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The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were a time of great upheaval for medieval France. In 1328 the Capetian line came to an end. This was the trigger for the Hundred Years War as successive English kings attempted to uphold their claim to the French throne. Catastrophic defeats at Crécy and Poitiers shook the French kingdom to its core. A period of respite followed under Bertrand du Guesclin, but an even more devastating assault was to follow, under the warrior-king par excellence Henry V, and the French disintegration continued until 1429. After that date the French began a recovery, partly triggered by the young visionary Joan of Arc, that would end with them as the major European military power.

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NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR - Last updated 30-July-2002:

This web site is currently undergoing a major redevelopment.  Its initial purpose was to be a supplementary part of my Medieval Total War site, but it appears that it is receiving more interest than I had anticipated. I therefore think, to do the subject justice, I need to add a little more information on it.

 

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100 Years' War

Timeline

1328: Charles IV dies, ending the Capetian dynasty. Philip of Valois succeeds him as Philip VI.
1329: Edward III of England does simple homage for Aquitaine (Guienne), but refuses to do liege homage.
1336: Edward places an embargo on English exports of wool to Flanders.
1337: Philip declares Edward's fiefs forfeit and begins harassing the frontiers of Aquitaine.
1338: Edward III formally claims the French crown. 
1346: Battle of Crécy 
1356: Battle of Poitiers 
1358: The Jacquerie 
 1360: Peace of Brétigny 
 1369: Renewed fighting in France.
1370: French troops commanded by Bertrand du Guesclin.
 1381: Peasants' Revolt in England
1392: Charles VI of France suffers his first attack of insanity. Conflict between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians begins.
 1399: Henry of Lancaster seizes English throne, becoming Henry IV.
1415: Henry V wins a great victory over the French at Agincourt.
 1420: Treaty of Troyes
1429: Joan of Arc relieves the siege at Orléans.
1431: Joan burned at the stake at Rouen.
1435: Peace of Arras; Burgundy abandons the English. 
1436: Charles VII captures Paris. 
1453: Bordeaux falls to the French. The war ends without a treaty.

 

  The hundred years War lasted from 1337 to 1453. It covered the reigns of 5 English kings, each of whom tried in vain to gain control of France.

The conflict began with the death of Charles IV of France, who left no male heir.  EdwardIII of England claimed the throne because he was the grandson of an earlier French King.  Also England ruled Gascony in France and the French were trying to seize power there.  France angered Edward by supporting the Scots in their struggle against England and by interfering with England's wool trade in Flanders.

The first stage of the war lasted until 1360.  Edward defeated the French in two battles, at Crecy and Pointers.  He also captured King John of France and seized Calais.  After this Edward agreed to give up his claim th the French throne, in return for the rights over Gascony, Calais and other territory.

War broke out again in 1369.  This time Edward lost much of what he had gained before.  When Henry V became King in 1413 the next phase of war began.  Henry's victory at Agincourt led to his ruling much of northern France.  But by the 1430s these gains were being swept away by the French army, inspired by Joan of Arc.  By 1453, England had lost all except for Calais.

Important battles during the conflict
ST Omer 1340 (France)
Sluys 1340 (England
Morlaix 1342 (England)
CRECY (1346)  
La roche Derrien 1347 (England)
Mouron 1352 (England)
POITIERS (1356) (England)
Auray 1364 (England)
Cocherel 1364 (France)
Roosebeke 1382 (France)
AGINCOURT 1415 (England)
Bauge 1421 (France)
Ver Neuil 1424 (England)
Rouvray 1429 (England)
Orleans
Formigny
Castillon
GENERAL SITE ON BATTLES

 

 

Redevelopment plan for web site

  Periods  
  - Background
- Part One – Campaigns 1337 – 1360 (complete)
 - Part Two – Campaigns 1360 – 1396 (complete)
 - Part Three - English Expansion 1397 – 1428 (complete)
 - Part Four – The French Resurgence 1429 – 1453 (complete)
 - Aftermath

 Battles - underway - Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt updated

 Kings

 Maps

 Pictures

 Timeline  

 Gaming info

 

Edward (The Black Prince)
While Edward the 'Black Price' clearly inherited his father's military virtues, he lacked Edward III's humanity.  His gilded tomb in Canterbury Cathedral represents him as a paragon of chivalry - which he was but although brave in battle and a good general, he failed as a ruler in Aquitaine (1362-72).  The disastrous resumption of the war after 1369 was a direct result of his harsh taxation following the great expense of the Castilian expedition.