What Was the 100 Years War?
The 100 Years War was one of the most devastating wars in European history. Spanning from 1337 to 1453, the conflict involved an array of states and countries vying for control of previously held territories. Fought primarily between England and France, the Hundred Years War saw some of the earliest uses of gunpowder weapons, armoured cavalry, and siege-craft. In this article, we’re going to take a look back at the 100 Years War and explore why it was so significant.
Background: What Led to the War?
The Hundred Years War was primarily a conflict about competing claims for the French throne. It began after the death of King Charles IV of France in 1328, when French nobles chose Philip of Valois as the next king. The English, however, felt their own claimant – Edward III – was more entitled to the throne. From there, a series of skirmishes began that would evolve into the full-scale conflict known as the 100 Years War.
The Causes of the War
The conflict’s roots can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the Normans invaded England and established a new order. As a result of this, the English monarchs held large tracts of French land, making them technically the feudal lords of both countries. During the 14th century, however, French kings sought to re-establish French sovereignty by seeking retribution for certain English treaties and confiscating previously held English territories. All of this put just the right tension on the already-turbulent situation, leading to full-blown war.
The Three Phases of the War
The Hundred Years War is typically divided into three distinct phases: The Edwardian War (1337-1360), The Caroline War (1369-1389), and The Lancastrian War (1415-1453). In the Edwardian War, the French were able to make initial gains until their army was defeated in the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. Following this, a period of truce was declared.
The Caroline War began in 1369, following the revocation of the truce. The French king, Charles V, was able to retake land across central and northern France and even besieged Paris. On the English side, Edward III’s son, Edward “the Black Prince”, was able to secure important victories in the battles of Crecy, Poitiers, and Agincourt.
The Lancastrian War saw the tide of the war turn back in favour of the French. Major successes of this period include France’s strategic alliance with Brittany and Burgundy, the capture of Harfleur, and the eventual surrender of the English at the Battle of Castillon.
Major Events and Key Battles
The Hundred Years War saw some of the most significant and pivotal battles of the Middle Ages. Here are some of the key events that occurred during this period:
• The Battle of Sluys (1340) – the first major naval engagement of the war, fought on 24 June 1340 between the navies of England and France.
• The Battle of Crecy (1346) – the most renowned land battle of the Hundred Years War, fought 24 August 1346 between the English archers and French knights.
• The Battle of Agincourt (1415) – one of the most iconic clashes of the Hundred Years War, fought between English longbowmen and armoured French knights, resulting in a decisive victory for the English.
• The Siege of Orleans (1429) – the longest siege of the war, lasting eight months and ending with the English capitulating and the French heroine Joan of Arc achieving a major tactical victory.
• The Battle of Castillon (1453) – the last major land battle of the war resulting in a French victory and the surrender of the English.
Impacts of the War
The 100 Years War had far-reaching effects on the development of both England and France’s universities, legal systems, warfare techniques, and military organisations. The lengthy conflict saw the use of gunpowder weapons, the emergence of an independent French state, the strengthening of English parliamentary rule, and vast numbers of civilian deaths. Furthermore, it changed the course of European history, paving the way for the Protestant Reformation, the discovery of the New World, and the eventual advent of Renaissance humanism.
The 100 Years War was a devastating conflict which saw some of the earliest uses of gunpowder weapons and armour, as well as a significant transformation in the way wars were fought. At the time, its causes were largely traceable to a dispute over the French throne and the broader Norman rule over England and France. The war proved significant to both English and French history, with lasting effects in the formation of English parliamentary rule and the French national identity, as well as paving the way for other major world-shaping events.
