War of Affirmation (Sacred Accord)

The War of Affirmation was a military conflict between the Angevin Realm and the Breto-Burgundian alliance. Its conclusion with an Angevin victory marked the end of the Anglo-Burgundian Wars that had raged nearly incessantly for nearly eighty years since the start of the Angevin War.

The war was, in essence, a continuation of the Fennoscandian War. The Treaty of Thisted that ended Burgundy's involvement in the war was not signed by Charles Quincey who was not content to allow Burgundy to get off lightly. On 21 July 1515, taking advantage of Burgundy's bankruptcy and shattered soldiery, Quincey commanded George Middleton to lead to the Army Angevin into Burgundy. As soon as news of this reached François II of Brittany, he declared war on the Angevins, honouring the decades-old Breto-Burgundian alliance. Jean III of Burgundy barely mustered 10,000 men to mount a desperate defense of Dijon in September; they were easily defeated.

By May 1516, all corners of the Burgundian domain were occupied. In captivity Jean was forced to sign the Treaty of Besançon, acknowledging the legitimacy of the Oath of Angers and thereby swearing to not contest the Angevin claim to the French throne. The swiftness of the Anglo-Savoyard advance into Burgundy so alarmed François that he decided to personally lead an offensive into Normandy. Recently discovered correspondence with his court reveals that he intended to raze the Abbey of Saint-Étienne in Caen. While a detestable act in the eyes of the Catholic Church, François was desperate to retain the progress he and his predecessors had made in the Two Hundred Years' War.

Middleton's army battled the Bretons for over a year until, on 21 November 1517, François was slain on the battlefield at Angers. He soon reached Brest where the Breton nobles begged for peace. The subsequent Treaty of Gwened (Vannes) saw Brittany cede all territory seized over the course of the Two Hundred Years' War - in essence, all territory beyond the Loire - to the Angevin Kingdom of France, as well as an acceptance of the Oath of Angers.

After the war, Quincey organised an enormous month-long festival to be held in London, Paris, Turin and Angers celebrating the attainment at last of a reunified Angevin realm. Exhibitions celebrating English, French, Piedmontese, Arpitan, Norman, Gascon and Occitanian culture were held, and in each city the festivities began with a speech by Quincey in the local language ushering in a new era of peace. Time would tell if he was truthful.