The Truce of Leulinghem Brings a Pause to the Hundred Years’ War
On July 18, 1389, England and France agreed to the Truce of Leulinghem, a major attempt to halt the fighting during the long and costly Hundred Years’ War. Negotiated at the village of Leulinghem near Calais, the truce was arranged between representatives of King Richard II of England and King Charles VI of France, bringing temporary peace after decades of conflict.
The agreement followed years of warfare, including the devastating campaigns of Edward III and the victories and defeats that had shaped relations between the two kingdoms. Both sides were exhausted by the financial burden of war, internal political struggles, and the desire to stabilize their realms. The truce was intended to last for several years and included hopes for a permanent peace settlement through further negotiations.
Although the Truce of Leulinghem did not end the Hundred Years’ War, it marked an important diplomatic effort to replace battlefields with negotiation. The fragile peace reflected a changing period in medieval Europe, where rulers increasingly relied on diplomacy alongside military power. Hostilities would eventually resume, but the truce remains a notable moment in the long struggle between England and France.
