THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR 1337 1453 HUNDRED YEARS

THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR 1337 -1453

HUNDRED YEARS WAR v Why so long? v Time of long truces, no fighting during the winter, manoeuvering weaponry, burning homes, trampling crops, raiding farms, etc

HUNDRED YEARS WAR v War began because of a disagreement over who should be king (like William’s invasion in 1066) v Between France and England (England invades)

HUNDRED YEARS WAR v French people supported a cousin of the dead French king v Edward III (king of England) was a nephew of the dead French king so he believed he had a stronger claim to France than the cousin

HUNDRED YEARS WAR v Edward invaded France – sometimes controlling huge areas of it v By the end of the war – 1453 – England only had a small port of France • Calais

HUNDRED YEARS WAR v The last important English success of the war was the Battle of Agincourt (1415) v Henry V – his army of 5, 000 defeats France’s 30, 000 with his archers

TECHNOLOGIES AND TACTICS v Archers – the French did not have them v Ordinary village men – skilled with a longbow v Took years to learn – could shoot 10 -12 arrows/minute

TECHNOLOGIES AND TACTICS v Shot metre long arrows from bows 2 metres tall v Could penetrate armour – SMART

TECHNOLOGIES AND TACTICS v Thrust from the bow could send an arrow through a knight’s armoured leg, the body of his horse, and to the knight’s leg on the other side

TECHNOLOGIES AND TACTICS v French knights just as good as the English – but were defeated many times throughout the Hundred Year’s War v Many French refused to fight with anyone of “low birth” – so wouldn’t attack the archers

TECHNOLOGIES AND TACTICS v In many fights the French knights tried to ride past the archers to reach who they believed to be their equals v Archers just volleyed them with arrows

TECHNOLOGIES AND TACTICS v Because of the archers – knights and his armour became useless and obsolete

JOAN OF ARC v 1422 – Henry V dies of dysentery during a siege, his son Henry VI becomes king – but with regents (only months old) • King of England – disputed King of France

JOAN OF ARC v 1429 – a seventeen year old French peasant girl appears at the French court v Claims to hear angel’s voices which commanded her to drive the English out of France

JOAN OF ARC v Dauphin of France skeptical – but eventually gives her armour and some troops v Movie Trailer

JOAN OF ARC v Joan – inspirational leader v Battle of Orleans 1429 – Drove the English out – first major victory v Escorted the Dauphin to be crowned king Charles VII of France

JOAN OF ARC v Two years later – she was captured by the English v Charles refused to pay her ransom v Put on trial for heresy and witchcraft

JOAN OF ARC v Trial – fact that she wore armour (men’s clothing) considered evidence against her – very suspicious! v Convicted

JOAN OF ARC v May 30, 1431 at nineteen years old – burned at the stake v Asked for a crucifix to be held at eye level v Once burned, the coals were raked to prove she hadn’t escaped, then the ashes were burned twice more to prevent people from taking relics

JOAN OF ARC v Canonized May 16, 1920

OUTCOMES OF THE WAR v Near the end of the war – the French began to use more effective artillery • Cannons mounted on carriages – easily moved! • Iron cannonballs introduced – thank you gunpowder advances!

OUTCOMES OF THE WAR v Changes to society: northern France in ruins, England had a lot of men dead v English only held Calais v English turned attention to exploration across Atlantic

OUTCOMES OF THE WAR v Feudalism in France gone – French kings expand their power v Longbow and cannons worked by commoners gave them more importance – feudalism dying in England v Heavily armoured knight’s days done