The Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War, which lasted from 1337 to 1453 (although not continuous), was fought almost entirely in France. During the majority of the war, England won the major battles, but in the end, the tides turned, and France was victorious with a great leader, Joan of Arc, who gave the French patriotism.
There were many events that caused the Hundred Years' War. Firstly, England and France were at odds over French aid while Scotland and England were at war. Also, France had interfered with the English wood trade in Flanders. Edward II of England also claimed the French throne because his mother was the sister of the previous king, who had had no heir. All of these causes made tensions high between the French and English, which caused the Hundred Years' war.
The first major battle in the war was a naval battle fought at Sluys in 1340. The English won but they were unable to capitalize their victory, so a truce was signed. In 1346, Edward III and the Black Prince, his son, fought the French at Crecy. The Battle of Crecy was one of the greatest battles in medieval history because the French, who had been considered the best fighters during the Crusades and at Bouvines, lost to the English, who had gained knowledge from the Scots. The English used a longbow, which gave them the upper hand against the French. This battle is seen as the beginning of modern warfare, because the enemies fought with the use of projectiles and not hand-to-hand. Warfare was also now in the hands of the peasants and lower class people, because they were the ones with the powerful weapons. After Crecy, Edward and his troops marched to Calais where they besieged it for eleven months. They were eventually spared because of his pregnant queen. About a year after Calais, France experienced the Black Death which soon spread to England. In 1356, at Poitiers, the war was renewed. England won and took the French king captive. The king was treated respectfully but was taken to England. After Poitiers, France suffered from the traffic of armies marching around their countryside. The English armies raided the countryside in search for food, supplies, and war booty. The French sometimes destroyed districts to prevent the English from benefitting from a region's resources. During this time period, the peasants suffered and in 1358, they revolted, which was known as the Jacquerie. In 1360, the French and English signed a peace treaty at Bretigny. Edward gave up his claim to the throne and kept Calais and the English lands in southern France. French King John II was released after the French paid a ransom. During the time of peace, the Black Prince died, so Richard II became king. He dealt with the Peasant's Revolt and rebellions in Ireland during his reign. He was later deposed by his cousin, Henry IV, who became king. During his reign, they was no war in France because his claim to the throne was questionable. Meanwhile, in France, Charles V and Bertrand Du Guesclin used guerrilla warfare tactics against the English in southern France. Charles VI, the following king, was insane, so nobles, such as the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleans, fought for his power. In England, Henry V took advantage of this opportunity and renewed his claim of the English kings to the crown of France. France had a larger army, but Henry boosted the English morale with his St. Crispen's Day speech, so the English won at Agincourt in 1415. Soon after Agincourt, England regained Normandy. In 1420, the French and English made peace at Troyes. Henry V was planning on marrying Katherine, who was the daughter of the French king, so when Charles VI, their son would become the King of England and France. When Henry died of illness, his son become king of England and France, even though the French did not accept it. Fortunately for the French, Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl, lead the French army against the English. Joan ended the siege at Orleans, and led Dauphin to Reims where he was crowned king of France. She was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English, who tried her as a witch and condemned her to death. The French king did nothing to help her; however, her courage and patriotism led the French to many victories and boosted their morale.
For another few decades, fighting continues. In 1453, the English territories in France only consisted of Calais and the Channel Islands. English kings would continue to call themselves the kings of England and France of centuries
There were many results and changes that occurred during the course and after the war. By the end of the war, both France and England were more nationalistic. England became aware of its island qualities and repudiated everything French. The English language flourished, and many Englishmen became rich from war booty. The war also taught people that peasants were just as effective as nobles on the battlefield. This, along with the reduced population caused by the Black Death, led workers to stand up for their rights and demand higher wages. Thus, feudalism was weakened.
During the war, the authority of kings increased because many nobles died in battle, which allowed the monarchy to become stronger. King also paid permanent armies, so they depended less on feudal contracts. The economy grew because cities expanded, so the monarchs could tax the cities while still getting feudal dues that nobles paid. Feudal nobility was also less important because new technology like the longbow and gunpowder made the mounted knight unnecessary.
There were many events that caused the Hundred Years' War. Firstly, England and France were at odds over French aid while Scotland and England were at war. Also, France had interfered with the English wood trade in Flanders. Edward II of England also claimed the French throne because his mother was the sister of the previous king, who had had no heir. All of these causes made tensions high between the French and English, which caused the Hundred Years' war.
The first major battle in the war was a naval battle fought at Sluys in 1340. The English won but they were unable to capitalize their victory, so a truce was signed. In 1346, Edward III and the Black Prince, his son, fought the French at Crecy. The Battle of Crecy was one of the greatest battles in medieval history because the French, who had been considered the best fighters during the Crusades and at Bouvines, lost to the English, who had gained knowledge from the Scots. The English used a longbow, which gave them the upper hand against the French. This battle is seen as the beginning of modern warfare, because the enemies fought with the use of projectiles and not hand-to-hand. Warfare was also now in the hands of the peasants and lower class people, because they were the ones with the powerful weapons. After Crecy, Edward and his troops marched to Calais where they besieged it for eleven months. They were eventually spared because of his pregnant queen. About a year after Calais, France experienced the Black Death which soon spread to England. In 1356, at Poitiers, the war was renewed. England won and took the French king captive. The king was treated respectfully but was taken to England. After Poitiers, France suffered from the traffic of armies marching around their countryside. The English armies raided the countryside in search for food, supplies, and war booty. The French sometimes destroyed districts to prevent the English from benefitting from a region's resources. During this time period, the peasants suffered and in 1358, they revolted, which was known as the Jacquerie. In 1360, the French and English signed a peace treaty at Bretigny. Edward gave up his claim to the throne and kept Calais and the English lands in southern France. French King John II was released after the French paid a ransom. During the time of peace, the Black Prince died, so Richard II became king. He dealt with the Peasant's Revolt and rebellions in Ireland during his reign. He was later deposed by his cousin, Henry IV, who became king. During his reign, they was no war in France because his claim to the throne was questionable. Meanwhile, in France, Charles V and Bertrand Du Guesclin used guerrilla warfare tactics against the English in southern France. Charles VI, the following king, was insane, so nobles, such as the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleans, fought for his power. In England, Henry V took advantage of this opportunity and renewed his claim of the English kings to the crown of France. France had a larger army, but Henry boosted the English morale with his St. Crispen's Day speech, so the English won at Agincourt in 1415. Soon after Agincourt, England regained Normandy. In 1420, the French and English made peace at Troyes. Henry V was planning on marrying Katherine, who was the daughter of the French king, so when Charles VI, their son would become the King of England and France. When Henry died of illness, his son become king of England and France, even though the French did not accept it. Fortunately for the French, Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl, lead the French army against the English. Joan ended the siege at Orleans, and led Dauphin to Reims where he was crowned king of France. She was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English, who tried her as a witch and condemned her to death. The French king did nothing to help her; however, her courage and patriotism led the French to many victories and boosted their morale.
For another few decades, fighting continues. In 1453, the English territories in France only consisted of Calais and the Channel Islands. English kings would continue to call themselves the kings of England and France of centuries
There were many results and changes that occurred during the course and after the war. By the end of the war, both France and England were more nationalistic. England became aware of its island qualities and repudiated everything French. The English language flourished, and many Englishmen became rich from war booty. The war also taught people that peasants were just as effective as nobles on the battlefield. This, along with the reduced population caused by the Black Death, led workers to stand up for their rights and demand higher wages. Thus, feudalism was weakened.
During the war, the authority of kings increased because many nobles died in battle, which allowed the monarchy to become stronger. King also paid permanent armies, so they depended less on feudal contracts. The economy grew because cities expanded, so the monarchs could tax the cities while still getting feudal dues that nobles paid. Feudal nobility was also less important because new technology like the longbow and gunpowder made the mounted knight unnecessary.