How many years did the Hundred Years' War last? Interesting Facts. Interesting facts (history) on the topic: The Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War between England and France is the longest military and political conflict in the history of the past. The term “war” in relation to this event, as well as its chronological framework, is quite arbitrary, since military operations were not constantly carried out over a period of more than a hundred years. The source of the contradictions between England and France was the bizarre interweaving of the historical destinies of these countries, which began with the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The Norman dukes who established themselves on the English throne came from Northern France. They united England and part of the continent - the northern French region of Normandy - under their rule. In the 12th century The possessions of the English kings in France increased sharply as a result of the annexation of regions in Central and Southwestern France through dynastic marriages. After a long and difficult struggle, the French monarchy at the beginning of the 13th century. regained most of these lands. Together with the traditional possessions of the French kings, they formed the core of modern France.
However, the territory in the southwest remained under English rule - between the Pyrenees and the Loire Valley. In France it was called Guienne, in England Gascony. "English Gascony" became one of the main reasons that caused the Hundred Years' War. The preservation of English domination in the southwest made the position of the French Capetians precarious and interfered with the real political centralization of the country. For the English monarchy, this area could become a springboard in an attempt to regain its former vast possessions on the continent.
In addition, the two largest Western European monarchies vied for political and economic influence in the virtually independent County of Flanders (modern Netherlands). The Flemish cities, which purchased English wool, sent a wealthy merchant from Ghent, Jacob Artevelde, to England and offered Edward III the crown of France. At this time, the Valois dynasty (1328-1589), the younger line of the Capetians (the previous royal dynasty), established itself in France.
Another object of acute controversy was Scotland, whose independence was threatened by England. In search of political support in Europe, the Scottish kingdom sought an alliance with the main rivals of the English crown - France. As Anglo-French tensions intensified, both monarchies tried to strengthen their positions on the Iberian Peninsula. The Pyrenees countries were of particular interest to them due to the fact that they bordered “English Gascony.” All this led to the emergence of military-political alliances: Franco-Castilian (1288), Franco-Scottish (1295), between the English crown and the cities of Flanders (1340).
In 1337, the English king Edward III declared war on France, resorting to a legal form that was natural for that time: he proclaimed himself the legitimate king of France in opposition to Philip VI of Valois, elected to the throne by the French feudal lords in 1328, after the death of his cousin, who had no sons, King Charles IV - the last of the senior branch of the Capetian dynasty. Meanwhile, Edward III was the son of the elder sister of Charles IV, who was married to the English king.
There are four stages in the history of the war, between which there were periods of relatively long calm. The first stage is from the declaration of war in 1337 to the peace of 1360 in Bretigny. At this time, military superiority was on the side of England. The best organized English army won several famous victories - in the naval battles of Sluys (1346) and Poitiers (1356). The main reason for the English victories at Crecy and Poitiers was the discipline and tactical excellence of the infantry, which consisted of archers. The English army went through the harsh school of warfare in the Scottish Highlands, while the French knights were accustomed to relatively easy victories and the glory of the best cavalry in Europe. Capable in fact only of individual combat, they did not know discipline and maneuver, they fought effectively, but not prudently. The organized actions of the English infantry under the clear command of Edward III led to two crushing defeats of the French army. A chronicler and contemporary of the Hundred Years' War wrote about the "death of French chivalry." The terrible defeats of France, which lost its army and king (after Poitiers he ended up in English captivity), allowed the British to mercilessly plunder the country. And then the people of France - townspeople and peasants themselves rose to their defense. The self-defense of residents of villages and cities, the first partisan detachments became the beginning of a future broad liberation movement. This forced the English king to conclude a difficult peace for France in Bretigny. She lost huge possessions in the southwest, but remained an independent kingdom (Edward III renounced his claims to the French crown).
The war resumed in 1369. Its second stage (1369-1396) was generally successful for France. The French king Charles V and the talented military leader Bertrand Du Guesclin used the support of the masses to help the partially reorganized French army drive the British out of the southwest. Several large and strategically important ports on the French coast still remained under their rule - Bordeaux, Bayonne, Brest, Cherbourg, Calais. The truce of 1396 was concluded due to the extreme depletion of the forces of both sides. It did not resolve a single controversial issue, which made the continuation of the war inevitable.
The third stage of the Hundred Years' War (1415-1420) is the shortest and most dramatic for France. After a new landing of the English army in the north of France and the terrible defeat of the French at Agincourt (1415), the independent existence of the French kingdom was under threat. The English king Henry V, in five years of much more active military action than before, subjugated approximately half of France and achieved the conclusion of the Treaty of Troyes (1420), according to which the unification of the English and French crowns was to take place under his rule. And again the masses of France intervened even more decisively than before in the fate of the war. This determined her character in the final fourth stage.

WARRIORS OF THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR

The fourth stage began in the 20s. 15th century and ended with the expulsion of the British from France in the mid-50s. During these three decades, the war on the part of France was of a liberation character. Beginning almost a hundred years ago as a conflict between the ruling royal houses, it became for the French a struggle to preserve the possibility of independent development and create the foundations of a future national state. In 1429, a simple peasant girl, Joan of Arc (c. 1412 - 1431), led the fight to lift the siege of Orleans and achieved the official coronation in Reims of the legitimate heir to the French throne, Charles VII. She instilled in the people of France a firm belief in victory.
Joan of Arc was born in the town of Domremy on the French border with Lorraine. By 1428 the war had reached this outskirts. “Great pity, biting like a snake,” sorrow for the misfortunes of “dear France,” entered the girl’s heart. This is how Jeanne herself defined the feeling that prompted her to leave her father’s house and go to Charles VII to become the head of the army and expel the British from France. Through the areas occupied by the British and their Burgudian allies, she reached Chinon, where Charles VII was located. She was put at the head of the army, because everyone - ordinary people, experienced military leaders, soldiers - believed in this extraordinary girl and her promises to save her homeland. Her natural intelligence and keen powers of observation helped her to correctly navigate the situation and quickly master the simple military tactics of that time. She was always ahead of everyone in the most dangerous places, and her devoted warriors rushed there after her. After the victory at Orleans (Jeanne took only 9 days to lift the siege of the city, which lasted over 200 days) and the coronation of Charles VII, the fame of Joan of Arc increased extraordinary. The people, the army, the cities saw in her not only the savior of the homeland, but also a leader. She was consulted on a variety of occasions. Charles VII and his inner circle began to show more and more distrust of Jeanne and finally simply betrayed her. During one sortie, retreating with a handful of brave men towards Compiegne, Jeanne found herself trapped: on the orders of the French commandant, the bridge was raised and the gates of the fortress were tightly slammed shut. Jeanne was captured by the Burgundians, who sold her to the British for 10 thousand gold. The girl was kept in an iron cage, chained to her bed at night. The French king, who owed her the throne, did not take any measures to save Jeanne. The British accused her of heresy and witchcraft and executed her (she was burned at the stake in Rouen by the verdict of a church court).

But this could no longer change the real state of affairs. The French army, reorganized by Charles VII, won several important victories with the support of townspeople and peasants. The largest among them is the Battle of Formigny in Normandy. In 1453, the English garrison in Bordeaux capitulated, which is conventionally considered the end of the Hundred Years' War. For another hundred years the British held the French port of Calais in the north of the country. But the main contradictions were resolved in the mid-15th century.
France emerged from the war extremely devastated, many areas were devastated and plundered. And yet, the victory objectively helped complete the unification of French lands and the development of the country along the path of political centralization. For England, the war also had serious consequences - the English crown abandoned attempts to create an empire in the British Isles and the continent, and national self-awareness grew in the country. All this prepared the way for the formation of national states in both countries.

The Hundred Years' War, which began in 1337 and ended in 1453, was a series of conflicts that continued between the two kingdoms of France and England. The main rivals were: the ruling house of Valois and the ruling house of Plantagenet and Lancaster. There were other participants in the Hundred Years' War: Flanders, Scotland, Portugal, Castile and other European countries.

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Reasons for the confrontation

The term itself appeared much later and denoted not only the dynastic conflict between the ruling houses of the kingdoms, but also the war of nations, which by this time had begun to take shape. There are two main reasons for the Hundred Years' War:

1. Dynastic conflict.
2. Territorial claims.

By 1337, the ruling Capetian dynasty in France came to an end (it began with Hugo Capet, Count of Paris, a descendant in the direct male line).

Philip IV the Handsome, the last strong ruler of the Capetian dynasty, had three sons: Louis (X the Grumpy), Philip (V the Long), Charles (IV the Handsome). Not one of them failed to produce a male descendant, and after the death of the youngest of the heirs of Charles IV, the council of peers of the kingdom decided to crown the latter’s cousin, Philip de Valois. This decision was protested by the King of England Edward III Plantagenet, who was the grandson of Philip IV, the son of his daughter Isabella of England.

Attention! The Council of Peers of France refused to consider the candidacy of Edward III because of a decision made several years earlier that it was impossible for a woman or through a woman to inherit the crown of France. The decision was made after the Nels affair: the only daughter of Louis X the Grumpy, Jeanne of Navarre, could not inherit the French crown due to the fact that her mother Margaret of Burgundy was convicted of treason, which means that the origins of Jeanne herself were called into question. The House of Burgundy disputed this decision, but after Joan was made Queen of Navarre, it backed down.

Edward III, whose origins were not in doubt, could not agree with the decision of the Council of Peers and even refused to take a full vassal oath to Philip of Valois (he was nominally considered a vassal of the King of France, since he had land holdings in France). The compromise homage made in 1329 satisfied neither Edward III nor Philip VI.

Attention! Philip de Valois was Edward III's cousin, but even close kinship did not keep the monarchs from direct military conflict.

Territorial disagreements between countries arose during the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Over time, those lands on the continent that Eleanor of Aquitaine brought to the English crown were lost. Only Guyenne and Gascony remained in the possession of the English kings. The French wanted to liberate these lands from the British, as well as maintain their influence in Flanders. Edward III married the heir to the throne of Flanders, Philippe de Arnaud.

Also, the reasons for the Hundred Years' War lay in the personal hostility of the rulers of states towards each other. This history had long roots and developed progressively, despite the fact that the ruling houses were connected by family ties.

Periodization and course

There is a conditional periodization of military operations, which in fact was a series of local military conflicts occurring with long intervals. Historians identify the following periods:

• Edwardian,
• Carolingian,
• Lancastrian,
• advance of Charles VII.

Each stage was characterized by a victory or conditional victory of one of the parties.

Essentially, the beginning of the Hundred Years' War dates back to 1333, when English troops attacked France's ally, Scotland, so the question of who started the fighting can be answered unequivocally. The British offensive was successful. Scottish King David II was forced to flee the country to France. Philip IV, who planned to annex Gascony “on the sly,” was forced to switch to the British Isles, where a landing operation took place in order to restore David to the throne. The operation was never carried out, as the British launched a massive offensive in Picardy. Flanders and Gascony provided support. Further events looked like this (the main battles of the Hundred Years' War in the first stage):

• military operations in the Netherlands - 1336-1340; battles at sea -1340-1341;
• War of the Breton Succession -1341-1346 (the Battle of Cressy in 1346, devastating for the French, after which Philip VI fled from the British, the capture of the port of Calais by the British in 1347, the defeat of the troops of the Scottish king by the British in 1347);
• Aquitanian company - 1356-1360 (again, the complete defeat of the French knights in the Battle of Poitiers, the siege of Reims and Paris by the British, which was not completed for a number of reasons).

Attention! During this period, France was weakened not only by the conflict with England, but also by the plague epidemic that broke out in 1346-1351. The French rulers - Philip and his son John (II, the Good) - could not cope with the situation and brought the country to complete economic exhaustion.

Due to the threat of the possible loss of Reims and Paris in 1360, the Dauphin Charles signed a humiliating peace for France with Edward III. It gave England almost one-third of all French territories.

The truce between England and France did not last long, until 1369. After John II died, Charles V began to look for ways to reconquer the lost territories. In 1369, the peace was broken under the pretext that the British did not comply with the peace terms of the 60th year.

It should be noted that the elderly Edward Plantagenet no longer wanted the French crown. His son and heir, the Black Prince, also did not see himself in the role of a French monarch.

Carolingian stage

Charles V was an experienced leader and diplomat. He managed, with the support of the Breton aristocracy, to push Castile and England into conflict. The main events of this period were:

• liberation from the British of Poitiers (1372);
• liberation of Bergerac (1377).

Attention! England during this period was experiencing a serious internal political crisis: first, Crown Prince Edward died (1376), then Edward III (1377). Scottish troops also continued to harass the English borders. The situation in Wales and Northern Ireland was difficult.

Realizing the complexity of the situation, both in the country and abroad, the English king requested a truce, which was concluded in 1396.

The time of the truce, which lasted until 1415, was difficult for both France and England. A civil war broke out in France, caused by the madness of the reigning king Charles VI. In England the government tried:

• fight the uprisings that broke out in Ireland and Wales;
• repel the attacks of the Scots;
• cope with the rebellion of Earl Percy;
• put an end to the pirates who were disrupting English trade.

During this period, power also changed in England: the minor Richard II was removed, and as a result, Henry IV ascended the throne.

The third Anglo-French conflict was started by Henry V, the son of Henry IV. He led a very successful campaign, as a result of which the British managed to:

become winners at Agincourt (1415); capture Caen and Rouen; take Paris (1420); win a victory at Cravan; divide French territory into two parts, which were unable to contact due to the presence of English troops; besiege the city of Orleans in 1428.

Attention! The international situation became complicated and confused due to the fact that Henry V died in 1422. His infant son was recognized as king of both countries, but most French people supported the Dauphin Charles VII.

It was at this turning point that the legendary Joan of Arc, the future national heroine of France, appears. Largely thanks to her and her faith, the Dauphin Charles decided to take active action. Before its appearance, there was no talk of any active resistance.

The last period was marked by a peace signed between the House of Burgundy and the Armagnacs, who supported the Dauphin Charles. The reason for this unexpected alliance was the offensive of the British.

As a result of the creation of the alliance and the activities of Joan of Arc, the siege of Orleans was lifted (1429), victory was won in the Battle of Pat, Reims was liberated, where in 1430 the Dauphin was declared King Charles VII.

Joan fell into the hands of the British and the Inquisition; her death could not stop the advances of the French, who sought to completely clear the territory of their country from the British. In 1453 the British capitulated, signaling the end of the Hundred Years' War. The French king won, naturally, with the active support of the Ducal House of Burgundy. This is the entire course of the Hundred Years' War in brief.

Causes and beginning of the Hundred Years' War (Russian) History of the Middle Ages.

End of the Hundred Years' War. Unification of France. (Russian) History of the Middle Ages.

Summarizing

France managed to defend its territories. Almost all except the port of Calais, which remained English until 1558. Both countries were economically devastated. The population of France has decreased by more than half. And these are probably the most important consequences of the Hundred Years' War. The conflict had a profound impact on the development of military affairs in Europe. Most importantly, the formation of regular armies began. England entered a protracted period of civil war, which led to the Tudor dynasty taking the throne of the country.

The history and results of the Hundred Years' War by numerous professional historians and writers. William Shakespeare, Voltaire, Schiller, Prosper Merimee, Alexandre Dumas, and A. Conan Doyle wrote about her. Mark Twain and Maurice Druon.

La guerre de cent ans is a tragic period in French history that claimed the lives of many thousands of French people. The armed conflict between England and France lasted intermittently for 116 years (from 1337 to 1453), and if not for Joan of Arc, who knows how it could have ended.

Today we will try to understand the causes and consequences of this war, which ended in the victory of France, but what did it cost her? So, let’s get comfortable in the time machine and go back in time, to the 14th century.

In the first half of the 14th century, namely after the death of the last representative of the royal Capetian dynasty (Les Capétiens) Charles IV in 1328, a difficult situation arose in France: the question arose of who should pass the throne to if there was not a single Capetian in the male line left?

Fortunately, the Capetian dynasty had relatives - the Counts of Valois (Charles Valois was the brother of Philip IV the Fair). The council of representatives of noble French families decided that the crown of France should be transferred to the Valois family. Thus, thanks to the majority of votes at the Council, the Valois dynasty ascended to the French throne in the person of its first representative, King Philip VI.

All this time, England closely watched events in France. The fact is that the English king Edward III was the grandson of Philip IV the Fair, so he considered that he had the right to claim the French throne. In addition, the British were haunted by the provinces of Guyenne and Aquitaine (as well as some others), located on French territory. These provinces were once the domain of England, but King Philip II Augustus reclaimed them from England. After Philip VI of Valois was crowned in Reims (the city where French kings were crowned), Edward III sent him a letter in which he expressed his claims to the French throne.

At first, Philip VI laughed when he received this letter, because this is incomprehensible to the mind! But in the fall of 1337, the British launched an offensive in Picardy (a French province), and no one was laughing in France.

The most striking thing about this war is that throughout the history of the conflict, the British, that is, the enemies of France, from time to time support various French provinces, seeking their own benefit in this war. As they say, “To whom there is war, and to whom the mother is dear.” And now England is supported by the cities of southwest France.

From all of the above it follows that England acted as the aggressor, and France had to defend its territories.

Les causes de la Guerre de Cent ans: le roi anglais Eduard III prétend àê tre le roi de France. L'Angleterre veut regagner les territoires françaises d'Auquitaine et de Guyenne.

French Armed Forces

It should be noted that the French army of the 14th century consisted of a feudal knightly militia, the ranks of which included both noble knights and commoners, as well as foreign mercenaries (the famous Genoese crossbowmen).

Unfortunately, the system of universal conscription, which formally existed in France, practically disappeared by the beginning of the Hundred Years' War. Therefore, the king had to think and wonder: will the Duke of Orleans come to my aid? Will another duke or count help with his army? However, cities were able to field large military contingents, which included cavalry and artillery. All soldiers received payment for their service.

Les forces armées françaises se composaient de la milice féodale chevaleresque. Le système de conscription universelle, qui existait formellement en France, au début de la guerre de Cent Ans presque disparu.

Beginning of the war

The beginning of the Hundred Years' War, unfortunately, was successful for the enemy and unsuccessful for France. France suffers several defeats in a number of significant battles.

The French fleet, which prevented English troops from landing on the continent, was almost completely destroyed at the naval battle of Sluys in 1340. After this event, until the end of the war, the British fleet had supremacy at sea, controlling the English Channel.

Further, the troops of the French king Philip attacked Edward's army in the famous Battle of Crecy August 26, 1346. This battle ended in a catastrophic defeat for the French troops. Philip was then left almost completely alone, almost the entire army was killed, and he himself knocked on the doors of the first castle he came across and asked for an overnight stay with the words “Open to the unfortunate king of France!”

English troops continued their unhindered advance north and besieged the city of Calais, which was taken in 1347. This event was an important strategic success for the British, it allowed Edward III to maintain his forces on the continent.

In 1356 it took place Battle of Poitiers. France is already ruled by King John II the Good. An English army of thirty thousand inflicted a crushing defeat on France at the Battle of Poitiers. The battle was also tragic for France because the front ranks of French horses were frightened by gun salvos and rushed back, knocking down the knights, their hooves and armor crushing their own warriors, the crush was incredible. Many warriors died not even at the hands of the British, but under the hooves of their own horses. In addition, the battle ended with the capture of King John II the Good by the British.

King John II is sent to England as a prisoner, and confusion and chaos reign in France. In 1359, the Peace of London was signed, according to which England received Aquitaine, and King John the Good was released. Economic difficulties and military failures led to popular uprisings - the Parisian Uprising (1357-1358) and the Jacquerie (1358). With great effort, these unrest were pacified, but, again, this cost France significant losses.

English troops moved freely across French territory, demonstrating to the population the weakness of French power.

The heir to the French throne, the future king Charles V the Wise, was forced to conclude a humiliating peace for himself in Bretigny (1360). As a result of the first stage of the war, Edward III acquired half of Brittany, Aquitaine, Calais, Poitiers, and approximately half of the vassal possessions of France. The French throne thus lost a third of the territory of France.

The French king John had to return to captivity, since his son Louis of Anjou, who was the king's guarantor, escaped from England. John died in English captivity, and King Charles V, whom the people would call the Wise, ascended the throne of France.

La bataille de Crécy et la bataille de Poitiers se termèrent par une défaite pour les Français. Le roi Jean II le Bon est capturé par les Anglais. Le trône français a perdu un tiers du territoire de la France.

How France lived under Charles V

King Charles V of France reorganized the army and introduced important economic reforms. All this allowed the French to achieve significant military successes at the second stage of the war, in the 1370s. The British were driven out of the country. Despite the fact that the French province of Brittany was an ally of England, the Breton dukes showed loyalty to the French authorities, and even the Breton knight Bertrand Du Guesclin became the constable of France (commander-in-chief) and the right hand of King Charles V.

During this period, Edward III was already too old to command an army and wage war, and England lost its best military leaders. Constable Bertrand Du Guesclin, following a cautious strategy, liberated many cities such as Poitiers (1372) and Bergerac (1377) in a series of military campaigns avoiding confrontations with large English armies. The allied fleet of France and Castile won a landslide victory at La Rochelle, destroying the English squadron in the process.

In addition to military successes, King Charles V of France was able to do a lot for his country. He reformed the taxation system, managing to reduce taxes and thereby make life easier for the common population of France. He reorganized the army, bringing order to it and making it more organized. He carried out a number of significant economic reforms that made life easier for peasants. And all this - in a terrible time of war!

Charles V le Sage a réorganisé l’armée, a tenu une série de réformes économiques visant à stabilizer le pays, a réorganisé le système fiscal. Grace au connétable Bertrand du Guesclin il a remporté plusieurs victoires importantes sur les Anglais.

What happened next?

Unfortunately, Charles V the Wise dies, and his son Charles VI ascends the French throne. At first the actions of this king were aimed at continuing the wise policy of his father.

But a little later, Charles VI goes crazy for unknown reasons. Anarchy began in the country, power was seized by the king's uncles, the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry. In addition, a civil war broke out in France between the Burgundians and the Armagnacs due to the murder of the king's brother, the Duke of Orleans (the Armagnacs are relatives of the Duke of Orleans). The British could not help but take advantage of this situation.

England is ruled by King Henry IV; V Battle of Agincourt On October 25, 1415, the British won a decisive victory over the superior forces of the French.

The English king captured most of Normandy, including the cities of Caen (1417) and Rouen (1419). Having concluded an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, in five years the English king subjugated approximately half of the territory of France. In 1420, Henry met at negotiations with the mad king Charles VI, with whom he signed the Treaty of Troyes. According to this agreement, Henry V was declared the heir of Charles VI the Mad, bypassing the legitimate Dauphin Charles (in the future - King Charles VII). The following year, Henry entered Paris, where the treaty was officially confirmed by the Estates General (French parliament).

Continuing hostilities, in 1428 the British besieged the city of Orleans. But 1428 marked the appearance of the national heroine of France, Joan of Arc, on the political and military arena.

La bataille d'Azincourt a été la défaite des Français. Les Anglais sont allés plus loin.

Joan of Arc and the French victory

Having besieged Orleans, the British understood that their forces were not enough to organize a complete blockade of the city. In 1429, Joan of Arc met with the Dauphin Charles (who at that time was forced to hide with his supporters) and convinced him to give her troops to lift the siege of Orleans. The conversation was long and sincere. Karl believed the young girl. Zhanna managed to raise the morale of her soldiers. At the head of the troops, she attacked the English siege fortifications, forced the enemy to retreat, lifting the siege from the city. Thus, inspired by Joan, the French liberated a number of important fortified points in the Loire. Soon after this, Joan and her army defeated the English armed forces at Pat, opening the road to Reims, where the Dauphin was crowned King Charles VII.

Unfortunately, in 1430, the folk heroine Joan was captured by the Burgundians and handed over to the English. But even her execution in 1431 could not influence the further course of the war and pacify the morale of the French.

In 1435, the Burgundians sided with France, and the Duke of Burgundy helped King Charles VII take control of Paris. This allowed Charles to reorganize the army and government. The French commanders liberated city after city, repeating the strategy of Constable Bertrand Du Guesclin. In 1449, the French recaptured the Norman city of Rouen. At the Battle of Formigny, the French completely defeated the English troops and liberated the city of Caen. An attempt by English troops to recapture Gascony, which remained loyal to the English crown, failed: English troops suffered a crushing defeat at Castiglione in 1453. This battle was the last battle of the Hundred Years' War. And in 1453, the surrender of the English garrison in Bordeaux put an end to the Hundred Years' War.

Jeanne d'Arc aide le Dauphin Charles et remporte plusieurs victoires sur les Anglais. Elle aide Charles àê Tre couronne à Reims et devenir roi. Les Français continuent les succès de Jeanne, remportent plusieurs victoires et chassent les Anglais de France. En 1453, la reddition de la garrison britannique à Bordeaux a terminé la guerre de Cent Ans.

What are the consequences of the Hundred Years' War?

As a result of the war, England lost all its possessions in France, except for the city of Calais, which remained part of England until 1558 (but then it returned to the fold of France). England lost vast territories in southwestern France that it had held since the 12th century. The madness of the English king plunged the country into a period of anarchy and internecine conflict, in which the main characters were the warring houses of Lancaster and York. The War of the Roses began in England. Due to the civil war, England did not have the strength and means to return lost territories in France. In addition to all this, the treasury was devastated by military expenses.

The war had a significant impact on the development of military affairs: the role of infantry on the battlefield increased, which required less expenditure in creating large armies, and the first standing armies also appeared. In addition, new types of weapons were invented, and favorable conditions appeared for the development of firearms.

But the main result of the war was the victory of France. The country felt its power and the strength of its spirit!

Les Anglais ont perdu les territoires françaises. La victoire définitive de la France.

The theme of the Hundred Years' War and the image of the folk heroine Joan of Arc became fertile ground for works of cinema and literature.

If you are interested in how it all began, what the situation was in France before the Hundred Years War and its first period, then be sure to pay attention to the series of novels “The Damned Kings” by Maurice Druon. The writer describes with historical accuracy the characters of the kings of France and the situation before and during the war.

Alexandre Dumas also writes a series of works about the Hundred Years' War. The novel "Isabella of Bavaria" - the period of the reign of Charles VI and the signing of peace in Troyes.

As for cinema, you can watch the film “Joan of Arc” by Luc Besson, based on the play “The Lark” by Jean Anouilh. The film does not entirely correspond to historical truth, but the battle scenes are shown on a large scale.

What could be worse than a war, when hundreds of thousands of people die for the interests of politicians and those in power. And even more terrible are protracted military conflicts, during which people get used to living in conditions where death can overtake them at any moment, and human life has no value. This was exactly the reason, the stages, results and biographies of the characters that deserve careful study.

Causes

Before studying what the results of the Hundred Years War were, we should understand its prerequisites. It all started with the fact that the sons of the French king Philip the Fourth did not leave behind male heirs. At the same time, the monarch’s own grandson from his daughter Isabella was alive - the English king Edward III, who ascended the throne of England in 1328 at the age of 16. However, he could not claim the throne of France, according to Salic law. Thus, France reigned in the person of Philip the Sixth, who was the nephew of Philip the Fourth, and Edward the Third in 1331 was forced to take him a vassal oath for Gascony, a French region considered the personal property of the English monarchs.

Beginning and first stage of the war (1337-1360)

6 years after the events described, Edward the Third decided to compete for his grandfather’s throne and sent a challenge to Philip the Sixth. Thus began the Hundred Years' War, the causes and results of which are of great interest to those who study the history of Europe. After the declaration of war, the British launched an attack on Picardy, in which they were supported by the inhabitants of Flanders and the feudal lords of the southwestern counties of France.

In the first years after the outbreak of the armed conflict, hostilities proceeded with varying success, until the naval battle of Sluys took place in 1340. As a result of the British victory, the English Channel came under their control and remained so until the end of the war. Thus, in the summer of 1346, nothing could prevent the troops of Edward the Third from crossing the strait and capturing the city of Caen. From there the English army marched to Crecy, where the famous battle took place on August 26, ending in their triumph, and in 1347 they captured the city of Calais. In parallel with these events, hostilities unfolded in Scotland. However, fortune continued to smile on Edward III, who defeated the army of this kingdom at the Battle of Neville's Cross, and eliminated the threat of war on two fronts.

The plague pandemic and the conclusion of peace in Bretigny

In 1346-1351, Europe was visited by the Black Death. This plague pandemic claimed so many lives that there was no question of continuing hostilities. The only striking event of this period, sung in ballads, was the Battle of Thirty, when English and French knights and squires staged a massive duel, which was watched by several hundred peasants. After the end of the pestilence, England again began military operations, which were mainly led by the Black Prince, the eldest son of Edward the Third. In 1356 he defeated and captured the French king John II. Later, in 1360, the Dauphin of France, who was to become King Charles the Fifth, signed the so-called Peace of Bretigny on very unfavorable terms for himself.

Thus, the results of the Hundred Years' War at its first stage were as follows:

• France was completely demoralized;
• England acquired half of Brittany, Aquitaine, Poitiers, Calais and almost half of the enemy’s vassal possessions, i.e. John the Second lost power over a third of the territory of his country;
• Edward the Third undertook, on his own behalf and on behalf of his descendants, to no longer claim the throne of his grandfather;
• John the Second's second son, Louis of Anjou, was sent to London as a hostage in exchange for his father's return to France.

Peaceful period from 1360 to 1369

After the cessation of hostilities, the peoples of the countries involved in the conflict received a respite that lasted 9 years. During this time, Louis of Anjou fled from England, and his father, being a knight true to his word, went into voluntary captivity, where he died. After his death, he ascended the throne of France, who in 1369 unfairly accused the British of violating the peace treaty and resumed hostilities against them.

Second phase

Typically, those who study the course and results of the Hundred Years' War characterize the time period between 1369 and 1396 as a series of constant battles, in which, in addition to the main participants, the kingdoms of Castile, Portugal and Scotland were also involved. During this period the following important events occurred:

• in 1370, with the help of the French, Enrique II came to power in Castile, who became their faithful ally;
• two years later the city of Poitiers was liberated;
• in 1372, at the Battle of La Rochelle, the Franco-Castilian combined fleet defeated the English squadron;
• 4 years later the Black Prince died;
• in 1377 Edward the Third died, and the minor Richard the Second ascended to the throne of England;
• from 1392, the king of France began to show signs of madness;
• four years later, a truce was concluded, caused by the extreme exhaustion of the opponents.

Truce (1396-1415)

When the king's madness became obvious to everyone, internecine strife began in the country, in which the Armagnac party won. The situation was no better in England, which entered into a new war with Scotland, which was also supposed to pacify the rebellious Ireland and Wales. In addition, Richard the Second was overthrown there, and Henry the Fourth, and then his son, reigned on the throne. Thus, until 1415, both countries were unable to continue the war and were in a state of armed truce.

Third stage (1415-1428)

Those who study the course and consequences of the Hundred Years' War usually call its most interesting event the appearance of such a historical phenomenon as a female warrior who was able to become the head of an army of feudal knights. We are talking about Joan of Arc, born in 1412, whose personality formation was greatly influenced by the events that occurred in 1415-1428. Historical science considers this period the third stage of the Hundred Years' War and identifies the following events as key:

• the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, which was won by Henry the Fifth;
• the signing of the Treaty of Troyes, according to which the distraught King Charles the Sixth declared the King of England his heir;
• the English capture of Paris in 1421;
• the death of Henry the Fifth and the declaration of his one-year-old son as king of England and France;
• the defeat of the former Dauphin Charles, whom a significant part of the French considered the rightful king, at the Battle of Cravan;
• the English siege of Orleans, which began in 1428, during which the world first learned the name of Joan of Arc.

End of the war (1428-1453)

The city of Orleans was of great strategic importance. If the British had managed to capture it, then the answer to the question “what are the results of the Hundred Years' War” would have been completely different, and the French might even have lost their independence. Fortunately for this country, a girl was sent down to her who called herself Joan of the Virgin. She arrived to the Dauphin Charles in March 1429 and announced that God had commanded her to stand at the head of the French army and lift the siege of Orleans. After a series of interrogations and tests, Karl believed her and appointed her commander-in-chief of his troops. As a result, on May 8, Orleans was saved, on June 18, Joan’s army defeated the British army at the Battle of Pat, and on June 29, at the insistence of the Virgin of Orleans, the Dauphin’s “Bloodless March” began in Reims. There he was crowned Charles the Seventh, but soon after that he stopped listening to the advice of the warrior.

A few years later, Jeanne was captured by the Burgundians, who handed the girl over to the British, who executed her, accusing her of heresy and idolatry. However, the results of the Hundred Years' War were already predetermined, and even the death of the Virgin of Orleans could not prevent the liberation of France. The last battle of this war was the Battle of Castiglione, when the British lost Gascony, which had belonged to them for more than 250 years.

Results of the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)

As a result of this protracted inter-dynastic armed conflict, England lost all of its continental territories in France, retaining only the port of Calais. In addition, in response to the question about the results of the Hundred Years' War, experts in the field of military history answer that as a result, the methods of warfare radically changed, and new types of weapons were created.

Consequences of the Hundred Years' War

The echoes of this armed conflict predetermined the relations between England and France for centuries to come. In particular, until 1801, the English and then the British monarchs bore the title of kings of France, which did not in any way contribute to the establishment of friendly ties.

Now you know when the Hundred Years War took place, the causes, course, results and motives of the main characters of which have been the subject of study by many historians for almost 6 centuries.

In the 14th century, a series of large-scale military clashes between the British and the French began, which went down in history as the “Hundred Years’ War.” In our article we will consider the important points and the main participants in the conflict.

Reasons to start

The reason for the start of the Hundred Years' War was the death of the French king Charles ΙV (1328), who was the last direct heir of the ruling Capetian dynasty. The French crowned Philip VΙ. At the same time, the English king Edward ΙΙΙ was the grandson of Philip ΙV (the said dynasty). This gave him the right to claim the French throne.

Edward ΙΙΙ is considered the instigator of the conflict between England and France, which was provoked in 1333 by his campaign against the Scots, who were allies of the French. After the English victory at Halidon Hill, King David II of Scotland took refuge in France.

Philip VΙ planned an attack on the British Isles, but the British invaded the north of France in Picardy (1337).

Rice. 1. King Edward ΙΙΙ of England.

Chronology

The designation "Hundred Years' War" is rather arbitrary: it was isolated armed clashes between the British, French and their allies that occurred over the course of 116 years.

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Conventionally, military actions of this period are divided into four stages, covering certain years of the Hundred Years' War:

• 1337-1360;
• 1369-1396;
• 1415-1428;
• 1429-1453.

The main battles and significant episodes of the Hundred Years' War between England and France are presented in the table:

The war is effectively over. A formal peace treaty was not signed in the coming years. England did not attempt an attack on France until 1475 due to serious internal conflicts. The military campaign of the new English king Edward ΙV against the French was fleeting and disastrous. In 1475, Edward ΙV and Louis XΙ signed a truce agreement in Piquigny.

Rice. 2. Battle of Castiglione.

results

The end of the long military confrontation between England and France in 1453 in favor of the latter led to the following results:

• The French population decreased by more than 65%;
• France regained the southwestern territories that belonged to England under the Treaty of Paris (1259);
• England lost its continental possessions, except for the city of Calais and its environs (until 1558);
• On the territory of England, serious armed conflicts began between influential aristocratic dynasties (Wars of the Roses 1455-1485);
• The English treasury was practically empty;
• Weapons and equipment have improved;
• A standing army appeared.