The Hundred Years’ War

Background

• In the 14th century, many wars broke out in Europe

• The Hundred Years’ War was a major confrontation that occurred between England and France over the French throne

• Lasted from 1337 until 1453• French will defeated the English

Causes

• The causes of the war go back to 1066 when William of Normandy took the throne of England– English kings after William controlled England and

part of France (Normandy)• 1152—King Henry II married Eleanor of

Aquitaine—the former wife of the French king– Henry received a large area of French land by

marrying Eleanor—the Aquitaine

• After the marriage of Henry II and Eleanor, the English king controlled more French land than the French king

• 1200s—Philip II, king of France, regained some of the French land back from the weak English king John

• 1328—the king of France died and left no heir to the throne

• Two men claomed the throne– 1.) King Edward III of England• Edward was the dead king’s grandson

– 2.) Philip of Valois• Philip was the dead king’s nephew

Major Battles

• There were 2 major battles of the Hundred Years’ War

• 1.) The Battle of Crecy• 2.) The Battle of Agincourt

1.) The Battle of Crecy - 1346

• The French outnumbered the English 2 to 1• The English overcame their numerical disadvantage

by using the Welsh Longbow– Bow as tall as a man, shot steel tipped arrows that could

penetrate armor at 300 yards• The French had no Longbow• The English win the battle

2.) Battle of Agincourt - 1415

• English were outnumbered 3 to 1• The English overcome the odds and defeat

France again

Joan of Arc

• The French received a “savior” that would help them eventually defeat the English and reclaim France—Joan of Arc

• Joan grew up illiterate in Domremy—a small French village

• At age 17 she left home because God told her to drive the English out of France

• 1429—Joan visited Charles—heir to the French throne—and asked to lead French troops against the English

• Charles agreed and sent Joan to Orleans—a French city held by the English

• Joan and her troops were successful in driving the English out of the city

• Joan then led her troops to Reims where Charles was crowned King of France—Charles VII

• 1430—Joan was captured by her own troops and sold to the English

• The English put her on trial and sentenced her as a witch

• Joan was burned at the stake

Effects of the Hundred Years’ War

• France suffered greatly because all of the fighting occurred on French land

• France did regain nearly all of its land back from the English

• The loss of French land caused the English to develop a national unity and focus on their problems at home

• The war helped quicken the end of feudalism– The use of the longbow and early firearms made

feudal ways of fighting ineffective• Threats to the monarchy in both France and

England were reduced because so many nobles were killed in the war