A 116-year conflict, the Hundred Years’ War—a term coined by 19th-century historians—pitted the English Plantagenet dynasty, later the Lancastrians, against the Valois dynasty in a series of wars interspersed with truces. This conflict, linked to illustrious figures such as the Black Prince or Joan of Arc, stands as a significant episode in medieval history.
October 7, 1337: The Plantagenet’s Challenge to the Valois
The confiscation of Guyenne was the catalyst for the decades-long conflict between France and England, which was dynastic in nature. Following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II Plantagenet in 1152, the English kings became both dukes of Aquitaine and Guyenne. However, King Philip Augustus of France managed to reconquer a significant portion of their territories.
To establish a lasting peace, Saint Louis (Louis IX of France), through the 1259 Treaty of Paris, ceded some territories to Henry III of England, and Guyenne was once again considered a fief for which the English king had to pay homage to the king of France.
In 1336, King Edward III Plantagenet of England rebelled and began warring against King Philip VI of France. In response, in May 1337, Philip VI decided to confiscate his vassal’s possessions. Edward III, in turn, contested Philip VI’s title to the French throne on October 7, publicly claiming the crown of France at Westminster.
He also renounced the homage he had paid to Guyenne in 1329. Following the customary protocol, a few months later, he had his challenge conveyed to Paris by the Bishop of Lincoln. The French king was summoned to renounce the kingdom of France, which he had supposedly inherited unjustly.
The English sovereign’s claim was not entirely unfounded, as, upon the death of King Charles IV the Fair—Philip the Fair’s third and last son—in 1328, Philip of Valois succeeded him. However, Philip of Valois was merely the nephew of Philip the Fair, whereas Edward III was his grandson. Yet, the English sovereign’s assertion was primarily tactical, aiming to defend his duchy in French territories.
June 24, 1340: The Destruction of the French Fleet
On June 24, 1340, the English and French armies clashed for the first time. The encounter took place at sea off the Flemish coast, near Sluis, a port city near Bruges. The forces involved were roughly equal, but the French ships made the mistake of anchoring and tethering together to block the enemy fleet’s access to Bruges, thus preventing the landing of Edward III and his troops.
This strategic error immobilized the French naval fleet, leaving it vulnerable to English forces, who, supported by their archers, successfully boarded the anchored vessels. The outcome was a genuine disaster, with the majority of French ships sinking and only around thirty managing to escape. This decisive defeat marked the end of French maritime supremacy.
Following the naval engagement, Edward III landed with his army, but his attempts to capture Saint-Omer and Tournai during the summer were unsuccessful. Facing financial constraints, the two monarchs negotiated a truce at Esplechin, near Tournai, on September 25, 1340.
August 4, 1347: The Chivalrous Sacrifice of the Burghers of Calais
In 1346, after the battle at Crécy-en-Ponthieu and the English victory, Edward III continued his journey and initiated the siege of Calais on September 4. Despite a heroic resistance lasting eleven months, the city, deprived of sea resupply and support from Philip VI’s armies, surrendered on August 4, 1347.
This marked the famous episode of the Burghers of Calais, immortalized by Auguste Rodin’s sculpture. Six prominent figures sacrificed themselves for their city: bareheaded, in shirts, with a rope around their necks, they presented the keys to the city and the castle to the English king. According to legend, Philippa of Hainault interceded with her husband on their behalf and secured their pardon.
The city fell to the enemy: numerous Calaisiens had to leave, and English settlers established themselves, along with a significant garrison. New fortifications complemented the existing defenses, and Calais became a strategic stronghold, deemed impregnable. Indeed, it was only in 1558 that the French finally regained control of the city.
May 1429: Joan of Arc Comes to Orleans’ Rescue
The Siege of Orléans is a significant event in the Hundred Years’ War. The city holds strategic importance, situated between the English possessions of Henry VI of Lancaster and those of the Dauphin and future Charles VII, serving as a key point on the Loire River. At that time, the English king held a substantial part of the Kingdom of France, including Guyenne, Calais, its marches, and the Duchy of Normandy.
Following their recent conquest of Maine, the English decided to seize Orléans and cross the Loire towards Berri. The siege of the Bastide began on October 12, 1428, with an awareness of the prolonged blockade due to well-maintained ramparts extending 3 km.
In 1429, Joan of Arc convinced the Dauphin at Chinon to provide a small army to liberate Orléans. On May 29, when the besieged city was on the verge of surrender due to a lack of supplies, she managed to enter the city by circumventing enemy troops, boosting the morale of the French forces.
In early May, along with her comrades, she assaults the surrounding English defenses, including the bastide of Saint-Loup and the Augustinian fort. Reinforcements also arrived to support her military action. On May 7, the fort of Tourelles falls. The following day, the English war leader, Suffolk, lifts the siege of Orléans.
A highly symbolic victory for the young liberator, driven by the aim to reclaim the Kingdom of France.
October 19, 1453: The End of Military Operations With the Capture of Bordeaux
The last battle of the Hundred Years’ War was Castillon on July 17, 1453, during which the English leader John Talbot met his demise. With this French victory, King Charles VII was on the verge of reclaiming the English possessions of King Henry VI. The only task remaining is to besiege the city of Bordeaux to fully regain the province of Guyenne. Simultaneously, in England, Henry VI lost his sanity, plunging the country into civil war.
On October 19, 1453, Bordeaux, unable to rely on reinforcements, surrendered. This marks the conclusion of military operations in the Hundred Years’ War. However, this distinctive conflict, due to its prolonged duration and unique course, lacks a significant treaty signifying its end. Guyenne’s definitive recapture, 116 years after its confiscation, marked the end of the Hundred Years’ War.