GUERRA DEI 100 ANNI (Riassunto semplice e completo) Giovanna d'Arco, battaglia di Azincourt

Summary

The Hundred Years' War, fought between France and England from 1337 to 1453, stemmed from dynastic, political, and economic conflicts. It began after the death of the French king Charles IV, with both English King Edward III and French Philip VI claiming the throne. Key phases of the war saw major battles, such as Crecy and Agincourt, where the English excelled. However, the tide turned with Joan of Arc's leadership in 1429, and the eventual French victory. The war concluded with France expelling the English, leading to the rise of a unified French state and the beginning of the Wars of the Roses in England.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Hundred Years' War was fought between France and England from 1337 to 1453, lasting over a century.
• 😀 The war had multiple causes, including dynastic, political, and economic factors, such as territorial claims and the control of the Flemish region.
• 😀 The conflict began after the death of French King Charles IV in 1328, leading to competing claims to the French throne from both English King Edward III and French Philip VI.
• 😀 The war is divided into four phases, with intermittent pauses and truces between the battles.
• 😀 During the first phase (1337-1360), the English won several key battles, including the Battle of Crécy and Poitiers, even capturing French King John II.
• 😀 The Treaty of Brétigny (1360) resulted in the English renouncing the French crown but gaining significant territories in France, including parts of the southwestern region.
• 😀 The Black Death, which struck Europe in 1348, contributed to the war's disruptions and led to peasant rebellions in France known as the Jacquerie.
• 😀 In the second phase (1369), French King Charles V successfully regained much of the territory lost to the English, but internal conflict in France hindered full unification.
• 😀 The third phase (1415-1420) saw English dominance, with a crucial victory at the Battle of Agincourt, largely due to the effectiveness of the longbow and military genius of Henry V.
• 😀 The final phase (1429-1453) saw the rise of Joan of Arc, who played a pivotal role in leading France to victory, including the liberation of Orléans, and helped Charles VII become the rightful French king.
• 😀 The war ended with the expulsion of the English from nearly all of France, leaving only Calais in English hands, and marked the beginning of a unified French state and the start of the Wars of the Roses in England.

Q & A

What was the Hundred Years' War, and who were the main combatants?

The Hundred Years' War was a prolonged conflict between France and England, lasting from 1337 to 1453. The main combatants were the French and the English, with both nations vying for control of territories and the French throne.

What were the main causes that led to the Hundred Years' War?

The main causes included dynastic disputes, as both English and French kings claimed the French throne, territorial disputes over areas like the Guienne, and economic control over the Flanders region, which was a crucial area for trade.

How did the death of King Charles IV of France in 1328 lead to the war?

King Charles IV of France died without a direct heir, which led to competing claims to the French throne. English King Edward III, as a grandson of Philip IV of France, and Philip VI of Valois, as a cousin of Charles IV, both claimed the throne.

What were the key phases of the Hundred Years' War?

The war can be divided into four phases: the first phase (1337–1360) where the English had the upper hand, the second phase (1369–1380) with a French resurgence under King Charles V, the third phase (1415–1420) marked by English victories and internal French conflict, and the final phase (1429–1453) which saw the French reconquest and ultimate victory.

What was the significance of the Battle of Crécy and the use of the longbow?

The Battle of Crécy in 1346 was a significant English victory, thanks in part to the use of the longbow, a weapon capable of piercing French knights' armor from a distance, which played a key role in English military success.

How did the Black Death impact the Hundred Years' War?

The Black Death, which struck Europe in 1348, caused millions of deaths and contributed to social unrest in France, including peasant revolts. This weakened France and affected the progress of the war, though there were temporary truces.

What role did King Henry V play in the war, and how did he win the Battle of Agincourt?

King Henry V played a crucial role in the third phase of the war. At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, despite being outnumbered, Henry’s strategic use of longbowmen helped destroy the French cavalry, leading to a decisive English victory.

How did the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 affect the French throne?

The Treaty of Troyes in 1420, after the defeat of French forces, recognized Henry V of England as the legitimate heir to the French throne. This occurred after Charles VI of France disinherited his son, Charles VII, in favor of Henry V.

What was the role of Joan of Arc in the war, and how did she influence the outcome?

Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who, claiming divine visions, led the French army to significant victories, including the recapture of Orléans. Her leadership helped boost French morale, and her actions led to the coronation of Charles VII as king of France.

What marked the final victory of the French in the Hundred Years' War?

The final victory of the French was marked by the recapture of key territories, the defeat of the English at the Battle of Castillon in 1453, and the expulsion of the English from nearly all of France, leaving them with only the port of Calais.