In living memory, France and Great Britain have always been allies. In war and peace from the Great War to World War 2 to the present day, but such was not always the case. Between the Norman Invasion of 1066 and the Napoleonic Wars of 1802-1815, the two allies have found themselves in a state of war no fewer than forty times.
Throughout most of that history, the two sides would clash until one or the other ran out of money, when yet another treaty would be trotted out and signed.
New taxes would be levied to bolster the King’s treasury, and one or the other would be back for another round. The cycle began to change in the late 17th century for reasons which may be summed up with a single word. Debt.
In the time of Henry VIII, British military outlays as a percentage of central government expenses…
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Dave Does History* 