Global Connections

The 100 Years War1337-1453

Background The Capetian Dynasty in France

ended in 1328 with the death of Charles IV The only possible heir is the Son of

Charles IV’s sister Isabella She had been married to Edward II

King of England and their son was Edward III

In 1328 when Charles IV died Edward was 14 years old. He had recently become King Of England following the abdication of his father

The Barons of France sought to exclude Edward and chose Phillip VI Valois as King of France

The Catalyst In 1337 Phillip VI confiscated

Gascony claiming the English King had not honored his feudal obligations

Edward III now 15 years old claimed his right as King of France

The Course of the War to 1419

France had 3x the population and was a much wealthier nation but still lost early (why?)Disunity (some thought Edward III was right)

Provincial concernsEnglish military superiority (longbow, leadership, discipline)

English Victory? The Battle of Crecy 1346: The longbow

defeats the French Crossbow The Battle of Agincourt 1415

English forces were led by Henry V (r. 1413-1422)

He defeated a much larger French force and followed this victory by retaking Normandy

By 1419 he is at the gates of Paris and signs the Treaty of Troyes with the French King Charles VIDisinherited the Dauphin (Charles VII)

Henry V made the new heir to the French throne

Henry marries the French King’s daughter

Is it over?

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) 17 year old peasant girl from Domremy

She heard voices telling her to ask the Dauphin for an army to expel the English

Led the French forces to victory at the Battle of Orleans in 1429 A few months later the Dauphin (now

Charles VII) was crowned King of France in Rheims

The only English territory remaining was Calais

In 1430 Joan was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English Charles could have helped but chose not

to She was burned as a heretic (in 1920

she was made a saint)

Costs and Consequences

Both Nations saw: Population decline, disruption of trade and agriculture, peasant uprisings, blurring of class distinction in warfare

In England: 5 mil. Pounds sterling, breakdown of local order, parliament increased power, civil war (the War of the Roses)

In France: Nationalism, devotion to king, increased Kings power