What could be worse than war, when hundreds of thousands of people die for the interests of politicians and those in power. And all the more terrible are protracted military conflicts, during which people get used to living in conditions where death can overtake them at any moment, and human life has no value. This is exactly what the Hundred Years War was, the causes, stages, results and biographies of the actors of which deserve careful study.
Reasons
Before you study what the results of the Hundred Years War were, you should understand its premises. It all started with the fact that the sons of the French king Philip the Fourth left no male heirs. At the same time, the native grandson of the monarch from the daughter of Isabella, the English king Edward the Third, who ascended the throne of England in 1328 at the age of 16, was alive. However, he could not claim the throne of France under the Salic law. Thus, in France reignedthe Valois dynasty in the person of Philip the Sixth, who was the nephew of Philip the Fourth, and Edward the Third in 1331 was forced to swear an oath of vassalage to him for Gascony, a French region considered the personal property of the English monarchs.
Beginning and first stage of the war (1337-1360)
6 years after the events described, Edward the Third decided to still fight for his grandfather's throne and sent a challenge to Philip the Sixth. Thus began the Hundred Years War, the causes and results of which are of great interest to those who study the history of Europe. After the declaration of war, the British launched an attack on Picardy, in which they were supported by the inhabitants of Flanders and the feudal lords of the southwestern counties of France.
In the first years after the outbreak of the armed conflict, the fighting went on with varying success, until in 1340 there was a naval battle in Sluys. As a result of the British victory, the English Channel came under their control and remained so until the end of the war. Thus, in the summer of 1346, nothing could prevent the troops of Edward the Third from crossing the strait and capturing the city of Caen. From there, the English army followed to Crécy, where on August 26 the famous battle took place, which ended in their triumph, and in 1347 they also captured the city of Calais. In parallel with these events, hostilities were unfolding in Scotland. However, fortune continued to smile on Edward the Third, who defeated the army of this kingdom at the battle of Neville's Cross, and eliminated the threat of war on two fronts.
Plague pandemic and peace in Brétigny
In 1346-1351 the "Black Death" visited Europe. This plague pandemic claimed so many lives that there could be no question of continuing the fighting. The only highlight of this period, sung in ballads, was the Battle of the Thirty, when the English and French knights and squires staged a massive duel, which was watched by several hundred peasants. After the end of the pestilence, England again began military operations, which were mainly led by the Black Prince, the eldest son of Edward the Third. In 1356 he won the Battle of Poitiers and captured the French King John II. Later, in 1360, the Dauphin of France, who was to become King Charles V, signed the so-called Peace of Brétigny on very unfavorable terms.
Thus, the results of the Hundred Years War at its first stage were as follows:
- France was completely demoralized;
- England acquired half of Brittany, Aquitaine, Poitiers, Calais and almost half of the enemy's vassal possessions, i.e. John II lost power over a third of the territory of his country;
- Edward the Third pledged on his behalf and on behalf of his descendants to no longer claim the throne of his grandfather;
- the second son of John the Second - Louis of Anjou - was sent to London as a hostage in exchange for his father's return to France.
Peaceful period from 1360 to 1369
After the cessation of hostilities, the peoples of the countries involved in the conflictreceived a respite that lasted 9 years. During this time, Louis of Anjou escaped from England, and his father, being a knight true to his word, went into voluntary captivity, where he died. After his death, Charles the Fifth ascended the throne of France, who in 1369 unjustly accused the British of violating the peace treaty and resumed hostilities against them.
Second stage
Usually, those who study the course and results of the Hundred Years War characterize the time interval between 1369 and 1396 as a series of constant battles, in which, in addition to the main participants, the kingdoms of Castile, Portugal and Scotland were also involved. During this period, the following important events took place:
- in 1370 in Castile, with the help of the French, Enrique II came to power, who became their faithful ally;
- two years later, the city of Poitiers was liberated;
- in 1372, at the Battle of La Rochelle, the Franco-Castilian combined fleet defeated the British squadron;
- Black Prince died after 4 years;
- Edward III died in 1377, and underage Richard II ascended the throne of England;
- since 1392, the king of France began to show signs of insanity;
- four years later, a truce was signed, caused by the extreme exhaustion of opponents.
Truce (1396-1415)
When the madness of King Charles the Sixth became obvious to everyone, internecine strife began in the country, in which the Armagnac party won. The situation was no better in England, which entered into a new war with Scotland, which, moreover, was supposed to pacify the rebellions of Ireland and Wales. In addition, Richard II was overthrown there, and Henry the Fourth, and then his son, reigned on the throne. Thus, until 1415, both countries were unable to continue the war and were in a state of armed truce.
Third stage (1415-1428)
Those who study the course and consequences of the Hundred Years' War usually call its most interesting event the appearance of such a historical phenomenon as a female warrior who was able to become the head of an army of feudal knights. We are talking about Joan of Arc, born in 1412, whose personality was greatly influenced by the events that took place in 1415-1428. Historical science considers this period the third stage of the Hundred Years War and highlights the following events as key ones:
- battle of Agincourt in 1415, which was won by Henry V;
- signing of an agreement in Troyes, according to which the distraught King Charles VI declared the King of England his heir;
- capture of Paris by the British in 1421;
- death of Henry V and declaration of his one-year-old son as King of England and France;
- defeat of the former Dauphin Charles, whom a significant part of the French considered the rightful king, at the Battle of Cravan;
- The British siege of Orleans, which began in 1428, during which the world first learned the name of Joan of Arc.
The end of the war (1428-1453)
CityOrleans was of great strategic importance. If the British managed to capture it, then the answer to the question “what are the results of the Hundred Years War” would be completely different, and the French could even lose their independence. Fortunately for this country, a girl was sent down to her, calling herself Jeanne the Virgin. She arrived at the Dauphin Charles in March 1429 and announced that the Lord had commanded her to stand at the head of the French army and lift the siege of Orleans. After a series of interrogations and trials, Karl believed her and appointed her commander in chief of his troops. As a result, on May 8, Orleans was saved, on June 18, Jeanne's army defeated the British army at the Battle of Pat, and on June 29, at the insistence of the Virgin of Orleans, the Dauphin's “Bloody Campaign” began in Reims. There he was crowned as Charles the Seventh, but soon after that he stopped listening to the advice of the warrior.
A few years later, Jeanne was captured by the Burgundians, who handed the girl over to the British, who executed her, accusing her of heresy and idolatry. However, the results of the Hundred Years' War were already a foregone conclusion, and even the death of the Virgin of Orleans could not prevent the liberation of France. The last battle of this war was the battle of Castiglion in 1453, when the British lost Gascony, which had been theirs for over 250 years.
Results of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453)
As a result of this protracted inter-dynastic armed conflict, England lost all its continental territories in France, retaining only the port of Calais. In addition, in response to the question of what are the results of the Centenarywar, experts in the field of military history answer that as a result of it, the methods of warfare have changed dramatically, and new types of weapons have been created.
The aftermath of the Hundred Years' War
Echoes of this armed conflict predetermined relations between England and France for centuries to come. In particular, until 1801, the English, and then the monarchs of Great Britain, bore the title of kings of France, which in no way contributed to the establishment of friendly ties.
Now you know when there was the Hundred Years War, the causes, course, results and motives of the main characters of which have been the subject of study by many historians for almost 6 centuries.
