What could be worse than war, when for the interestspoliticians and those in power are dying hundreds of thousands of people. And the more terrible protracted military conflicts, during which people get used to living in conditions where death can overtake them at any time, and human life has no value. This is exactly what the Hundred Years War was, the causes, stages, results and biographies of the actors that deserve careful study.
Causes
Before studying, what were the resultsHundred Years War, should understand its premises. It all started with the fact that the sons of the French king Philip the Fourth did not leave behind the male heirs. At the same time, the monarch’s own grandson of Isabella’s daughter, the English king Edward the Third, was alive, ascended the throne of England in 1328 at the age of 16. However, he could not claim the throne of France, according to the Salic law. Thus, in France, the dynasty of Valois in the person of Philip the Sixth, who was the nephew of Philip the Fourth, reigned, and Edward the Third in 1331 was forced to take him a vassal oath for Gascony - the French region, considered the personal property of the British monarchs.
The beginning and the first stage of the war (1337-1360)
6 years after the events described Edward the Thirdnevertheless decided to fight for the 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 armed conflictthe fighting went on with varying success until, in 1340, a naval battle took place in Sluis. As a result of the British victory, the English Channel was under their control and remained so until the end of the war. Thus, in the summer of 1346, nothing could prevent Edward the Third's troops from crossing the strait and seizing the city of Caen. From there, the British army followed to Cresy, where on August 26 the famous battle took place, culminating in their triumph, and in 1347 they captured the city of Calais. In parallel with these events unfolded hostilities in Scotland. However, fortune continued to smile to Edward the Third, who defeated the army of this kingdom at the Battle of Nevills Cross, and eliminated the threat of war on two fronts.
Pandemic plague and the conclusion of peace in Bretigny
In 1346-1351 Europe was visited by the Black Death.This pandemic plague claimed so many lives that there could be no question of the continuation of hostilities. The only vivid event of this period, sung in ballads, was the Battle of thirty, when the English and French knights with henrunners staged a massive duel, followed by several hundred peasants. After the end of the mora, 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 the Second. Later, in 1360, the Dauphin of France, who was to become King Charles the Fifth, signed the so-called Peace in Bretigny on very unfavorable conditions.
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 the Second lost power over a third of the territory of his country;
- Edward the Third undertook, on his own 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 the return of his father to France.
The peace period from 1360 to 1369
After the cessation of hostilities, the peoples of the countriesinvolved in the conflict, got a breather, which lasted 9 years. During this time, Louis of Anjou fled from England, and his father, being a knight, faithful to his word, went into voluntary captivity, where he died. After his death, Charles the Fifth ascended to the throne of France, who in 1369 unfairly accused the British of violating the peace treaty and resumed military actions against them.
Second phase
Usually those who study the course and results of the CentenaryWars characterize the time interval between 1369 and 1396, as a series of constant battles, in which, apart from the main participants, the kingdoms of Castile, Portugal and Scotland were also involved. During this period, the following important events occurred:
- in 1370, with the help of the French, Enrique II came to power in Castilla, who became their faithful ally;
- two years later, the city of Poitiers was liberated;
- in 1372, in the battle of La Rochelle, the Franco-Castilian combined fleet defeated a British squadron;
- 4 years later, the Black Prince died;
- in 1377, Edward the Third died, and the minor Richard II ascended to the throne of England;
- since 1392, the king of France began to show signs of madness;
- four years later, a truce was concluded, caused by extreme exhaustion of opponents.
Truce (1396-1415)
When the madness of King Charles the Sixth became apparentall, in the country began internecine feuds, in which the Armagnacs party won. The situation was no better in England, which entered a new war with Scotland, which was also supposed to pacify the insurgents of Ireland and Wales. In addition, Richard II was overthrown there, and Henry the Fourth reigned on the throne, and then his son. Thus, until 1415, both countries were unable to continue the war and were in a state of armed armistice.
The third stage (1415-1428)
Те, кто исследует ход и последствия Столетней War, usually its most interesting event called the emergence of such a historical phenomenon, as a female warrior who could become the head of the army of knights-feudal lords. It is about Joan of Arc, born in 1412, on the formation of the personality of which was greatly influenced by the events that took place between 1415-1428. Historical science considers this period the third stage of the Hundred Years War and identifies the following events as key:
- the battle of Azencourt in 1415, in which Henry the Fifth conquered;
- the signing of the treaty at Troyes, according to which the distraught King Charles the Sixth declared the king of England his successor;
- capture by the British of Paris in 1421;
- the death of Henry the Fifth and the announcement of his one-year-old son as king of England and France;
- the defeat of the former dauphin Charles, whom a large part of the French considered the legitimate king, in the battle of Kravan;
- the siege by the English of Orleans, which began in 1428, during which the world first learned the name of Jeanne d’Arc.
The end of the war (1428-1453)
The city of Orleans was of great strategic importance.If the British managed to seize it, the answer to the question “What are the results of the Hundred Years War?” Would have been completely different, and the French might even lose their independence. Fortunately for this country, she was given a girl who called herself Jeanne the Virgin. She arrived at Dauphinus 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 tests, Karl believed her and appointed his troops as commander-in-chief. As a result, on May 8, Orleans was saved, on June 18, the army of Jeanne defeated the English army at the Battle of Pat, and on June 29, at the insistence of the Virgin of Orleans, the Dauphin's Bloodless campaign began in Reims. There he was crowned as Karl the Seventh, but soon after that he stopped listening to the advice of the warrior.
A few years later, Jeanne was captured byBurgundians who gave the girl to the British, and they executed her, accusing him of heresy and idolatry. However, the results of the Hundred Years War were already predetermined, and even the death of the Virgin of Orleans could not prevent the liberation of France. The last battle in this war was the battle of Castiglione in 1453, when the British lost Gascony, which they had owned for more than 250 years.
Results of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453)
As a result of this protractedinter-dynastic armed conflict England lost all of its continental territories in France, retaining only the port of Calais. In addition, in response to the question of what the results of the Hundred Years War were, experts in the field of military history respond that as a result, the methods of warfare changed dramatically, and new types of weapons were created.
Consequences of the Hundred Years War
Echoes of this armed conflictpredetermined the relations of England and France for centuries to come. In particular, until 1801, the British, and then the monarchs of Great Britain, bore the title of kings of France, which in no way contributed to the establishment of friendly relations.
Now you know when the Hundred Years War was, the causes, course, results and motives of the main characters of which for almost 6 centuries have been the subject of study by many historians.
