The Hundred Years’ War

Cause The feudal relationship between the Kings of England and France.

The King of England was the Duke of Normandy. The Duke of Normandy owed homage to the King of France. Edward III refused homage to Philip VI. Philip confiscated Edward’s land in Aquitaine. Edward declared he was the King of France, not Philip.

Growing English commercial dominance in Flanders. French influence in Scotland.

Phase : English establish bases in Flanders 1338: Edward proclaims himself King of France

1340: Battle of Sluys; English destroy French fleet. 1346: English expedition into France – 26 August 1346: Battle of Crécy

Italian, c. 1400

Battle of Crécy English Commanded by Edward III 3,000 knights and men-at-arms 10,000 English archers 4,000 Welsh light troops – (one half were archers) 3,000 misc. troops French Commanded by Philip VI 12,000 knights and men-at-arms 6,000 Genoese crossbowmen 17,000 light cavalry 25,000 feudal militia

“This was probably the best-organized, most-experienced, and best-disciplined force gathered in Western Europe since the days of the Roman legion.”

English 2 knights 40 men-at-arms “A few dozen” Welsh infantrymen Total: c. 200 dead and wounded French Philip VI WIA King John of Bohemia KIA 1,542 nobles and knights 10,000-20,000 others “Thousands” of horses Losses

“In a purely military sense... this was one of the most decisive battles in world history.... Since the time of Crécy, infantry has remained the primary element of ground combat forces.”

: Siege and capture of Calais

: Truce 1355: Resumption of the war. August-September 1356 – Raid by Prince Edward – 19 September: Battle of Poitiers

English Commanded by Prince Edward “The Black Prince” 4,000 knights and men-at-arms 4,000 light cavalry 3,000 English archers 1,000 light infantry French Commanded by John II 8,000 knights and men-at-arms 8,000 light cavalry 2,000 crossbowmen 2,500 infantry 15,000 feudal militia

English c. 1,000 KIA c. 1,000 WIA French John II POW 2,500 KIA 2,600 POW Losses

September-October 1356: English withdraw : English raids. 1360: Peace of Bretigny – John ransomed for 3 million “gold crowns” (c. $60 million today) : Peace

1364: John II dies 1376: Prince Edward dies 1377: Edward III dies 1380: Charles V dies 1396: Peace of Paris between Richard II and Charles VI 30 year peace 1399: Richard II deposed by Henry Bolingbrooke – becomes Henry IV

Phase II : – French support for Scotland and Wales – French raid on English coast Burgundians assassinate Louis, Duke of Orleans Political chaos in France

1413: English alliance with Burgundy 1415: English invasion of France – 25 October 1415: Agincourt

English Commanded by Henry V 900 knights and men-at-arms 8,000 archers French Commanded by Charles d’Albert Constable of France 30,000 men – 10,000 knights and men-at-arms – 1,200 mounted

English 13 men-at-arms 100 footmen French Charles d’Albert, Constable of France KIA 5,000 nobles and knights KIA 1,000 nobles and knights POW c. 5,000 others KIA Losses

1422: Henry V dies – Henry VI weak and eventually insane 1429: Charles VII crowned in Rheims : Joan of Arc – Captured by the Burgundians – Bought by the English – Tried for heresy and executed

By October 1453 England controls only Calais. In England: War of the Roses