Hundred Years War | 3 Minute History

Summary

The script recounts the Hundred Years' War between England and France, starting with Edward III's claim to the French throne and the conflict's escalation due to territorial disputes and alliances. It details key battles like Crecy and Agincourt, the rise of Joan of Arc, and the eventual English defeat, leaving them with only Calais. The war's conclusion in 1475 marked a united France and the beginning of England's War of the Roses.

Takeaways

• 👑 The script discusses the succession crisis in France that led to Edward III of England claiming the French throne, initiating the Hundred Years' War.
• 🏰 The French nobility opposed Edward's claim and, with the support of the Avignon papacy, crowned Philip VI instead, causing a rift between England and France.
• ⚔️ Edward III reluctantly accepted Philip VI as king and paid homage to him, due to his holdings in French territory, including Gascony.
• 🤝 The alliance between France and Scotland threatened England, leading to tensions that escalated into military conflict.
• 🛳️ Philip VI's actions, such as revoking Edward's ownership of Gascony, prompted England to form alliances and prepare for war.
• 🏹 The English navy's victory at the Battle of Sluys in 1340 allowed them to control the English Channel and set the stage for further conflict.
• 🛡️ The Battle of Crecy in 1346 was a significant English victory, showcasing Edward III's military prowess against the French.
• 😷 The Black Death temporarily halted the war, but hostilities resumed after the pandemic, with the Black Prince leading successful campaigns in France.
• 🏰 The Treaty of Bretigny in 1360 expanded English holdings in France, but the failure to meet King John II's ransom led to renewed conflict.
• 👶 The death of Edward III and the ascension of a child king, Richard II, weakened England's position in the ongoing war.
• 🛑 The script also touches on internal strife in both England and France, with the War of the Roses in England and power struggles in France affecting the conflict.
• 🏹 Henry V's victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 was a turning point, but his death and the subsequent leadership changes complicated the English claim to the French throne.
• 🔱 Joan of Arc's intervention boosted French morale, leading to a series of French victories that began to turn the tide of the war.
• 🏰 The Burgundian and Armagnac factions in France eventually signed separate treaties with the English, but the French continued to push back against English control.
• 🏛️ The final expulsion of the English from France, except for the city of Calais, marked the end of the Hundred Years' War and the beginning of a period of French expansion.

Q & A

What event triggered the start of the Hundred Years' War?

The Hundred Years' War began in 1337 when Philip VI of France revoked Edward III of England's ownership of Gascony.

Why were the French nobility initially opposed to Edward III of England becoming king?

The French nobility were unwilling to see Edward III inherit the throne because he was an English king and they did not want the French crown to be held by someone from another country.

What was the significance of the Battle of Crécy in the context of the Hundred Years' War?

The Battle of Crécy was significant as it was a major victory for the English, led by Edward III, over the French, demonstrating the effectiveness of the English longbowmen and marking a turning point in the war.

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

The arrival of the Black Death in the mid-14th century temporarily halted the war, as both sides were affected by the devastating plague.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Poitiers in 1356?

The Battle of Poitiers resulted in a decisive English victory, with the capture of King John II of France, which further weakened the French position.

Why did the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360 expand English holdings in France?

The Treaty of Brétigny was signed after the English victory at the Battle of Poitiers, which forced France to cede territories to England and release King John II as a prisoner.

What internal conflict in France did the English attempt to exploit during the 1410s?

The English, under King Henry V, sought to exploit the internal strife in France, including the mental instability of King Charles VI and the power struggle between the Armagnacs and Burgundians.

How did Joan of Arc contribute to the French resurgence during the Hundred Years' War?

Joan of Arc, claiming divine guidance, boosted French morale, helped lift the siege of Orléans, and contributed to a series of French victories that shifted the momentum of the war.

What was the significance of the Battle of Agincourt for the English?

The Battle of Agincourt was a significant English victory under King Henry V, where a smaller English force defeated a much larger French army, further establishing English dominance in the early stages of the war.

What led to the English being pushed out of France by 1453?

A combination of factors, including internal strife in England, a modernized French army, and the signing of a separate peace treaty between Burgundians and the French, led to the English being expelled from all territories in France except Calais by 1453.

What was the final outcome of the Hundred Years' War for England and France?

The Hundred Years' War formally ended in 1475 with France united and expanding, while England, increasingly isolated, retained only Calais on the continent. The war's outcome contributed to the start of the War of the Roses in England.