de Cent Ans) between England and France lasted from 1337 to 1453. It was a 116-year-long war between England and France, witnessing the glory of countless heroes and battles. It was caused by complex dynastic feuds, experienced countless battles over a long period of time, and witnessed the changes in the two countries’ territories and the awakening of national consciousness. This article explores this war that lasted for a hundred years. 

The roots of the Anglo-French conflict

Territorial disputes

As early as 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England, and the British royal family therefore owned large tracts of land in France. According to the rules at the time, these tracts nominally belonged to the King of France, but the King of England enjoyed a high degree of autonomy within the territory. As the French royal power gradually strengthened, the King of France attempted to take back these lands controlled by Britain, and the conflict continued to intensify.

The question of succession to the throne

In 1328, the last king of the Capetian dynasty of France died without a son, leaving no one to inherit the throne. King Edward III of England jumped out and said that he was the grandson of the old French King Philip IV, and according to the relationship, the throne of France should belong to him. But the French nobles disagreed. They thought it would be more reliable to let Philip IV’s nephew Philip VI be king, so they directly put Philip VI on the throne. The subsequent series of games and disputes led to the outbreak of the Hundred Years’ War. 

Introduction to the Hundred Years’ War between England and France

The Hundred Years’ War between England and France lasted for 116 years and is one of the longest and most complex wars in history. At the beginning, England relied on its powerful longbowmen to win many battles and occupied a lot of French territory. But France did not admit defeat. While adjusting their fighting style, they aroused the patriotic enthusiasm of the people across the country and reformed the army. Slowly, France turned the tide of the war and finally won. This long war not only reshaped the political landscape of England and France, but also made the national consciousness of the people of the two countries stronger and had a great impact on cultural development. At the same time, it also promoted the advancement of European military technology and tactics. 

Battle of Crécy (August 1346) 

On August 26, 1346, the Battle of Crécy broke out between the two sides. The English longbowmen showed their prowess. The longbow was about 1.8 meters long and had an effective range of more than 200 meters. The densely arranged longbowmen were a huge threat to the cavalry and could effectively penetrate the plate armor. The French forwards were the famous Genoese crossbowmen. The crossbows had a shorter range than the longbows. In addition, due to the rainfall before the war, the crossbows had no time to be maintained and adjusted, and their attack power was limited. They were quickly defeated by the longbowmen. The cavalry then launched rounds of charges, but fell under the bows and arrows one after another. In the Battle of Crécy, France lost a large number of knights and nobles, and also allowed Britain to achieve a glorious victory in the early stages of the Hundred Years’ War. 

Second phase (1360-1415)

Due to the huge losses in the war, the two sides reached an armistice agreement and entered a relatively peaceful recovery period. However, there were still small-scale conflicts and diplomatic games between the two sides during this period . In 1369, France welcomed the new king Charles V. After he came to power, he immediately set about reorganizing the army and strengthening the royal power. Facing the British army, Charles V did not choose to confront them head-on . They adopted guerrilla tactics to obstruct the actions of the British army. The strategies they implemented included:

• Guerrilla tactics: specializing in surprise attacks on British troops transporting food, fodder and ammunition.

During this period, the French army’s artillery forces developed and played an important role in the war, causing the British occupied areas in France to continue to shrink. 

English offensive and final French victory (1415-1453)

In 1415, Henry V led the British army to defeat the French army again in the Battle of Agincourt, and took the opportunity to occupy a large area of northern France, even the capital Paris. The domestic situation in France was precarious. In 1420, Britain and France signed the Treaty of Troyes, stipulating that Henry V was the heir to the French throne. But in 1422, Henry V and King Charles VI of France died one after another . At the most difficult time for France, Joan of Arc stepped forward. She inspired the French army and civilians with a sense of religious mission, led the French army to a series of victories such as the relief of Orleans, greatly boosted the morale of the French, and gradually reversed the situation of the war in France, turning from defense to a full-scale counterattack.

Victory and consolidation of France (1453)

The surrender of the British army in Bordeaux in 1453 marked the final victory of France in the Hundred Years’ War. France recovered all lost territory except Calais, completed the great cause of national unification, strengthened the rule of the monarchy, and promoted the formation of the French nation-state.

Aftermath of the Hundred Years’ War

The Hundred Years’ War between England and France promoted the innovation of European military technology and tactics, such as the widespread use of weapons such as longbows and artillery, and the emergence of new tactics, which changed the traditional war model. In addition, the war also promoted the development of national consciousness in European countries, had a profound impact on the evolution of the European political landscape, and accelerated the transition from the Middle Ages to modern society.