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The War of the Cow (1272–1278): A Small Trigger, a Big Medieval Conflict
How does a single stolen cow lead to burned towns, tens of thousands of casualties, and a sprawling geopolitical conflict in medieval Europe? In this episode of The History Labyrinth, we journey back to the late 13th century in the Holy Roman Empire to untangle "The War of the Cow" (La Guerre de la Vache). What started as a simple livestock theft at a jousting tournament in 1272 rapidly spiraled into a devastating feudal war involving prince-bishops, dukes, counts, and even the King of France. Join us as we explore how medieval honor, legal jurisdictional squabbles, and a single stolen cow…
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