The Hundred Years' War
Key Areas
- Why did the war break out? What reasons are there?
- Key events of the war: what happened, where, when, why. Within this, students should think about chronology and cause and effect. What was it like? Good chance to look at primary and secondary source material to reach an informed judgement.
- Key people: Edward III, Charles VII, Joan of Arc etc. Could do a case study on Joan of Arc. What side they were on, their role etc.
- Key historical debates: start and end date of war- chance to look at what historians say. Can we as a class come up with a key start and end date?
- Why did the war break out? What reasons are there?
- Key events of the war: what happened, where, when, why. Within this, students should think about chronology and cause and effect. What was it like? Good chance to look at primary and secondary source material to reach an informed judgement.
- Key people: Edward III, Charles VII, Joan of Arc etc. Could do a case study on Joan of Arc. What side they were on, their role etc.
- Key historical debates: start and end date of war- chance to look at what historians say. Can we as a class come up with a key start and end date?
Information
- Usually four or five main periods of conflict: 1 War between Edward III and Philip VI (1328- 50); 2 French reprisal war (1369- 89); 3 Small- scale naval and coastal hostilities- Henry IV piracy war (1399- 1413); 4 Full- blown Lancastrian war (1412+).
- Generally seen as lasting from 1337 to 1453. One main reason for them was to decide who should rule France (either the King of England or the King of France. Since the Norman conquest, English kings had owned different parts of France. By 1327, when Edward III came to the throne, England only controlled 2 areas of France: Gascony in the south and Ponthieu in the north. The French king Charles IV died without sons in 1328 and his nephew, the English king Edward III, had a small claim to the French throne through his mother, Isabella of France. French nobility excluded a link through the mother to the throne and instead crowned Charles's first cousin, Philip of Valois, as King Philip VI. Edward had to reluctantly recognise him as king. Philip VI seized Gascony in 1337 (another factor contributing to the outbreak of war).
- 1338: French fleet sacks Portsmouth.
- 1339: Edward III invaded France.
- 1340: Battle of Sluys- English victory. They surprised French ships whilst they were docked. Sea battle. England controls the Channel. Archers were the key to success here. 1343- France and England form a truce.
- 1346: Battle of Crecy- Edward III had 12, 000 archers and 2, 400 knights whilst the French Philip VI had 6, 000 crossbowmen and 20, 000 militia. This battle was one of the first in which longbows were used, and they could reload and fire much faster and further than crossbows. The French eventually withdrew and nearly a third of their army had been killed. English losses were less than a hundred. It marked the decline of the mounted knight and the rise of England as a world power. From Crecy, Edward marched onto Calais, which surrendered to him in 1347. The first of three major English victories.
- 1348: Order of the Garter- formed by Edward III to carry on them medieval ideas of knighthood.
- 1351: Battle of the Thirty between 30 English and 30 Bretons.
- 1356: Battle of Poitiers: Edward III's son the Black Prince is victorious (scorched earth raids) and captures King John II of France. Prince Philip (later King Philip IV) also captured and held to ransom for £500, 000. The second of three major English victories. 1356-60- France is without a king. 1357- Treaty of Bordeaux (truce).
- 1360: Treaty of Bretigny- gave England areas of France e.g. Aquitaine and Calais and 3 million crowns for King John's ransom but Edward III had to renounce his claim to the French throne. For the next 9 years, he did not use the title of King of France. He then tried to claim the throne again.
- Usually four or five main periods of conflict: 1 War between Edward III and Philip VI (1328- 50); 2 French reprisal war (1369- 89); 3 Small- scale naval and coastal hostilities- Henry IV piracy war (1399- 1413); 4 Full- blown Lancastrian war (1412+).
- Generally seen as lasting from 1337 to 1453. One main reason for them was to decide who should rule France (either the King of England or the King of France. Since the Norman conquest, English kings had owned different parts of France. By 1327, when Edward III came to the throne, England only controlled 2 areas of France: Gascony in the south and Ponthieu in the north. The French king Charles IV died without sons in 1328 and his nephew, the English king Edward III, had a small claim to the French throne through his mother, Isabella of France. French nobility excluded a link through the mother to the throne and instead crowned Charles's first cousin, Philip of Valois, as King Philip VI. Edward had to reluctantly recognise him as king. Philip VI seized Gascony in 1337 (another factor contributing to the outbreak of war).
- 1338: French fleet sacks Portsmouth.
- 1339: Edward III invaded France.
- 1340: Battle of Sluys- English victory. They surprised French ships whilst they were docked. Sea battle. England controls the Channel. Archers were the key to success here. 1343- France and England form a truce.
- 1346: Battle of Crecy- Edward III had 12, 000 archers and 2, 400 knights whilst the French Philip VI had 6, 000 crossbowmen and 20, 000 militia. This battle was one of the first in which longbows were used, and they could reload and fire much faster and further than crossbows. The French eventually withdrew and nearly a third of their army had been killed. English losses were less than a hundred. It marked the decline of the mounted knight and the rise of England as a world power. From Crecy, Edward marched onto Calais, which surrendered to him in 1347. The first of three major English victories.
- 1348: Order of the Garter- formed by Edward III to carry on them medieval ideas of knighthood.
- 1351: Battle of the Thirty between 30 English and 30 Bretons.
- 1356: Battle of Poitiers: Edward III's son the Black Prince is victorious (scorched earth raids) and captures King John II of France. Prince Philip (later King Philip IV) also captured and held to ransom for £500, 000. The second of three major English victories. 1356-60- France is without a king. 1357- Treaty of Bordeaux (truce).
- 1360: Treaty of Bretigny- gave England areas of France e.g. Aquitaine and Calais and 3 million crowns for King John's ransom but Edward III had to renounce his claim to the French throne. For the next 9 years, he did not use the title of King of France. He then tried to claim the throne again.
- 1369: Peace of Bretigny broke when England and France were on opposing sides in an internal Spanish dispute for Castile's throne.
- 1372: English fleet defeated in battle off La Rochelle.
- By 1375, King Charles V and his constable Bertrand du Guesclin had regained Aquitaine, which reduced England's authority to a small coastal strip between Bordeux and Bayonne. He conducted naval raids on English south coast ports. 1376- Black Prince dies.
- 1377: Edward III dies and is succeeded by Richard II. French take advantage of this and uses cannon to recapture English castles in France. French sack the Isle of Wight.
- 1378: English gain Cherbourg. Peasant's Revolt.
- 1380: the English were pushed back by French general Bertrand du Guesclin. Charles V dies. Under English King Richard II, there were attempts to negotiate peace (6- year truce from 1381). In France, there was rivalry between the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleans for control of the government for the insane King Charles VI. In 1407, Louis of Orleans was assassinated, leading to civil war. Henry V of England intervened in 1413.
- 1396: Treaty with France; Richard II marries Isabella of France.
- 1400: Richard dies.
- 1407-35: Armagnac- Burgundian Civil War- Henry V presses his claim to the French throne whilst the French are engaging in civil war.
- 1414: Henry V further pushes claim to French throne.
- 1415: Battle of Agincourt- led by English King Henry V (king in 1413). Henry claimed the title of King of France through his great- great grandfather Edward III (although English kings would renounce this claim if the French would acknowledge the English claim on Aquitaine and other areas of France). Negotiations followed, which included Henry marrying Charles VI's daughter, Princess Catherine. French started off accepting these terms but by 1415 negotiations had ground to a halt. The English claimed the French had mocked their claims and soon, war broke out. French were weighed down by their heavy armour and Henry V ordered his archers (longbows, which could fire 10 arrows per minute and could kill a man at 180m) and knights with axes to kill the French. The French made the mistake of attacking English knights not the archers (this is where the insult of sticking two fingers up came from). Almost 6, 000 lost their lives, whilst English fatalities only amounted to around 400. The Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon taken prisoner. Battle lasted 3 hours. The English were victorious and Henry went on to capture Normandy. In January 1419, Rouen and its 70, 000 inhabitants fell to Henry V. It became the centre of English power in France and Joan of Arc was tried in the city in 1430. 1421-2: English siege of Meaux (starved out defence). In 1420, Henry was recognised by French King Charles VI as heir to the French throne and regent of France in the Treaty of Troyes but both he and Charles VI died two years later in 1422. Henry's son, Henry VI recognised as the King of France despite only being 9 months old. Regency by Duke of Bedford. However, Charles VI's son, Charles VII claims the throne. French strike back under Joan of Arc. The third of three major English victories.
- 1372: English fleet defeated in battle off La Rochelle.
- By 1375, King Charles V and his constable Bertrand du Guesclin had regained Aquitaine, which reduced England's authority to a small coastal strip between Bordeux and Bayonne. He conducted naval raids on English south coast ports. 1376- Black Prince dies.
- 1377: Edward III dies and is succeeded by Richard II. French take advantage of this and uses cannon to recapture English castles in France. French sack the Isle of Wight.
- 1378: English gain Cherbourg. Peasant's Revolt.
- 1380: the English were pushed back by French general Bertrand du Guesclin. Charles V dies. Under English King Richard II, there were attempts to negotiate peace (6- year truce from 1381). In France, there was rivalry between the Dukes of Burgundy and Orleans for control of the government for the insane King Charles VI. In 1407, Louis of Orleans was assassinated, leading to civil war. Henry V of England intervened in 1413.
- 1396: Treaty with France; Richard II marries Isabella of France.
- 1400: Richard dies.
- 1407-35: Armagnac- Burgundian Civil War- Henry V presses his claim to the French throne whilst the French are engaging in civil war.
- 1414: Henry V further pushes claim to French throne.
- 1415: Battle of Agincourt- led by English King Henry V (king in 1413). Henry claimed the title of King of France through his great- great grandfather Edward III (although English kings would renounce this claim if the French would acknowledge the English claim on Aquitaine and other areas of France). Negotiations followed, which included Henry marrying Charles VI's daughter, Princess Catherine. French started off accepting these terms but by 1415 negotiations had ground to a halt. The English claimed the French had mocked their claims and soon, war broke out. French were weighed down by their heavy armour and Henry V ordered his archers (longbows, which could fire 10 arrows per minute and could kill a man at 180m) and knights with axes to kill the French. The French made the mistake of attacking English knights not the archers (this is where the insult of sticking two fingers up came from). Almost 6, 000 lost their lives, whilst English fatalities only amounted to around 400. The Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon taken prisoner. Battle lasted 3 hours. The English were victorious and Henry went on to capture Normandy. In January 1419, Rouen and its 70, 000 inhabitants fell to Henry V. It became the centre of English power in France and Joan of Arc was tried in the city in 1430. 1421-2: English siege of Meaux (starved out defence). In 1420, Henry was recognised by French King Charles VI as heir to the French throne and regent of France in the Treaty of Troyes but both he and Charles VI died two years later in 1422. Henry's son, Henry VI recognised as the King of France despite only being 9 months old. Regency by Duke of Bedford. However, Charles VI's son, Charles VII claims the throne. French strike back under Joan of Arc. The third of three major English victories.
- 1424: Battle of Verneuil- English victory.
- 1425: Le Mans surrenders to the English. French defeat English at Montargis in 1427.
- From 1429, French kings recaptured nearly all of France, leaving only Calais in English hands.
- 1429: Joan of Arc leads French army to victory at Orleans and an English army is defeated at Patay. She was born in Domremy in 1412. When she was 12, she claimed that three saints (Michael, Margaret and Catherine) visited her and told her to go to church. In 1428, she claimed they told her to go Charles VII (the Dauphin) and tell him to let her remove the English from France. She sees him and tells him she knows he begged God to save the French and he is in awe. She was questioned by holy men who questioned her for 3 weeks. She wore a suit of armour and made soldiers go to church, give up swearing and stop stealing. Attacked English and French were victorious. When Charles VII was crowned king in 1429, she stood by his side carrying her banner. Many other victories e.g. Jargeau and Patay. She was betrayed and captured at the town of Compiegne by Burgundian troops (allied with English) in 1430. She was put on trial as a witch but there was not enough evidence, so they used dressing as a man (in armour) as proof and burned her at the stake. People on both sides saw it as a mistake and several years later Pope Callixtus III stated that she was innocent and declared her a martyr. In 1920, she was made a saint after French soldiers in the First World War reported miracles after praying to her.
- 1435: Duke of Bedford (regent) dies; succeeded by Richard Duke of York (1437 he captured Pointoise but replaced as regent by the Earl of Warwick).
- 1439: Congress of Calais- fruitless attempt at peace. 1440: English capture Harfleur.
- 1442: French retake most of Gascony.
- 1444: General truce at Tours. 1445: Marriage between Henry VI of England and Margaret of Anjou.
- 1449: English forces sacked and looted at Fougeres. Charles VII declared himself no longer bound by the truce. English commander John Talbot took Bordeaux in 1452. 1449: English surrender Le Mans.
- 1450: English lose control of Normandy. 1451: French take Bordeaux and Bayonne (England only left with Calais).
- 1453: English defeated at Castillon and Talbot was killed. Battle of Castillon was the first major battle of the war to be decided by gunfire. Bordeux returned to the French, signalling the end of the war.
- 1455: Wars of the Roses begins. Mostly on French soil so high French losses. Francophobia from 15th- 20th centuries, when Germany replaced France as England's natural enemy in popular thought.
- 1425: Le Mans surrenders to the English. French defeat English at Montargis in 1427.
- From 1429, French kings recaptured nearly all of France, leaving only Calais in English hands.
- 1429: Joan of Arc leads French army to victory at Orleans and an English army is defeated at Patay. She was born in Domremy in 1412. When she was 12, she claimed that three saints (Michael, Margaret and Catherine) visited her and told her to go to church. In 1428, she claimed they told her to go Charles VII (the Dauphin) and tell him to let her remove the English from France. She sees him and tells him she knows he begged God to save the French and he is in awe. She was questioned by holy men who questioned her for 3 weeks. She wore a suit of armour and made soldiers go to church, give up swearing and stop stealing. Attacked English and French were victorious. When Charles VII was crowned king in 1429, she stood by his side carrying her banner. Many other victories e.g. Jargeau and Patay. She was betrayed and captured at the town of Compiegne by Burgundian troops (allied with English) in 1430. She was put on trial as a witch but there was not enough evidence, so they used dressing as a man (in armour) as proof and burned her at the stake. People on both sides saw it as a mistake and several years later Pope Callixtus III stated that she was innocent and declared her a martyr. In 1920, she was made a saint after French soldiers in the First World War reported miracles after praying to her.
- 1435: Duke of Bedford (regent) dies; succeeded by Richard Duke of York (1437 he captured Pointoise but replaced as regent by the Earl of Warwick).
- 1439: Congress of Calais- fruitless attempt at peace. 1440: English capture Harfleur.
- 1442: French retake most of Gascony.
- 1444: General truce at Tours. 1445: Marriage between Henry VI of England and Margaret of Anjou.
- 1449: English forces sacked and looted at Fougeres. Charles VII declared himself no longer bound by the truce. English commander John Talbot took Bordeaux in 1452. 1449: English surrender Le Mans.
- 1450: English lose control of Normandy. 1451: French take Bordeaux and Bayonne (England only left with Calais).
- 1453: English defeated at Castillon and Talbot was killed. Battle of Castillon was the first major battle of the war to be decided by gunfire. Bordeux returned to the French, signalling the end of the war.
- 1455: Wars of the Roses begins. Mostly on French soil so high French losses. Francophobia from 15th- 20th centuries, when Germany replaced France as England's natural enemy in popular thought.
Key Terminology/ Issues
- Issue: it was after this war that English people saw themselves as English- before, they identified themselves depending on their local baron or area.
- Issue: there is some debate amongst historians surrounding the start and end date. Some argue war broke out in 1340, others say 1328 on the death of Edward's uncle, others say the start of the conflict was rooted in the previous two reigns. It is a similar story concerning the date of the end of the war. If it was about the Duchy of Aquitaine, then 1453 would be the end date; if it was about English conquests in France then the end of the war would be 1558, when England lost Calais to France. If it was about English king's having a claim to the French throne, then the war lasted over 450 years.
- Longbowmen
- Black Prince
- Agincourt
- Issue: it was after this war that English people saw themselves as English- before, they identified themselves depending on their local baron or area.
- Issue: there is some debate amongst historians surrounding the start and end date. Some argue war broke out in 1340, others say 1328 on the death of Edward's uncle, others say the start of the conflict was rooted in the previous two reigns. It is a similar story concerning the date of the end of the war. If it was about the Duchy of Aquitaine, then 1453 would be the end date; if it was about English conquests in France then the end of the war would be 1558, when England lost Calais to France. If it was about English king's having a claim to the French throne, then the war lasted over 450 years.
- Longbowmen
- Black Prince
- Agincourt
Pedagogical/ Teaching Ideas
- In order to encourage students to have confidence in their opinions and answers, ask them to consider the reasons for why the war broke out. They should put them in an order, with the first reason being the one they feel was the most important reason for the outbreak of war and work down. Students should then write a paragraph explaining why they have put them in that order. Historians often debate on issues so this is a fantastic opportunity to encourage students to believe in their opinions.
- Would be a great chance to look at primary and secondary sources. Students could look at both of these, writing down some ideas about what the author is trying to say and could then use this information to write a diary entry from the point of view of a soldier from either side and from any battle. This would be a good chance for students to develop their source work skills, particularly working on taking certain pieces of information from a source and using it elsewhere.
- When looking at key people, we could do a case study on Joan of Arc- good chance to imagine we are in a court room- one side of students could be defending Joan, the other prosecuting. Teacher to be the judge. Students then come together irrespective of what side they were on and become the jury.
- How did Shakespeare keep Henry V a popular king? What does he say? (getting specifics from a source).
- Could we use the school field to re- enact one of the Battles? Chance for students to get hands on.
Resources/ Images
- As Joan of Arc was burning at the stake, one onlooker supposedly said: 'we are lost, for we have burnt a saint'. The King of England's secretary also offered a similar sentiment: 'we are all ruined, for a good and holy person was burned'.
- Really good website for teaching resources and ideas: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/the-hundred-years-war-11015431
- Road to Agincourt clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBSH3IoFZsc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpswyzn-LZA
- Horrible Histories Joan of Arc clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X07qnxXmeQ0
- British Library Hundred Years War information: http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item107723.html
Examples of Exam Questions
WJEC New Spec 2016
- 'Explain the connections between two of the following issues that are to do with the Hundred Years' War: Edward III's claim to the French throne; the confiscation of Aquitaine; Isabella of France; Philip IV of France'. All are inter- related.
- In order to encourage students to have confidence in their opinions and answers, ask them to consider the reasons for why the war broke out. They should put them in an order, with the first reason being the one they feel was the most important reason for the outbreak of war and work down. Students should then write a paragraph explaining why they have put them in that order. Historians often debate on issues so this is a fantastic opportunity to encourage students to believe in their opinions.
- Would be a great chance to look at primary and secondary sources. Students could look at both of these, writing down some ideas about what the author is trying to say and could then use this information to write a diary entry from the point of view of a soldier from either side and from any battle. This would be a good chance for students to develop their source work skills, particularly working on taking certain pieces of information from a source and using it elsewhere.
- When looking at key people, we could do a case study on Joan of Arc- good chance to imagine we are in a court room- one side of students could be defending Joan, the other prosecuting. Teacher to be the judge. Students then come together irrespective of what side they were on and become the jury.
- How did Shakespeare keep Henry V a popular king? What does he say? (getting specifics from a source).
- Could we use the school field to re- enact one of the Battles? Chance for students to get hands on.
Resources/ Images
- As Joan of Arc was burning at the stake, one onlooker supposedly said: 'we are lost, for we have burnt a saint'. The King of England's secretary also offered a similar sentiment: 'we are all ruined, for a good and holy person was burned'.
- Really good website for teaching resources and ideas: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/the-hundred-years-war-11015431
- Road to Agincourt clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBSH3IoFZsc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpswyzn-LZA
- Horrible Histories Joan of Arc clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X07qnxXmeQ0
- British Library Hundred Years War information: http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item107723.html
Examples of Exam Questions
WJEC New Spec 2016
- 'Explain the connections between two of the following issues that are to do with the Hundred Years' War: Edward III's claim to the French throne; the confiscation of Aquitaine; Isabella of France; Philip IV of France'. All are inter- related.