1.2.4 The Hundred Years War Flashcards
When did King Edward III claim the throne?
1337
How long did the ‘Hundred Years War’ last?
1337-1453
Following the loss of Normandy in _____, English control in France continued to decline, until only Aquitaine remained an English possession
1204
When Edward III became king 1327, what did he vow to do?
To reclaim English lands and glory in France
Why did Edward declare war?
Because the King of France, Philip VI attempted to take Aquitaine from the English in 1337
What was the economic cause of the Hundred Years war?
Edward risked losing taxes as the French threatened to take over Gascony (where wine was made, much of it then sold in England and taxed) and Flanders (where British wool was turned into cloth)
What were the political causes of the Hundred Years war? (2)
- Edward thought he had a better claim to the French throne than the actual French king at the time
- The French had offered to help the Scots who Edward was in conflict with
What was the social cause of the Hundred Years War?
The people of Britain would lose businesses, such as in the wool trade, and have to pay higher taxes
What was the first stage of the Hundred Years War and what happened? (1337-60) (2)
The Battle of Crecy
- In 1346 Edward tried to reclaim Normandy
- His army of 15,000 men were small compared to Philip VI’s but effective use of cannon and longbows secured victory for the English
- Calais was captured, and remained a symbol of English power in France for the next two hundred years
The Battle of Poitiers
- In 1356 the English had even more success
- They used their longbows to shoot at the horses ridden by the French cavalry
- As the horses died and the Frenchmen fell to the ground, they were killed by the English in their thousands
What was stage 2 of the Hundred Years’ war? (1370)
The French won back some of the land they had lost
What was the third stage of the Hundred Years war and what happened? (1413-53) (4)
- Henry V became England’s King and led the English into the key Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The English forces were tired but luck and good military planning saw them defeat the French; Henry’s army totalled around 6000, compared to the French army of around 24,000! He ordered his men to stay back so his archers could shoot clearly at the French cavalry rushing towards them. Luck was also on their side, since many of the French cavalry got stuck in the mud
- After the Battle of Agincourt, Henry V went on to conquer Normandy and tighten his grip on France
- After Henry V’s death his son took over and the French got back most of the land they had lost. After a series of successes, the English had lost momentum with the death of Henry V in 1422 and began to suffer a series of defeats at the hands of the French.
- The English suffered a humiliating defeat by the French at the siege of Orleans in 1429, and then in 1453 were decisively beaten; the French were inspired by Joan of Arc’s leadership to take back control of their country
What happened when Henry V died in 1422? (2)
- England began to suffer a series of defeats at the hands of the French. The English suffered a humiliating defeat by the French at the siege of Orleans in 1429, and then in 1453 were decisively beaten
- The Hundred Years’ war was over, and the English had lost
In which battle did the English capture the port of Calais?
The Battle of Crecy
What were the short term effects of the Hundred Years’ war? (2)
- Some areas of France were devastated with buildings, crops and animals destroyed
- Soldiers and civilians on both sides were killed
What were the medium term effects of the Hundred Years’ war? (6)
- France became unified under 1 king
- England lost money because of lost territories, such as Normandy
- Some English people got very rich from stealing riches from towns and villages
- The foot soldier became the key element to the army
- Gunpowder, cannons and handguns were used more in battle
- A new and improved system of taxation for France was started
