The 100 Years War

1. The 100 Years War

2. Background: England • Conquered by Normans (of France) in 1066 • English monarchs kept close ties with western France, controlling feudal lands • Edward III of England was the grandson of Philip the Fair of France • Norman kings required lords’ feudal skills to raise money and army • English wool producers depended on Flanders (southern “Low Countries”) to purchase wool Edward III and his son, Edward “the Black Prince”

4. Background: France • Feudal France lacked cohesion: English influence, separate Burgundy, fickle affiliation of Low Countries • Charles IV, son of Philip the Fair, uncle of English Edward III, had no male heirs • 100YW was type of French civil war, in addition to war against England • France had three times the population of England • To raise money, the king called the “Estates General” assembly Philip the Fair (Philip IV)

5. Causes of the War • After Charles IV of France, who should be king? Philip (his 1st cousin) or Edward III of England (his nephew)? • England’s Edward III claimed right to French throne • French nobles bypassed Edward, placing Charles IV’s cousin on throne: Philip VI of Valois, starting line of “Valois Kings” • France resented English influence over western fiefdoms

6. War Phase 1: Edward III of England • Close economic ties allied Flanders with England • Superiority of English longbow • 1356, at Portiers, English defeated France and kidnapped French King John II (son of then-dead Philip VI) • Estates General tried to rule France, but was too disunited • Jacquerie of 1358: failed French peasant uprisings against taxation English longbows against crossbows

7. Battle of Crecy 1346(Don’t write this down) • French forces: 36,000. English forces = 12,000 (incl 7,000 archers). • Battle line was approximately 2,000 yards wide • The English army, occupying the top of a gentle ridge near the town, consisted of three groups of men-at-arms and spearmen, with archers placed on their sides. The archers formed ranks resembling an outward V. • Each English archer carried 2 sheaves of arrows (48) into battle. Resupply was accomplished by going back thru the lines or having more brought forward. • The bow draw weights were normally from 80 to 120 lbs. • Arrows, depending on type and weight, could be shot 250 to 300 yards. • The English archers could shoot an average of 10 arrows per minute. • Estimated number of arrows shot during the battle: half million. • There were 14 to 16 charges made against the English lines from the start of the battle at 4:00 PM until the completion at midnight. • Casualties were estimated from 5,000 (low) to 10,000 or more (high) for the French Knights and Genoese crossbowmen. English casualties were several hundred.

8. War Phase 2: Troyes • English Henry V attacked France • Henry V defeated French army against superior numbers at Agincourt • 1420 Treaty of Troyes: Henry V of England to be king of France after death of Charles VI • Both Henry V and Charles VI died: Henry VI named king of Fr & Eng • Most French people ignored treaty, viewing Charles VII as king of France France in 1435

9. Joan of Arc and War’s End • Peasant girl from Orleans, who saw a spiritual vision • Charles VII agreed to let her lead troops against Orleans, held by English • Military success: national rallying symbol • Captured by Burgundians allied with England; tortured, and executed as heretic; canonized as a saint in 1909 • Burgundy changed sides, allied with France, pushed out English • By 1453, England only controlled Calais

10. Conclusions • New weapons and tactics eroded system of feudal armies built around heavy cavalry, lessening military value of nobles • First "standing armies" in Western Europe since the time of the Western Roman Empire • Helped unite both England and France in their modern geographies and national identities • Increased financial conflict between monarchs and nobility • Highlighted growing importance of international trade and economic strength Henry VI of England