The Hundred Years’ War lasted about one hundred sixteen years and is usually divided into three or four sections. The war was between the English and the French, two of the major countries during the middle ages. It had many causes and also many results. The main result was French victory. The English won most of the major battles but in the end, France’s superior numbers became the deciding factor. The Hundred Year’s War was an event that had lasting results that helped shape Europe.

The main cause for the war was dynastic arguments, but there were also many other causes and contributions. First, around 1316, Philip V, French heir to the throne, spread rumors that Joan, Louis X’s daughter was an illegitimate child. He wanted the throne for himself, so he convinced the people that women should not be able to inherit the throne or carry the rights to their children. Then Edward III, king of England, became the only male descendant of the Capetian Dynasty. He could then claim rights to the French throne. The French disagreed because he was a descendant of Isabella, a woman. The French also did not want a foreign king. So they crowned Philip of Valois as Philip VI, the next French king. Philip VI wanted Edward III to recognize him as king of France and cease claiming to be the rightful heir. Edward III disagreed and so declared war.

Also, the French were threatening England’s profitable wool trade with the Flemish Duchy. They were also supporting the Scottish when England was at war with Scotland. This made Edward III angry. France was mad because the English controlled part of France. So, France took back Gascony and Edward III declared war.

The first phase of the war is called the Edwardian War, lasting from 1337 to 1360. The English won all of the major battles during this phase; the Battle of Sluys, the Battle of Crecy, and the Battle of Poitiers. The Battle of Sluys took place on June 24, 1340. It was a naval battle between Edward III’s fleet of about 250 ships, and France’s fleet of about 190 ships. Also, the French state that the Flemish fleet joined in the fight on the night of the 24^th. The French fleet had lined up with their ships tied together in front of the town of Sluys, between West Flanders and Zeeland. The English Fleet lined up in two lines, one to attack the enemy’s front and one to attack their flank, and fought for one day and one night. The fighting was intense hand-to-hand combat on the decks of the ships. The casualties are reported to be light for the English and very heavy for the French. The result was an English victory and the destruction of the French fleet in the English Channel.

The next major, and perhaps the most important in the Hundred Years’ War, battle was fought on August 26, 1346, near Crecy in northern France. The Battle of Crecy is sometimes said to be the beginning of the end to Chivalry. They say this because knights were being killed by peasants and the wounded were killed instead of taken as prisoner. The English, under Edward III’s command, crushed the French and even wound Philip himself. It was a humiliating loss for the French because they so outnumbered the English that they became over confident and foolishly attacked without resting and preparing. The English had set up a defensive position with every man fighting on the ground. The Welsh archers, with their longbows, lined up in the “V-formation” and repeatedly fended off attacks from French knights. The victory is mainly because of the longbow. The French used crossbows that were ineffective because they took so long to reload, had short range, and frequently stopped working if they got rained on. On the other hand, the Welsh longbows could be fired quickly and could penetrate knight’s armor. Casualties again were light for the English but very heavy for the French. As many as 30,000 French men were wounded or killed during this battle. The result was a decisive English victory. New tactics and weapons, longbows and cannons, were introduced in this battle that started the change in medieval warfare.

The next huge battle, and decisive English victory, was the Battle of Poitiers. This battle was fought on September 9, 1356. This battle was almost a repeat of the Battle of Crecy. The English retreated to a good defensive position and destroyed the French army. The Black Prince, Edward III’s son Edward, used tactics and strategy to defeat John II’s larger army. This battle resulted in a military and economic defeat for France. John II was captured during this battle and the English demanded a ransom of twice the yearly income of France. John II ended up dying as a prisoner. After this battle, the Treaty of London was signed and the countries entered into a brief time of peace, kind of.

After about nine years of standstill, the second phase began. This phase is known as the Caroline War. This section of the war was a time of conflict with other nations as well as with France or with England. The English were fighting with Portugal and the French were fighting with Castile and Brittany. For the most part, France dominated this phase of the war. It ended in 1389 with Edward III, the Black Prince, and a famous French general’s death.

The next phase of the war, called the Lancastrian War, started in 1415. At this time, England was being ruled by Henry V and France was being ruled by Charles VI. There was one major battle in this phase of the war, and the English won it. The Battle of Agincourt took place on October 25, 1415 in northern France and was an important victory for Henry V. It allowed him to become heir to the French throne. This battle was fought in the same way as Crecy and Poitiers. The outnumbered English army crushed the French, killing huge amounts of French nobility. The English’s tactics once again, did not fail them. Henry V then married Charles VI’s daughter but before he could become king of England and France, he died and his small son became king of England. Then Charles VI died and his son was crowned king of France. This would cause much turmoil later.

The next phase of the war was the turning point. The French started to win battles and drive out the English. Much of this is credited to Joan of Arc. This is why this section is called “Appearance of Joan of Arc”. In 1429, she lifted the siege of Orleans. Later that year, the French destroyed the English army at the Battle of Patay. The French knew that they could not win once the English set up so they made a surprise attack. This worked better than they thought and the English forces were cut down considerably. Many of the longbowmen died during this battle.

The last battle that ended the war was the Battle of Castillon. The result was a French victory. This battle was also the first where cannon fire was the deciding factor in the battle. It took place on July 17, 1453.