Figure 1.-- This is a painting by Gilbert A. Pawnall of the English actress Mary Kingley in the role of Joan of Arc (much idealized). The date of the painting is 1914. The production of "Henry VI, Part 1" which inspired it is slightly earlier, I think. The Shakesperian plays are interesting because they provide a glimpse of how the characters were being depicted in the 16th century.

The Hundred Years war is in fact a series of wars interpersed with truces of varying duratioion during 1337-1453. The central issue in the War was the claim of the English king to the French throne. The war was almost entirely fought in France. Edward with his many French possessions refused to do homage to King Philip VI of France. Edward had aclaim to the French crown through his mother. Hostilities erupted and continued over 100 years. Edward III of England announced that Philip VI of France was an ursurper (1337). Edward's motives are not entirely known, but chief among them must have been that Philip's incresing power over French nobels might deprive Edward of a fiefdom he held in France--Guienne. Philip had angered Edward by supporting Scotland in its war with England. There were also economic issues as both countries were ibterested in dominating the trade with Flanders. This was especially important for England as Flanders was the principal marke for wool--at the time the chied English export. The War is commonly divided into two phases. The French suffered some serious defeats in the early years of the war, Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356). At Poitiers French King John the Good was captured by the English Black Prince. Under Charles V the struggle became a war of attrition. He relied on Bertrand du Guesclin to engage the marauding Free Companies, marauding mercenaries. Charles V by his death had stabilized the struggle (1380). Charles VI's mental instability and feuding princes undermined the French position. John the Fearless, duke of Burgundy, had the king's brother, Louis of Orleans murdered (1487). This left France deeply slipt between Armagnacs and Burgundians. Henry V seized the opportunity. The result was the most disastrous French military defeat until Napoleons defeat in Russia. Henry destroyed the cream of French nobility at Agincourt (1415). Henry forced Charles VI to acknowledge him as the legitimate heir to the French throne. France was split between the powerful John Duke of Burgundy and the Dauphin, Charles, son of Charles VI and Isabella of Bavaria. Gradually the Dauphin aided by the young peasant girl Joan of Arc built his power. He was crowned Charles VII at Reims, recaptured Paris, and recovered Normandy (1450). Charles then took Guienne (1453). With the the victory of Castillon, France had effectively defeated the English and united the country.

Causes

The central issue in the War was the claim of the English king to the French throne. The war was almost entirely fought in France. Edward III of England announced that Philip VI of France was an ursurper (1337). Edward's motives are not entirely known, but chief among them must have been that Philip's incresing power over French nobels might deprive Edward of a fiefdom he held in France--Guienne. Philip had angered Edward by supporting Scotland in its war with England. There were also economic issues as both countries were ibterested in dominating the trade with Flanders. This was especially important for England as Flanders was the principal marke for wool--at the time the chief English export. Flanders was the center of the European weaving industry at the heart of the Medieval economy in northern Europe.

Burgundy

Burgunday was a major factor in the War. Burgunday rivaled the rest of France in size and power. The dukes of Burguny condired establishing themselves as an independent country. The English significantly improved their position by fighting the war as part of an alliance with Burgundy. John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, had the king's brother, Louis of Orleans murdered (1487). This left France deeply slipt between Armagnacs and Burgundians.

Major Figures

Edward III

Edward III initiated the Hundred Years War with France (1337). Edward with his many French possessions refused to do homage to King Philip VI of France. Edward had aclaim to the French crown through his mother. Hostilities erupted and continued over 100 years.

Henry V

Henry V was one of the great English warrior kings. He began his military campaigns when he was only 14 years old by engaging the Welsh comanded by Owen ap Glendower. He comanded his father's (Henry IV) forces in the battle of Shrewsbury when he was only 16 years old. After succeeding his father, he supressed the Lollard uprising and an attempt to assasinate him by a group of nobles loyal to Richard II. Henry is best known for his adventures in France. He attempted to marry the Frnch Princess Catherine in 1415 and insisted on the former Plantagenet provinces of Normandy and Anjou as a dowry. Frenck king Charles VI rejected the war. Henry declared war, in fact a continuation of the Hundred Years' War. Henry V seized the opportunity. The war for Henry offered two prospects. Henry could gain land that had been lost to the French. It also helped to deflect his cousins' royal ambitions. Henry achieved one of the great English victories over the French at Agincourt (October 1415). Agincourt was the most disastrous French military defeat until Napoleons defeat in Russia. Henry destroyed the cream of French nobility at Agincourt (1415). Henry's small English army defeated and killed a vastly superior French force. The cream of the French airistocracy was killed at Agincourt, many after the battle. Henry forced Charles VI to acknowledge him as the legitimate heir to the French throne. Henry's son who suceeded him was only 1 year old when his father died. Henry was the subject of one of Shakespeare's historical plays--Henry V. France was split between the powerful John Duke of Burgundy and the Dauphin, Charles, son of Charles VI and Isabella of Bavaria. Gradually the Dauphin aided by the young peasant girl Joan of Arc built his power.

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) was called la Pucelle (the Maid) and has become the very symbol of the French nation. She was a peasant girl who was born at Domremy in Champagne, about 1412. The village was loyal to the French king. Domremy was part of the territory of the Dule of Burgandy. The Burgundians were nominal subects of the French King Charles VII, but who allied with the English, desired to set up an independent kingdom. At age 13 in the summer of 1425, Joan became conscious of supernatural manifestations, whose she came to call her "voices" or "counsel." Joan carrying an ancient sword entered Orléans on April 30, 1429 which had been threatened by the Burgundians and English. Her presence changed the course of the fighting. Within a few days, English encircling the city were captured and the siege ended. A campaign was launched in the Loire ending on June 18 with a great victory at Patay, where English reinforcements were routed. Jean led forces which took Reims and on July 17, 1429, King Charles VII was solemnly crowned, Joan standing by with her standard. She was eventually captured and burned at the stake by the English in 1431. Charles VII proceeded to recaptured Paris, and recovered Normandy (1450). Charles then took Guienne (1453). With the the victory of Castillon, France had effectively defeated the English and united the country.

Phases

The War is commonly divided into two destinct phases.

Phase 1 (1337-80)

Edward III declared himself the rightful king of France and invaded. Edward attacked from the north. There were no decisive land battles, but the English fleet defeated the French off Sluis (the Netherlands) (1340). This gave the English virtually total control of the Channel exposing the coast of France to attack. The two monarchs signed a 3-year truce (1343), but Edward attacked again (1345). The French suffered some serious defeats in the early years of the war, Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356). At Poitiers French King John the Good was captured by the English Black Prince. Another English victory followed when Calais was taken after an extended siege. A series of truces followed (1347-55). During the truces John II suceeded Philip. The English resumed the War and under the Black Prince (Edward III's son) took Bordeaux (1355). With Bordeaux in their hands, the English plundered large areas of southern France. The Black Prince achieved another grat victory--the Battle of Poitiers (1356). Not only did the Black Prince decisively defeat the French army, but he captured King John. The Peace of Brétigny ended the fighting and left the English in control, of large areas of France. Charles V succeeded John II (1364) and renewed the War (1369). Charles appointed Bertrand Du Guesclin to klead his forces. Du Guesclin adopted new tactics. He avoided pitched battles with the English and instead sought to cut off their supply lines. This increased the cost of the War to the English who had to deploy forces to maintain their supply lines. The English War effort was hampered by the strong leadership that had been an asset earlier. Under Charles V the struggle became a war of attrition. He relied on Bertrand du Guesclin to engage the marauding Free Companies, marauding mercenaries. Charles V by his death had stabilized the struggle (1380). England's Richard II seeme willing to settle the differences. Charles VI's mental instability and feuding princes undermined the French position The Black Prince died (1376) and then his father Edward III (1367). Edward was suceeded by his grandson Ricgard II. As a result of the new French tactics and the power vacuume in Engkand, the French succedded in winning back much of the teritory ceeded to England in the Peace of Brétigny. Actual fighting ended (1386) although a formal peace treaty was not signed until several years later (1396). That truce was inteended to last 30 years.

Phase 2 (1414-53)

French King Charles VI experienced periodic episodes of insanity. France lapsed into civil war between the houses of Burgandy and Orléans over control of the regency. English King Henry the V seeing the opportunity to regain lost territory decided to use the opportunity afforded by civil war to reasserted his claim and renewed the War (1414). Henry invaded France by first capturing Harfleur. Then in one of the great battles of the age, with a numerically inferior force, Henry defeated a massive French force in the Battle of Agincourt (1415). The French assembled a seemingly unstopable force of heavy calvalry. The stunning English victory has been attributed variously to the choice of terrain, the English long bow, and the muddy ground--probably all important factors. What is not questioned is that the flower of French aristocracy died at Agincourt. The French army was not meerly defeated. It was desimated. It seems likely that realtively few French knights died on the battlefield, but instead were killed after the battle. This may have occurred at the hands of the English bowmen unschooled in chivalry. One of the reasons that knights wore their coat of arms was to identify who would make lucrative hostages.) Others speculate that Henry ordered the French knights to be killed because he was unsure how to deal with so many French prisoners. With the French army removed from the field, Henry aided by an alliance with the Duke of Burgandy seized all of France north of the Loire River--including Paris. Perhaps only the realtively small size of Henry's Army prevented him from going further. Henry forced Charles VI to recognize Henry as his heir and regent of France in the Treaty of Troyes (1420). Charles decalred his own son Charles, the dauphin, as illegitimate and repudiated him. The Dauphin Charles rejected the treaty and cointinued the War. Henry attacked south accross the Loire. The conduct of the War was affected with the death of both Henry V and Charles VI in the same year (1522). Charles death was not unexpected. Henry was a relatively young, vigorous man and his death was unexpected. Had he lived, the English may have well completed the conquest of France. Henry's son, Henry VI, was proclaimed king, but as he was an infant, a regency was established under the Duke of Bedford. After his father's death, the dauphine proclaimed himself Charles VII and continued the War, but with little success. The English reduced many French strongholds. One of the last important French strongholds was Orléans itself, to which the English layed seige (1428). Next came an unexpected turn of events. A peasant girl name Joan had vissions which inspired the French soldiers. Led by Joan of Arc, the French releaved the siege of Orléans and scored a series of victories driving the English north. Charles VII was crowned in Reims. Charles negotiated an understanding with the Burhundians known as the Peace of Arras (1435). Denied of their allies, the English position in France had become untenable. Charles retook Paris the following year (1436). A period of military inaction followed (1436-49), but the French resumed the War, taking Normandy (1450) and Guienne (1451). Fighting ended leaving the English in possession of only Calais and the surrounding area (1453). Fighting ended at this time. There was never any formal peace treaty. France did not obtain possession of Calais until another 100 years (1558).

Results

The Hindred Years War had relatively little effect on England. To some extent in strengthened Parliament. If Henry had succeeded in making himself king of France, future English kings would have been less dependent on Parliament for funding. The major impact, however, was on France. There was great loss of life and destruction of property over an extended period. The most important impact, however, was the development of a sence of french nationalism and feeling that a string monarch was needed for national well being. An important social consequence was the death of large numbers of the French nobility, especially at Agincourt. This was an important factor in the rise of the French middle class.

Shakespeare

Several of Shakespeare's plays are set in the same time as the Hundred's Years Wars, especially the plays concerning Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI. There are even scenes set in France depicting battles in the War. The most famous of course is Henry V's band of brothers speech. Shakespere wrote thesse plays two centuries after the actual events. His plays are thus not useful historical source material. His plays do, however, provide some insight as to England's outlook in the 16th century. More importantluy they have largely determined how the historical figures involved are viewed in the public mind, except for Joan of Arc.

Sources

Wells, H.G. The Outline of History: The Whole Story of Man (Doubleday: NewYork, 1971), 1103p.

Created: January 15, 2004
Last updated: May 24, 2004