefield of Barnet.

Further Reading:

‘The Wars of the Roses: a new footnote’ by GRC Davis from British Museum Quarterly, vol 20, 1955-6

‘Outbreak of War Between England and Burgundy in February 1471’ by AR Myers from British Institute of Historical Research May 1960. On a letter from Warwick to Louis XI promising England’s support against the Duke of Burgundy.