Nationalism and Political Identity

Abstract

During the early fifteenth century, the French people felt no strong national identity. Feudal lords dominated several regions. Allied with the feudal fiefdom Burgundy, the English controlled most areas of present-day France. Roman Catholic Church authority extended over a more universal community. The French King Charles, who remained subordinate to both the feudal lords and the Church, governed only a few provinces within the central and southern areas of France. In 1429 if English troops had captured the city of Orleans, they would have controlled the whole French territory. Faced with this disintegrating political situation, Charles VII proved unable to mobilize the French forces against England.