The Hundred Years War, lasting from 1337 until 1453, was a defining time for the history of both England and France. There was another series of wars between the two countries from 1600-1815. Thus, much of European military and political history until the twentieth century reflected the antagonism between these two major nation states. One must remember that unlike other Western European nations, England and France developed significant nation-states relatively early. By contrast, Spain – until it expelled the Moors in 1492 – was divided into several kingdoms. German and Italy were composed of a number of principalities or city- states.
The Hundred Years War started in May 1337, when King Philip VI of France attempted to confiscate the English territories in the duchy of Aquitaine (located in southwestern France). It ended in July 1453, when the French finally expelled the English from the continent (except for Calais) by force.
The Hundred Years War was a series of plunder raids, sieges, and naval battles, interspersed with truces and uneasy peace.
One of the main causes of the Hundred Years War centered on the relationship between the kings of France and England regarding the duchy of Aquitaine. Under a strange set of circumstances that evolved from the victory of William the Conqueror of Normandy over England, the King of England was required to make a payment to the French king whenever the kingship of England or France changed hands. In essence the King of England was a vassal of the King of France relative to the province of Aquitaine.
Control over the French throne further complicated matters. In 1328, the King of France died without a male heir. Edward III, the King of England, held claim to the throne via his mother who was Charles’s sister. The other important claimant was head of the Valois house (Philip VI), grandson of Philip III of France. Philip VI gained the throne and moved to confiscate Aquitaine to consolidate his power. Edward led a raid in to French territory in 1338 to defend his claim, and two years later declared himself the true King of France.
From the beginning of the war (1337) until the battle of Orleans (1428-29) the English won many victories, using a new method of warfare by combining forces of long bowmen with dismounted men-at-arms.
In 1429, at the siege of Orleans, the French finally gained the upper hand. Joan of Arc led a relief force, which successfully defeated the English. For the next 25 years, the French defeated the English at many engagements, and the English retreated from France except for Calais.
