The Hundred Years’ War
Early English Successes
Between 1337 and 1453, England and France fought a
series of wars over the control of lands in France. English king,
King Edward III and Philip VI, the king of France, both declared
these lands to be part of their kingdoms. War broke out in France
over this claim and the England had many early successes in these
wars.
English soldiers were often outnumbered in their battles
against the French. But their knights wore light armor, making it
easy to fight on horseback or on foot. Their longbows were lighter
and its feathered arrows traveled longer distances. This made
English soldiers able to fire arrows more quickly from farther
distances and with greater accuracy compared to the French.
Meanwhile, French soldiers wore heavy armor, making it
difficult to move on foot. They continued fighting with swords,
crossbows and lances which were not very effective against the
English soldiers and their modern weaponry. In addition, England’s
kings paid peasants to fight these wars so even if they were not
highly trained knights, the superior military technology made them effective soldiers against the French. At the Battle of
Crecy in 1346, English soldiers defeated the larger French force and a truce was declared between the two sides.
Later French Successes
The French slowly chipped away at the English victories and gradually regained some of
their lost territories. One reason for these French victories was that they were using more modern
military tactics and weapons. The king was recruiting his army from commoners, paying them with
money collected by taxes, just as the English did.
Another reason contributing to French victories was their new sense of national pride and
unity. One person who helped build this patriotism was a 17-year-old peasant girl known today as
Joan of Arc. She claimed to have heard voices of Christian saints telling her to save France from
England. She went to fight in 1429 in the Battle of Orleans. Though the French were victorious,
she was captured by the English and later burned at the stake. The French hailed her as a
heroine and her death inspired others to defend France. Twenty-two years after Joan’s death, the
French finally drove the English out of France for good. Later, the Catholic Church made Joan a
saint.
Impact of the Hundred Years’ War
The Hundred Years’ War contributed to the decline of feudalism in
Europe because the influence of feudal lords decreased while the power of
monarchs (kings and queens) increased. During the war, monarchs were able
to collect taxes and build large professional armies, consisting mainly of
peasants. Commoners gained greater influence while traditional knights and
nobles lost importance.
In addition, changes in military technology and strategies further
decreased the need for feudal lords and knights. European armies started using
gunpowder, longbows, and cannons which could destroy feudal castles instantly.
Traditional knights trained in swordsmanship and fighting with lances could not
stand up to more sophisticated military technology. Thus, monarchs no longer
needed the loyalty of lords and their knights to defend their kingdoms. Instead,
they relied on commoners who joined their armies and used improved
weaponry.
Finally, by the end of the 1400s, people started feeling stronger pride for
their country and its king rather than their feudal lord. This sense of national
unity made the monarchs more powerful while decreasing the authority of lords.
Centralized power under one monarch shaped the borders and governments of
modern European countries today.
The Hundred Years’ War
Early English Successes
Later French Successes
Impact of the Wars
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