1337-1360
The Edwardian War (Phase 1)<h4>Overview</h4>The first phase of the Hundred Years' War, often called the Edwardian War, was characterized by significant English victories and territorial gains. Driven by Edward III's claim to the French throne and disputes over English possessions in France, this period saw the introduction of devastating new military tactics, particularly the English longbow, which proved highly effective against French chivalry.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Start Date:</strong> 1337</li><li><strong>End Date:</strong> 1360 (Treaty of Brétigny)</li><li><strong>Key Conflict:</strong> England vs. France</li><li>Major battles like Sluys, Crécy, and the siege of Calais defined this era.</li><li>The war was fueled by dynastic claims and territorial disputes, particularly over Aquitaine.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Established England as a formidable military power on the continent.</li><li>Demonstrated the obsolescence of traditional feudal cavalry tactics against disciplined archers.</li><li>Secured a strategic foothold for England in France with the capture of Calais.</li></ol>
1337
Outbreak of War<h4>Overview</h4>The Hundred Years' War officially began when King Philip VI of France confiscated the Duchy of Aquitaine (also known as Gascony) from King Edward III of England. Edward III, who was Philip's nephew, had a strong claim to the French throne through his mother, Isabella, Philip IV's daughter, but Philip VI was chosen as the male heir. The confiscation of Aquitaine, a significant English possession in France, was the immediate catalyst for open warfare.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> 1337</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> France and England</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Philip VI of France, Edward III of England</li><li>The dispute over the French throne and English territorial claims in France were the primary causes.</li><li>Philip VI's claim to the throne was based on Salic law, which barred inheritance through the female line.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Marked the beginning of a long and devastating conflict between England and France.</li><li>Established the dynastic claims of the English monarchy to the French throne, which would persist for decades.</li><li>Led to significant shifts in military tactics and technology due to prolonged engagement.</li></ol>
1340
Battle of Sluys<h4>Overview</h4>The Battle of Sluys was a crucial naval engagement fought off the coast of Flanders. It was a decisive victory for the English, securing their control of the English Channel and allowing them to transport troops and supplies to the continent with relative ease for the remainder of the war.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> June 24, 1340</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Off the coast of Sluys, Flanders (modern-day Netherlands)</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Edward III of England, Philip VI of France</li><li>The English fleet, though smaller, utilized superior tactics and longbow archers to devastating effect.</li><li>The French and Genoese fleet was largely annihilated, with estimates of over 200 ships captured or destroyed.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Gave England naval supremacy in the Channel, vital for troop movements and supply lines.</li><li>Prevented a potential French invasion of England.</li><li>Boosted English morale and demonstrated the effectiveness of English naval power.</li></ol>
1346
Battle of Crécy<h4>Overview</h4>The Battle of Crécy was a landmark victory for the English, showcasing the devastating effectiveness of the English longbow against French heavy cavalry. This battle marked a turning point in medieval warfare, highlighting the decline of the knightly charge as the dominant military tactic.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> August 26, 1346</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Near Crécy-en-Ponthieu, northern France</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Edward III of England, Edward the Black Prince, Philip VI of France</li><li>The English army, outnumbered, positioned themselves on high ground and used their longbowmen to great effect.</li><li>French knights repeatedly charged into a hail of arrows, suffering massive casualties.</li><li>Estimates suggest the French lost around 11,000 men, while English losses were minimal.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Demonstrated the superiority of the longbow over the crossbow and cavalry charges in open battle.</li><li>Significantly weakened the French nobility and military leadership.</li><li>Led to the English capture of Calais later that year, providing a strategic foothold in France.</li></ol>
1346-1347
Siege of Calais<h4>Overview</h4>Following their victory at Crécy, the English army under Edward III laid siege to the strategic port city of Calais. After a prolonged siege lasting nearly a year, the city surrendered, granting England a vital and permanent base on the continent.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> September 1346 - August 4, 1347</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Calais, France</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Edward III of England, John of Vienne (French Governor)</li><li>The siege lasted for 11 months, during which the English blockaded the port and surrounding area.</li><li>The citizens of Calais suffered greatly from starvation, leading to desperate negotiations for surrender.</li><li>Edward III famously demanded the surrender of six prominent citizens, known as the 'Burgesses of Calais', who were prepared to sacrifice their lives.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Provided England with a crucial strategic port for launching future campaigns into France.</li><li>Calais remained an English possession for over 200 years, serving as a vital trading post.</li><li>The successful siege further bolstered English morale and demonstrated their military prowess.</li></ol>
1360
Treaty of Brétigny<h4>Overview</h4>The Treaty of Brétigny marked a temporary end to the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. It was a peace agreement that largely favored England, granting Edward III significant territorial gains in France and renouncing his claim to the French throne in exchange for a large ransom for the captured French King John II.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> May 8, 1360</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Brétigny, near Calais, France</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Edward III of England, John II of France (captured), Charles V of France (regent)</li><li>England gained full sovereignty over Aquitaine, Gascony, and Calais.</li><li>Edward III agreed to renounce his claim to the French throne.</li><li>France agreed to pay a ransom of 3 million gold écus for the release of King John II.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Brought a period of relative peace, lasting for about nine years.</li><li>Significantly expanded English territories in France, though sovereignty was complex.</li><li>The renunciation of the French throne claim by Edward III was a complex diplomatic move, as he later reasserted it.</li></ol>
1369-1389
The Caroline War (Phase 2)<h4>Overview</h4>The second phase of the Hundred Years' War, known as the Caroline War, saw a significant resurgence of French fortunes under King Charles V and his brilliant constable, Bertrand du Guesclin. France adopted a strategy of attrition, avoiding large pitched battles and focusing on recapturing territory through sieges and skirmishes. This period witnessed the erosion of English gains from the first phase, largely due to effective French leadership and the weakening of the English command structure following the deaths of Edward III and the Black Prince.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Start Date:</strong> 1369</li><li><strong>End Date:</strong> 1389 (Truce of Leulinghem)</li><li><strong>Key Conflict:</strong> France vs. England</li><li>French strategy focused on avoiding English strengths and reclaiming territory methodically.</li><li>Bertrand du Guesclin was instrumental in leading French campaigns.</li><li>Internal issues in both England and France contributed to the eventual truce.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Marked a period of French recovery and territorial expansion.</li><li>Demonstrated the effectiveness of strategic warfare over reliance on battlefield prowess.</li><li>Set the stage for a period of uneasy peace, with underlying tensions still present.</li></ol>
1369
Renewal of Hostilities<h4>Overview</h4>The fragile peace established by the Treaty of Brétigny collapsed when Charles V of France, having paid the ransom for his father John II and consolidated his power, decided to reclaim the territories ceded to England. He skillfully avoided pitched battles, opting for a war of attrition and strategic maneuvering.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> 1369</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> France</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Charles V of France, Edward III of England, the Black Prince</li><li>Charles V declared war on England, citing Edward III's failure to fully renounce his claim to the French throne and English interference in Breton succession.</li><li>The French strategy shifted to avoiding large, decisive battles and focusing on sieges and skirmishes.</li><li>The Black Prince, weakened by illness and involved in Spanish campaigns, found it difficult to maintain English holdings.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Marked the beginning of a period where France began to regain lost territory.</li><li>Introduced a more strategic and less chivalric approach to warfare by the French.</li><li>Demonstrated the limitations of English military dominance when facing a resurgent and tactically astute French monarchy.</li></ol>
1370-1380
Bertrand du Guesclin's Campaigns<h4>Overview</h4>Under the military leadership of Bertrand du Guesclin, Constable of France, the French forces began a systematic reconquest of English-held territories. Du Guesclin employed Fabian tactics, focusing on sieges, ambushes, and avoiding direct confrontation with larger English armies.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> c. 1370-1380</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Various regions of France, including Poitou and Aquitaine</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Bertrand du Guesclin, Charles V of France</li><li>Du Guesclin recaptured key towns and castles, gradually eroding English control.</li><li>He successfully employed scorched-earth tactics and guerilla warfare to harass English supply lines.</li><li>By 1380, the French had regained most of the territories lost at Brétigny, except for Calais and a strip of coastline in Aquitaine.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Significantly reversed English territorial gains from the first phase of the war.</li><li>Restored French morale and strengthened the authority of the French crown.</li><li>Established du Guesclin as one of the most effective military commanders of the era.</li></ol>
1376-1377
Death of the Black Prince and Edward III<h4>Overview</h4>The deaths of Edward, the Black Prince, the celebrated English military hero, and his father, King Edward III, within a year of each other, dealt a severe blow to English leadership and morale. Their passing left the English throne to the young and inexperienced Richard II.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> Black Prince (June 8, 1376), Edward III (June 21, 1377)</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> England</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Edward, the Black Prince; Edward III; Richard II</li><li>The Black Prince died of illness, likely dysentery, while his father was already ailing.</li><li>Edward III, who had reigned for over 50 years, died shortly after his son.</li><li>Richard II ascended the English throne at the age of 10, leading to a period of regency and internal instability.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Removed England's most capable military leader and its long-reigning, experienced monarch.</li><li>Weakened England's ability to wage war effectively due to the young king and internal political struggles.</li><li>Contributed to the French resurgence under Charles V.</li></ol>
1370s
French Naval Raids<h4>Overview</h4>While the French focused on land campaigns to reclaim territory, they also launched significant naval raids along the English coast. These raids aimed to disrupt English trade, sow fear, and divert English resources away from the continent.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> Primarily 1370s</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> English coast (e.g., Kent, Sussex, Southampton)</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Charles V of France, various French admirals</li><li>French fleets, often supported by Castilian allies, targeted port towns and coastal settlements.</li><li>Notable raids occurred in 1377, with French forces sacking towns and burning ships.</li><li>These raids highlighted England's vulnerability to naval attack and the need for coastal defenses.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Demonstrated the reach of French naval power and its ability to threaten England directly.</li><li>Forced England to divert resources to coastal defense, impacting its ability to project power in France.</li><li>Contributed to a sense of insecurity in England and fueled anti-French sentiment.</li></ol>
1389
Truce of Leulinghem<h4>Overview</h4>Facing internal problems, including the Peasants' Revolt in England and the ongoing instability surrounding the young Charles VI of France, both sides agreed to a truce. The Truce of Leulinghem extended a period of relative peace, though the underlying issues remained unresolved.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> June 18, 1389</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Leulinghem, near Calais</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Richard II of England, Charles VI of France</li><li>The truce was initially set for three years but was repeatedly extended.</li><li>It was largely a result of exhaustion and internal difficulties on both sides.</li><li>England was dealing with the aftermath of the Peasants' Revolt (1381) and political factionalism.</li><li>France was struggling with the mental health of King Charles VI and the ambitions of his uncles.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Brought a de facto end to the second phase of the war, lasting for over two decades.</li><li>Allowed both kingdoms to focus on internal issues and recovery.</li><li>The underlying territorial and dynastic disputes remained, setting the stage for future conflict.</li></ol>
1415-1453
The Lancastrian War (Phase 3)<h4>Overview</h4>The third and final phase of the Hundred Years' War, the Lancastrian War, was initiated by Henry V of England's ambitious invasion and claim to the French throne. This phase was marked by significant English victories, including the Battle of Agincourt, and the Treaty of Troyes, which declared Henry V heir to France. However, the tide turned dramatically with the emergence of Joan of Arc, leading to the lifting of the Siege of Orléans and the coronation of Charles VII. The war concluded with the French victory at Castillon, ending English rule in France.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Start Date:</strong> 1415</li><li><strong>End Date:</strong> 1453</li><li><strong>Key Conflict:</strong> England vs. France</li><li>Characterized by initial English dominance under Henry V, followed by a French resurgence.</li><li>Joan of Arc played a pivotal role in turning the war's momentum.</li><li>The war ended with England losing all continental possessions except Calais.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Led to the consolidation of the French monarchy and national identity.</li><li>Weakened England significantly, contributing to internal strife (Wars of the Roses).</li><li>Transformed medieval warfare with the widespread adoption of gunpowder artillery.</li><li>Marked the end of English continental ambitions for centuries.</li></ol>
1415
Henry V's Invasion of France<h4>Overview</h4>Taking advantage of internal divisions within France, particularly the ongoing civil war between the Armagnacs and Burgundians, King Henry V of England launched a full-scale invasion. His objective was to press his claim to the French throne and secure English dominance.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> August 1415</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Normandy, France</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Henry V of England, Charles VI of France</li><li>Henry V landed his army in Normandy with the aim of capturing Harfleur.</li><li>The English army suffered greatly from disease (dysentery) and attrition during the siege of Harfleur.</li><li>Despite heavy losses, Harfleur eventually fell to the English.</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Reignited the Hundred Years' War after a long period of truce.</li><li>Demonstrated England's continued military capability despite internal challenges.</li><li>Secured a crucial port (Harfleur) for English operations in France.</li></ol>
1415
Battle of Agincourt<h4>Overview</h4>One of the most famous battles in English history, Agincourt was a catastrophic defeat for the French and a stunning victory for Henry V. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the English army, particularly its longbowmen, annihilated the French forces, securing England's military superiority.<br><br><h4>Key Facts</h4><ul><li><strong>Date:</strong> October 25, 1415</li><li><strong>Location:</strong> Near Agincourt, northern France</li><li><strong>Key Figures:</strong> Henry V of England, Charles d'Albret (French commander)</li><li>The English army was exhausted and outnumbered, marching towards Calais after capturing Harfleur.</li><li>The narrow, muddy battlefield severely hampered the French heavy cavalry and men-at-arms.</li><li>English longbowmen inflicted massive casualties on the charging French knights.</li><li>Estimates suggest French losses were around 6,000-10,000 killed, including much of the French nobility, while English losses were remarkably low (perhaps a few hundred).</li></ul><h4>Significance & Impact</h4><ol><li>Decimated the French aristocracy and military leadership.</li><li>Significantly boosted English morale and Henry V's prestige.</li><li>Paved the way for further English conquests in northern France.</li><li>Solidified the reputation of the English longbow as a decisive weapon.</li></ol>
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