THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR

The End of Chivalry

1337-1453

VS
 WHAT IS THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR?
The term "Hundred Years War" is a
term used by historians to describe
a series of events in the 14th and
15th centuries. (1337-1453)
The conflict was between France
and England (and their allies)
lasting 116 years, though there
were long periods inbetween
battles.
It was fought primarily over claims
by the English kings to the French
 CAUSES OF THE
HUNDRED YEARS WAR
 THE NORMAN CONQUEST
The causes for the Hundred Years War can go as far back
as an event known as the Norman Conquest in 1066 AD.
William of Normandy (a territory in France) was the
cousin of the King of England. He thought he would
inherit the throne when his cousin fell ill and died.
Instead, he was passed over by a powerful English lord
named Harold.
Angered, William then invades England.
During the Battle of Hastings, he defeats Harold (who
gets shot in the eye by an arrow) and claims himself as
King of England.
 ENGLISH LAND OR FRENCH LAND?

Although William is now the King of England, he also

controls lands back in France.
From here on out, it is English rulers’ goal to control
lands in both England and France.
Some English kings even marry into the French
nobility and gain more lands through marriage.
France is not a unified country prior to the war. In fact,
the French king only controlled about half the country.
By the 1300’s, England held much land in France as did
other powerful lords. English occupied lands
 CONTROVERSY OVER SUCCESSION
When the King of France, Philip IV, died in
1328, there was much controversy over who
would succeed him since he had no sons.
Philip did, however, have a daughter
named Isabella who was married to the
King of England. Together, they had a son.
On the other hand, the king had a brother
who also had a son.
The question was, who should become the
next king?
 CONTROVERSY OVER SUCCESSION
King of France
Brother of King

King Philip IV

Charles of Valois
Daughter of King King of
England

Isabella of France Edward II of England

Nephew of King
Grandson of King of
France and son of Edward III
King of England Philip of Valois
CONTROVERSY OVER SUCCESSION
Following the death of King Philip IV in 1328, the
French nobility selected Philip of Valois, a nephew of
the last king through the male line to become the new
king.

He was chosen in preference to King Edward III of

England, the grandson of the king through his
daughter.

In 1337, Edward III claimed the title “King of France.”

and the war starts…
THE WAR
 THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR

The war was a series of short

raids and expeditions punctuated
by a few major battles, marked
off by truces or ineffective
treaties.
At the start of the war, France
appeared to have a clear
advantage as they had a much
larger population, army and were
 THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR

Although they were

outnumbered in almost
every battle, England had
better weapon technology.
In fact, the early part of
the war was largely
dominated by English
victories.
EARLY ENGLISH VICTORIES
 THE BATTLE OF CRÉCY (1346)
French knights were exhausted from riding
all day to the battle field, only to then have
to storm up a muddy hill while being fired
upon by English archers.
The outnumbered English completely
decimated the larger French army. The
French suffered over 15,000 casualties
compared to just a few hundred English.
Many French nobles are captured and held
for ransom following the battle.
The was also the first time cannons would
be used on a European battlefield. English archers decimating French knights
THE LONGBOW

To defend their position, the

English used a new technology
called the longbow.
Its arrows had more penetrating
power than a bolt from a French
crossbow.
Longbows could pierce the armor of a
knight 200 yards away!
A longbow could also be fired more
rapidly. It is known as the
“machine gun” of the Middle Ages.
12-15 arrows per minute.
THE LONGBOW
 THE CANNON
Cannons see their first use on the European
battlefield during the Hundred Years War.
At first, cannons were extremely heavy, long,
tubular pieces of artillery that used
gunpowder to launch a projectile such as an
iron ball, stones or pellets.
Later, the larger cannons would be replaced
by smaller ones with wheels that were much
more maneuverable and effective.
Cannons were frightening and deadly
weapons.
The cannon would transform siege tactics
and the ways forts/castles will be built to
withstand such power.
 CANNONS AND LONGBOWS AT CRÉCY

“The English guns cast iron

balls by means of fire...They
made a noise like thunder and
caused much loss in men and
horses... [by the end of the
battle], the whole plain was
covered by men struck down by
arrows and cannon balls.”
-Jean Froissart, French Author
 THE BATTLE OF POITIERS (1356)
Edward the III’s son, Edward IV (known as the
“Black Prince of Wales” due to his choice of
armor) invaded France and reignited the war
once again in 1356.
The Black Prince’s army soundly defeated the
French army.
The English were also able to capture many
French nobles including the new king of France,
Jean II.
They held him for ransom and forced him to sign
a treaty that gave French lands to the English.
 THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT (1415)
The English struck again in 1415 when King
Henry V of England baited the larger French
army into attacking his fortified position.
With the aid of the dukes of Burgundy (area of
France loyal to England), and using his
superior archers, the French were completely
destroyed.
Around 10,000 French were killed as opposed
to the 100 or so English. Over 1,500 French
nobles are captured and held for ransom.
Henry gained control over Normandy, Paris,
 FACT OR FICTION? PLUCK YEW!
It has been said that at the Battle of
Agincourt, the French threatened to
cut off the middle fingers of the
English archers.
The middle finger is one of two fingers
necessary to draw or “pluck” their bow
(yew).
 The French were overwhelming
favorites to win the battle, largely
outnumbering the English army.
 When the English came out victorious,
they mockingly made a certain “one
fingered” gesture towards the defeated
French.
 THE TREATY OF TROYES (1420)

Not long after the Battle of Agincourt, France and

England came to a truce.
In this truce, King Henry V of England would
marry Catherine of Valois, the daughter of the
French King, Charles VI.
Charles VII, the king’s son, was disinherited and
declared illegitimate.
This would make Henry and Catherine’s children
the rightful heirs to the French throne.
An English victory was all but assured.
 THE TREATY OF TROYES (1420)

Charles VII is
declared
Charles VI
illegitimate. This
angers many French
nobles who believe the
king has been coerced
Charles VII into this decision. They
aka the think his son is the
Dauphin rightful heir to the
Henry V Catherine throne.
 BACK TO WAR
The treaty was short lived, however.
In an unexpected coincidence, both King
Charles VI and King Henry V unexpectedly
die in the exact same year just months
apart! (1422)
This leaves the infant son of Henry and VS
Catherine to inherit both kingdoms of
England and France! .
Charles VII, of course, is not happy with
this.
The war is reignited once again when
Charles claims that he is the rightful King of
France.
 THE HEIGHT OF ENGLISH DOMINANCE

The two kings’ deaths ushered in the

final stage of the Hundred Years War.
(1422-1453)
So far, the war and political power
seemed to be firmly in English hands.
However, things were about to make
a decisive turn in favor of the French.
 FRENCH DESPAIR
The political situation in France seemed
hopeless.
France had experienced defeat after defeat.
The Dauphin had only a little bit of support
from nobles; not enough to have a sufficient
military force to oppose the English.
Charles VII the was desperate for a miracle.
Little did he know, that help would come in
the form of a young, teenaged girl with no
military experience…
 JOAN OF ARC
Joan of Arc was the daughter of peasants from an area in
Burgundy that had suffered greatly under the English.
She came to despise the English whilst growing up.
Around age 12, she claimed she had started to have divine visions
and began to hear “voices” from God. They told her to go to the
Dauphin, lead the armies and save France from England.
At age 16, she pleaded with French military commanders to let
her meet the Dauphin. She was able to convince them by telling
them about a French victory that had just occurred, (the
messenger with the news wouldn’t arrive for a few days later.)
Convinced she was sent by God, they took her to meet Charles
VII. Equally impressed and perhaps out of desperation, he allows
to accompany the army to Orléans where the English were
sieging the town.
 DID YOU KNOW?
Joan of Arc cut her
hair and dressed like
a boy when
accompanying the
French army.
This was done
possibly to hide her
identity, but more
likely to avoid
advances from the
male soldiers.
 THE SIEGE OF ORLÉANS (1429)

The French town of Orléans was under attack by the English and
was desperately running out of supplies.
After the French general engaged in a largely fruitless
bombardment of the English stronghold, he decided to cease fire
and wait to attack again the next day.
Joan knelt and prayed. Instead of waiting the next day, she quickly
grabbed a ladder and led an assault on the fortress herself.
The French soldiers rushed after her, swarming up the ladders.
Joan was even injured by being struck in the shoulder by an arrow.
She pulled it out herself and continued fighting.
Her faith and charisma helped lead the French to victory.
This battle is considered the turning point in the Hundred Years
 CHARLES VII CROWNED KING
During the next five weeks, Joan led French
forces in a number of stunning victories over
the English.
She seemed to have a knack for military
strategy and her reputation as a great leader
spread far and wide through France.
She became Charles’ most trusted general.
She even personally escorted him into
enemy territory, defeating town after town
until they reached the city of Reims, where
she saw him officially crowned King of
France (ending his disinheritance).
 JOAN THE MARTYR
Joan of Arc brought inspiration through her
charisma and faith.
She gave France a sense of national identity and self-
confidence.
However, she is captured by the English in 1432
leading an attack on Paris.
Because of her “unnatural dress” and claim of
receiving visions from God, she is accused of being a
heretic, practicing witchcraft, etc.
She is found guilty and condemned to death by being
burned at the stake. She is only 19 years old.
 SAINT JOAN

Instead of discouraging the French, Joan’s

death actually had the opposite effect.
She immediately becomes an enduring symbol
of French resistance, unity and nationalism.
Her faith in God inspires the French to rally
and continue defeating the English in battle
after battle.
Recognizing that she was falsely accused of
heresy, witchcraft, etc., the Catholic Church
officially cleared her name and made her a
saint in 1920.
 THE END OF THE WAR

After Joan’s death, the French

advance continued.
By 1450 the English had lost all
their major military centers.
In 1453 the French armies
captured an English-held fortress
at Castillon.
 This was the last battle of the war.

There was not treaty, only a

cessation of hostilities.
TIMELINE OF THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR

1337 1360 1429 1453

CONSEQUENCES OF
THE WAR
 THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR
Gives strong national identities to both England and
France.

Saw the introduction of new weapons such as the longbow

and the cannon. Military tactics would in turn be changed.
(No more knights in heavy armor on horseback).

Both countries see the weakening of feudal lords and the

rise of peasantry which would eventually lead to changes in
government.

Along with the war, plague and famine would lead people to
look for answers that the Church could not provide. This
shifted people’s thinking and paved the way for the
FRANCE BECOMES A UNIFIED NATION!