(map courtesy of www.ehistory.com)
| Fighting started in the Hundred Years' War because the
Kings of England - descendants of William the Conqueror who still spoke
French -wanted to rule France as well. France was temptingly weak and
divided. It began with the English King already ruling a large part of France. It ended with him ruling hardly any, but with what is now Nord - Pas de Calais split off under foreign rule for several centuries. |
The Hundred Years War, lasting from 1337 until 1453, was a defining time for the history of both England and France. The war started in May 1337 when King Philip VI of France attempted to confiscate the English territories in the duchy of Aquitaine (located 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 were a series of raids, sieges and naval battles interspersed with truces and uneasy peace.
Map of famous
battles (click to enlarge)
(map courtesy of www.ehistory.com)
1328 Philip VI of Valois becomes King of France.
1337 Beginning of the Hundred Years War.
1340 English naval victory at Sluys.
1342 English naval victory over a contingent of Genoese at Brest.
1344 The English Parliament assures Edward III two years of financing.
1346 French defeat at Crecy.
1347 Edward III conquers Calais.
1348 The Black Death.
1350 John II "the Good" King of France.
1356 The Battle of Poitiers, John the Good is taken prisoner.
1358 Insurrection in Paris led by Etienne Marcel.
1360 The peace of Bretigny.
1364 John the Good held prisoner in London dies, Charles V King of France.
1367 The Black Prince victorious at Najera.
1372 Renewed hostilities, Castilian victory near La Rochelle.
1373 Campaign of du Guesclin in Brittany against Salisbury.
1376 Death of The Black Prince.
1377 Death of Edward III, Richard II son of the Black Prince becomes King.
1380 Death of Charles V and du Guesclin.
1381 Peasant revolt in England, The sack of London.
1392 First bout of madness of Charles VI.
1399 Richard II, unable to confront internal opponents, cedes the throne to his cousin Henry IV of Lancaster, who names his son the Prince of Wales.
1405 English troops in Cotentin, French soldiers in Wales.
1407 Assassination of the Duke Louis of Orleans, Paris is divided between the Armagnacs and Burgundians.
1409 The Peace of Chartres among the French princes.
1413 Henry V becomes King of England.
1415 Henry conquers Harfleur, The Battle of Agincourt.
1417 The English conquer Caen.
1419 The English conquer Rouen, John "the Fearless" is assassinated, English-Burgundian alliance.
1420 Treaty of Troyes: Henry V marries Catherine of France and inherits the French throne.
1422 Henry V falls ill and dies, Charles VI dies, The son of Henry VI becomes King of England and France.
1429 Joan of Arc liberates Orleans from English siege.
1435 Conference of Arras, The Duke of Burgundy reconciles with Charles VII.
1436 The army of Charles VII snatches Paris from English troops.
1450 English defeat at Formigny, English quarrels will lead to the War of the Roses.
1453 French victory at Castillion in Guienne, The Hundred Years War comes to an end.
(chronology taken from Creating Miniature Knights by Peter Greenhill and Mario Venturi)