The Hundred Years' War Despite the Name, the Hundred Years' War

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The Hundred Years’ War

Despite the name, The Hundred Years’ War wasn’t actually a single war. Rather, it was a series of wars between England and France that lasted from 1337 to 1453. There were many events that led to this long conflict. But the main trigger was the fact that the English ruled the province of Guyenne, located in southwest France. The French did not like the English controlling a region in the middle of France. Because of this, the French king Philip VI attacked Guyenne in 1337. Thus, beginning a conflict that would last for over a century.

At first, the French gained control of Guyenne, but the English soon forced them to give it back. In fact, the English won the vast majority of the battles in the war. Also, they accomplished this with fewer resources than the French. How did this happen? In the mid-1300s the English developed a weapon called the longbow. This bow could shoot an arrow more than 300 yards with enough force to pierce armor. Using the longbow, the English wiped out the French and their knights at the battles of Crecy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415).

Despite their many victories, the English lost the war. During the 1420s, the English placed the city of Orleans under siege. Another English victory seemed likely. Then a peasant girl named Joan convinced Charles, the heir to the French throne, that she received messages from God. These messages told her to lead French forces against the English at Orleans. At first skeptical, Charles eventually allowed Joan to fight with the army. Inspired by Joan’s presence, the French routed the English and took control of Orleans. A series of French victories that ultimately led to the end of the conflict followed.

As for Joan, the outcome was less pleasant. In 1430, she was captured, charged with witchcraft and heresy, and burned at the stake. Later, she came to be called Joan of Arc. In the twentieth century, Joan was made a saint. She is now referred to officially in the Catholic Church as Saint Joan of Arc.

Primary Document Analysis

Review the primary sources below. Then use the graphic organizer to take notes on the details and significance of each.

Document A: Excerpt from “Of the Battle of Cressy [Crécy] Between the King of England and the French King”

In the Battle of Crécy, the French King, Philip VI, hired Italian crossbowmen to fight for him. The author refers to these crossbowmen as Genoways.

When the Genoways [Italians] were assembled together and began to approach, they made a great leap and cry to abash the Englishmen, but they stood still and stirred not for all that: then the Genoways again the second time made another leap and a fell cry, and stept forward a little, and the Englishmen removed not one foot: thirdly, again they leapt and cried, and went forth till they came within shot; then they shot fiercely with their cross-bows. Then the English archers stept forth one pace and let fly their arrows so wholly [together] and so thick, that it seemed snow. When the Genoways felt the arrows piercing through heads, arms and breasts, many of them cast down their crossbows and did cut their strings and returned discomfited. When the French king saw them fly away, he said: 'Slay these rascals, for they shall let and trouble us without reason.' Then ye should have seen the men of arms dash in among them and killed a great number of them: and ever still the Englishmen shot whereas they saw thickest press; the sharp arrows ran into the men of arms and into their horses, and many fell, horse and men, among the Genoways, and when they were down, they could not relieve [raise] again, the press was so thick that one overthrew another. And also among the Englishmen there were certain rascals that went afoot with great knives, and they went in among the men of arms, and slew and murdered many as they lay on the ground, both earls, barons, knights and squires, where of the king of England was after displeased, for he had rather they had been taken prisoners.

Citation: Froissart, Jean. The Chronicles of Froissart. Ed. G. C. Macaulay. New York: P. F. Collier & Son, 1910.

Document B: Painting “Battle of Poitiers” from Froissart’s Chronicle, 1400s

Citation: “Battle of Poitiers.” From Froissart’s Chronicle. The Bridgeman Art Library.

Document C: Excerpt from the Trial of Nullification (Rehabilitation)

Twenty years after the execution of Joan of Arc on the grounds of witchcraft and heresy, French authorities attempted to vindicate her memory by holding a trial of nullification. The term nullification refers to renouncing the charges placed against her. The following is a testimony by Jean, the son of the Duke of Orleans.

"In God's Name," she [Joan of Arc] then said, "the counsel of My Lord is safer and wiser than yours. You thought to deceive me, and it is yourselves who are deceived, for I bring you better succor than has ever come to any general or town whatsoever the succor of the King of Heaven. This succor does not come from me, but from God Himself, Who, at the prayers of Saint Louis and Saint Charlemagne, has had compassion on the town of Orleans, and will not suffer the enemy to hold at the same time the Duke and his town!"

At that moment, the wind, being contrary, and thereby preventing the boats going up the river and reaching Orleans, turned all at once and became favorable. They stretched the sails; and I ordered the boats to the town, which I entered with Brother Nicolas de Geresme, then Grand Prior in France of the Order of Rhodes. We passed before the Church of Saint Loup in spite of the English. From that time I put good hope in her, even more than before. . . . She [Joan of Arc] had in her hand a banner, white in color, on which was an image of Our Lord holding in His Hand a lily. La Hire crossed the Loire at the same time as she, and entered the city [Orleans] with her and ourselves. . . .

Another circumstance made me think these deeds were the work of God. I wished to go towards the army which had turned back on Blois and which was marching to the relief of Orleans; Jeanne [Joan of Arc] would not wait for them nor consent that I should go to meet them: she wished to summon the English to raise the siege at once on pain of being themselves attacked. She did, in fact, summon them by a letter which she wrote to them in French, in which she told them, in very simple terms, that they, were to retire from the siege and return to England, or else she would bring against them a great attack, which would force them to retreat. Her letter was sent to Lord Talbot. From that hour, the English who, up to that time, could, I affirm, with two hundred of their men, have put to rout 800 or 1,000 of ours were unable, with all their power, to resist 400 or 500 French ; they had to be driven into their forts, where they took refuge, and from whence they dared not come forth. Citation: Saint Joan of Arc’s Trial of Nullification. Saint Joan of Arc Center.

Document D: Painting “Joan of Arc,” 1400s

Citation: “Joan of Arc.” The Bridgeman Art Library.

Primary Source Document Analysis

After reviewing each document, write a short description of the details and significance of each in the graphic organizer below.

Document A

Document B

Document C

Document D

Apply and Elaborate

On a separate sheet of paper, use information from the introductory text and the primary sources to write a short essay addressing the following prompt: “How would you describe the importance of the Hundred Years War?”