Hundred Years' War

By History And Culture Media

9/8/2024

The Hundred Years’ War: Causes, Battles, and Legacy

The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) was a prolonged conflict between England and France over dynastic claims to the French throne. Spanning 116 years, it included periods of intense warfare and uneasy truces, shaping medieval European politics, society, and military evolution.

Causes of the Hundred Years’ War

Dynastic Disputes

The war’s primary cause was England’s claim to the French crown. In 1328, after the death of French king Charles IV, Edward III of England, as the son of Isabella of France, claimed the throne. However, Philip VI of Valois was crowned, sparking English resentment.

Feudal and Territorial Tensions

English possessions in France: The duchy of Aquitaine remained under English control since the Angevin Empire, creating frequent disputes over sovereignty.
Economic rivalry: Competition over the wealthy Flanders cloth trade intensified hostilities.

Major Phases and Battles

Edwardian War (1337–1360)

Battle of Crécy (1346): Edward III’s forces, using longbowmen, defeated the French army decisively.
Siege of Calais (1347): Calais fell to England and remained under English control for over two centuries.
Treaty of Brétigny (1360): Edward III renounced his claim to the French throne in exchange for expanded territories in France.

Caroline War (1369–1389)

Initiated by Charles V of France, who regained lands lost under the Treaty of Brétigny.
Bertrand du Guesclin, a brilliant French commander, used guerrilla tactics to undermine English control.

Lancastrian War (1415–1453)

Battle of Agincourt (1415): Henry V of England crushed a larger French army, again demonstrating the devastating effectiveness of English longbowmen.
Treaty of Troyes (1420): Recognized Henry V as heir to the French throne, disinheriting the Dauphin Charles.
Joan of Arc (1429): The teenage peasant inspired French forces to lift the Siege of Orléans and helped Charles VII’s coronation at Reims.
Battle of Castillon (1453): The final battle, where French artillery defeated English forces, ending the war and English territorial ambitions in France (except Calais).

Consequences of the Hundred Years’ War

Political Impact

France: Emerged unified under a strengthened monarchy, ending feudal fragmentation.
England: The war drained finances, fostered discontent, and contributed to the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487).

Military Evolution

Decline of feudal cavalry as longbowmen, pike infantry, and artillery revolutionized medieval warfare.
Rise of professional standing armies, replacing feudal levies.

Economic and Social Effects

France’s countryside devastated by repeated campaigns.
Heavy taxation in England and France fueled peasant revolts such as the English Peasants’ Revolt (1381) and French Jacquerie (1358).

Cultural Legacy

The Hundred Years’ War produced legends of chivalry, such as Joan of Arc, and literary works reflecting the period’s turbulence, including Chaucer’s writings and French chronicles by Jean Froissart.

Conclusion

The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) was more than a dynastic conflict; it transformed European politics, warfare, and national identity. Its end marked the decline of medieval feudal structures and the rise of centralized nation-states in both England and France, shaping the trajectory of European history for centuries.