2 Beginning of the Hundred Years' War. The Hundred Years' War in brief

England and France are two great powers of medieval Europe, controlling the balance of political forces, trade routes, diplomacy and the territorial division of other states. Sometimes these countries formed alliances with each other to fight a third party, and sometimes they fought against each other. There were always plenty of reasons for confrontation and another war - from religious problems to the desire of the rulers of either England or France to take the throne of the opposing side. The results of such local conflicts were civilians who died during robberies, disobedience, and surprise attacks by the enemy. Production resources, trade routes and connections were largely destroyed, and acreage was reduced.

One such conflict erupted on the European continent in the 1330s, when England again went to war against its eternal rival France. This conflict was called the Hundred Years' War in history because it lasted from 1337 to 1453. Countries have not been at war with each other for 116 years. It was a complex of local confrontations that either subsided or resumed anew.

Reasons for the Anglo-French confrontation

The immediate factor that provoked the outbreak of the war was the claims of the English Plantagenet dynasty to the throne in France. The purpose of this desire was that England lost possession of continental Europe. The Plantagenets were related in varying degrees to the Capetian dynasty, the rulers of the French state. The royal monarchs wanted to expel the English from Guienne, which had been transferred to France under the terms of the treaty concluded in Paris in 1259.

Among the main reasons that provoked the war, it is worth noting the following factors:

• The English ruler Edward the Third was closely related to the French king Philip the Fourth (he was his grandson), and declared his rights to the throne of the neighboring country. In 1328, the last direct descendant of the Capetian family, Charles the Fourth, died. Philip VI of the Valois family became the new ruler of France. According to the set of legislative acts “Salic Truth”, Edward the Third could also lay claim to the crown;
• Territorial disputes over the region of Gascony, one of the main economic centers of France, also became a stumbling block. Formally, the region was owned by England, but in fact by France.
• Edward the Third wanted to get back the lands that his father had previously owned;
• Philip the Sixth wanted the English king to recognize him as a sovereign ruler. Edward the Third took such a step only in 1331, since his native country was constantly torn apart by internal troubles and constant internecine struggle;
• Two years later, the monarch decided to get involved in a war against Scotland, which was an ally of France. This step of the English king freed the hands of the French, and he gave the order to expel the British from Gascony, extending his power there. The English won the war, so David II, King of Scotland, fled to France. These events paved the way for England and France to begin preparing for war. The French king wanted to support the return of David II to the Scottish throne, so he ordered a landing on the British Isles.

The intensity of hostility led to the fact that in the fall of 1337 the English army began to advance in Picardy. The actions of Edward the Third were supported by the feudal lords, the cities of Flanders and the southwestern regions of the country.

The confrontation between England and France took place in Flanders - at the very beginning of the war, then the war moved to Aquitaine and Normandy.

In Aquitaine, the claims of Edward III were supported by feudal lords and cities who sent food, steel, wine, and dyes to Britain. This was a major trading region that France did not want to lose.

Stages

Historians divide the 100th war into several periods, taking the activity of military operations and territorial conquests as criteria:

• The 1st period is usually called the Edwardian War, which began in 1337 and lasted until 1360;
• The 2nd stage covers 1369-1396, and is called Carolingian;
• The third period lasted from 1415 to 1428, called the Lancastrian War;
• The fourth stage - the final one - began in 1428 and lasted until 1453.

The first and second stages: features of the course of the war

Hostilities began in 1337, when the English army invaded the territory of the French kingdom. King Edward the Third found allies in the burghers of this state and the rulers of the Low Countries. The support did not last long; due to the lack of positive results of the war and victories on the part of the British, the alliance collapsed in 1340.

The first few years of the military campaign were very successful for the French; they offered serious resistance to their enemies. This applied to battles at sea and land battles. But luck turned against France in 1340, when its fleet at Sluys was defeated. As a result, the English fleet established control in the English Channel for a long time.

1340s can be described as successful for both the British and the French. Fortune took turns turning to one side and then to the other. But there was no real advantage in anyone's favor. In 1341, another internecine struggle began for the right to own the Breton inheritance. The main confrontation took place between Jean de Montfort (England supported him) and Charles de Blois (he received the help of France). Therefore, all the battles began to take place in Brittany, the cities took turns passing from one army to another.

After the English landed on the Cotentin Peninsula in 1346, the French began to suffer constant defeats. Edward the Third managed to successfully pass through France, capturing Caen, the Low Countries. The decisive battle took place at Crecy on August 26, 1346. The French army fled, the ally of the King of France, Johann the Blind, ruler of Bohemia, died.

In 1346, the plague intervened in the course of the war, which began to massively take the lives of people on the European continent. The English army only by the mid-1350s. restored financial resources, which allowed the son of Edward the Third, the Black Prince, to invade Gascony, defeat the French at Pautiers, and capture King John the Second the Good. At this time, popular unrest and uprisings began in France, and the economic and political crisis deepened. Despite the existence of the London Agreement on the receipt of Aquitaine by England, the English army again entered France. Successfully moving deeper into the country, Edward the Third refused to lay siege to the capital of the opposing state. It was enough for him that France showed weakness in military affairs and suffered constant defeats. Charles the Fifth, the Dauphin and son of Philip, went to sign a peace treaty, which happened in 1360.

As a result of the first period, Aquitaine, Poitiers, Calais, part of Brittany, half of the vassal lands of France, which lost 1/3 of their territories in Europe, went to the British crown. Despite such a number of acquired possessions in continental Europe, Edward III could not lay claim to the throne of France.

Until 1364, Louis of Anjou was considered the French king, who was at the English court as a hostage, fled, and his father, John the Second the Good, took his place. He died in England, after which the nobility proclaimed Charles the Fifth king. For a long time he was looking for a reason to start a war again, trying to regain the lost lands. In 1369, Charles again declared war on Edward the Third. Thus began the second period of the 100 Years' War. During the nine-year break, the French army was reorganized, and economic reforms were carried out in the country. All this laid the foundation for France to dominate battles and battles, achieving significant success. The British were gradually driven out of France.

England could not provide adequate resistance, since it was busy in other local conflicts, and Edward the Third could no longer command the army. In 1370, both countries were involved in a war on the Iberian Peninsula, where Castile and Portugal were at war. The first was supported by Charles the Fifth, and the second by Edward the Third and his eldest son, also Edward, Earl of Woodstock, nicknamed the Black Prince.

In 1380 Scotland again began to threaten England. In such difficult conditions, the second stage of the war took place for each side, which ended in 1396 with the signing of a truce. The reason for the agreement between the parties was the exhaustion of the parties physically, morally and financially.

Military operations resumed only in the 15th century. The reason for this was the conflict between Jean the Fearless, the ruler of Burgundy and Louis of Orleans, who was killed by the Armagnac party. In 1410 they seized power in the country. Opponents began to call on the British for help, trying to use them in inter-dynastic strife. But at this time, the British Isles were also very turbulent. The political and economic situation was deteriorating, the people were dissatisfied. In addition, Wales and Ireland began to emerge from disobedience, which Scotland took advantage of by starting military operations against the English monarch. Two wars broke out in the country itself, which were in the nature of civil confrontation. At that time, Richard II was already sitting on the English throne, he fought with the Scots, the nobles took advantage of his ill-conceived policy, removing him from power. Henry the Fourth ascended the throne.

Events of the third and fourth periods

Due to internal problems, the British did not dare to interfere in the internal affairs of France until 1415. It was only in 1415 that Henry the Fifth ordered his troops to land near Harfleur, capturing the city. The two countries are once again plunged into a violent confrontation.

The troops of Henry the Fifth made mistakes in the offensive, which provoked a transition to defense. And this was not at all part of the British plans. A kind of rehabilitation for the losses was the victory at Agincourt (1415), when the French lost. And again a series of military victories and achievements followed, which gave Henry the Fifth a chance to hope for a successful conclusion to the war. The main achievements in 1417-1421 there was the capture of Normandy, Caen and Rouen; An agreement was signed in the city of Troyes with the King of France, Charles the Sixth, nicknamed the Mad. Under the terms of the treaty, Henry the Fifth became the king's heir, despite the presence of direct heirs - the sons of Charles. The title of kings of France was borne by the English monarchies until 1801. The treaty was confirmed in 1421, when troops entered the capital of the French kingdom, the city of Paris.

That same year, the Scottish army came to the aid of the French. The Battle of Bogue took place, during which many outstanding military figures of that time died. In addition, the British army was left without leadership. A few months later, Henry the Fifth died in Meaux (1422), and his son, who was only one year old at that time, was chosen as monarch instead. The Armagnacs took the side of the Dauphin of France, and the confrontations continued.

The French suffered a series of defeats in 1423, but continued to resist. In subsequent years, the third period of the Hundred Years' War was characterized by the following events:

• 1428 – siege of Orleans, a battle called in historiography “The Battle of the Herrings”. It was won by the British, which significantly worsened the condition of the French army and the entire population of the country;
• Peasants, artisans, townspeople, and small knights rebelled against the invaders. Residents of the northern regions of France resisted especially actively - Maine, Picardy, Normandy, where a guerrilla war against the British unfolded;
• One of the most powerful peasant uprisings broke out on the border of Champagne and Lorraine, led by Joan of Arc. The myth of the Maid of Orleans, who was sent to fight against English dominance and occupation, quickly spread among French soldiers. The courage, bravery and skill of Joan of Arc showed the military leaders that it was necessary to move from defense to offense, to change the tactics of warfare.

The turning point in the Hundred Years' War came in 1428, when Joan of Arc with the army of Charles the Seventh lifted the siege of Orleans. The uprising became a powerful impetus for a radical change in the situation in the Hundred Years' War. The king reorganized the army, formed a new government, and the troops began to liberate cities and other populated areas one by one.

In 1449, Raun was recaptured, then Caen and Gascony. In 1453, the British lost at Catilion, after which there were no battles in the Hundred Years' War. A few years later, the British garrison capitulated in Bordeaux, which put an end to more than a century of confrontation between the two states. The English monarchy continued to control only the city of Calais and the district until the late 1550s.

Results and consequences of the war

France has suffered enormous human losses over such a long period, both among the civilian population and among the military. The results of the Hundred Years' War for

French state steel:

• Restoration of state sovereignty;
• Removal of the English threat and claims to the French throne, lands and possessions;
• The process of forming a centralized apparatus of power and the country continued;
• Famine and plague devastated the cities and villages of France, as in many European countries;
• Military spending drained the country's treasury;
• Constant uprisings and social riots exacerbated the crisis in society;
• Observe crisis phenomena in culture and art.

England also lost a lot during the entire period of the Hundred Years' War. Having lost its possessions on the continent, the monarchy came under public pressure and was constantly displeased by the nobles. Civil strife began in the country, and anarchy was observed. The main struggle took place between the York and Lancaster families.

There was no means or strength to return the lost lands in France, which the crown had owned since the 12th century. The treasury was completely empty, depleted by military expenses.

The Hundred Years' War ended, but the countries did not sign a peace agreement among themselves. The English monarchs hoped to return the lost lands, but their aspirations were not destined to come true. The War of the Roses followed in 1455, drawing the dynasties away from France. The only attempt to regain a foothold on the continent was made in 1475 by Edward the Fourth. But his troops were defeated, and he agreed to a truce. The document was drawn up and signed in Piquigny, and it is what historians consider the last event in the 100 Years' War.

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The history of the Hundred Years' War was one of the most significant periods in the development of medieval society in Europe. Two strong powers did not have the same interests, unleashing bloodshed. Echoes of those events still occupy the minds of descendants. Each side gives its own interpretation of what served as the sources of such irreconcilable hostility.

Prerequisites for the development of confrontation between two great powers

History describes many cases of confrontation over specific lands. Emerging feuds erupt due to the claims of different ruling factions. At the beginning of the hundred-year conflict, the two great powers had many claims to the heritage of the royal families.

The war started with 1337 years for the lands of Guienne and Gascony, which were considered the patrimony of the British crown. Thus, the French throne remained under the influence of England, and the king of France was considered a vassal of the ruling dynasty of Foggy Albion.
With the suppression of the main branch of power of the ruling Capetian family, several descendants of Philip IV Beautiful declared their claims to the royal crown of the French state. One of them was a descendant of the Valois family, who had direct family ties to the main branch of government.

The second contender was the nephew of Philip the Fair, Philip VI. From the side of the British crown Edward III wanted to take advantage of the precarious position and enter into inheritance rights as another blood relative of Philip IV.

What was the bone of contention?

The main subject of disputes is land. But if you carefully examine the political and economic situation in France, it becomes clear that the war was a method of reversing the current situation.
The direct prerequisites for the hundred-year confrontation were:
crisis of royal power in France;
an attempt by feudal lords to unify the state;
opposition to their influence by the coalition of Flanders nobles, who benefited from the alliance with England;
Great Britain began its expansion to the East, additional lands were supposed to provide financing for their enterprises;
politics Edward III found support among the knighthood and noble nobles of France.

Historical information confirms the decline in the morals of the French court. Each region had its own privileges. The feudal lords could not maintain stable alliances for long, since they were driven by the desire to increase their fortune.

Historical figures of the Hundred Years' War

The history of military confrontation is inextricably linked with the political figures of that period. Each individual contributed to the development of the hundred-year conflict. These names became images of the era of the formation of a new map of Europe.

Edward III nicknamed the Black Prince, he was a unique commander and subtle politician. In just a few years, he was able to ignite internal strife at the French court. His genius as a strategist helped him make rapid progress in the early years of the war.
Charles V Having ascended the throne after his predecessor, he actively resisted English expansion. He managed to turn the tide of events, since he spent his youth on the battlefields. Having studied the mistakes of the past, I was able to gain the necessary experience and achieve success.

Isabella of Bavaria, mother of Charles VI I, subtle politician. Although her son completely surrendered France to the rule of the English crown, she continued her cunning intrigues. Thanks to her policies, the general situation remained stable. It was she who played an important role in the history of the emergence of the folk heroine Joan of Arc.

Joan of Arc is a mysterious historical figure, her actions were able to unite all of France. Thanks to the activity of this girl, commoners and knighthood acted as a united front, pushing back British troops across the English Channel.

Results of the confrontation

The century-long confrontation was exhausting not only for France, but also for Great Britain. The history of the war shows that both sides suffered enormous losses of people and property. Entire generations grew up during a period of turmoil.
The constantly shifting balance of power exhausted France. Many noble families settled down from their family because they were completely destroyed during the battles. The peasantry suffered more than others, as the English invaders behaved barbarously. Entire villages were slaughtered.

The battles under the banners of Joan of Arc gave France freedom. But later this state had to sign many mutual treaties with England, since the economy was in decline.

The Hundred Years' War in works, the opinion of descendants

The Hundred Years' War was reflected in a large number of novels and publications. Some of the most distinguished individuals became heroes of legends. This prompted contemporaries to film adaptations of stories related to them.

Joan of Arc remained the most striking personality. Thanks to the feat of this girl, the most striking page in the history of the development of the military conflict was repeatedly rethought by her descendants.

The Hundred Years' War, which began in 1337 and ended in 1453, was a series of conflicts that continued between the two kingdoms of France and England. The main rivals were: the ruling house of Valois and the ruling house of Plantagenet and Lancaster. There were other participants in the Hundred Years' War: Flanders, Scotland, Portugal, Castile and other European countries.

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Reasons for the confrontation

The term itself appeared much later and denoted not only the dynastic conflict between the ruling houses of the kingdoms, but also the war of nations, which by this time had begun to take shape. There are two main reasons for the Hundred Years' War:

1. Dynastic conflict.
2. Territorial claims.

By 1337, the ruling Capetian dynasty in France came to an end (it began with Hugo Capet, Count of Paris, a descendant in the direct male line).

Philip IV the Handsome, the last strong ruler of the Capetian dynasty, had three sons: Louis (X the Grumpy), Philip (V the Long), Charles (IV the Handsome). Not one of them failed to produce a male descendant, and after the death of the youngest of the heirs of Charles IV, the council of peers of the kingdom decided to crown the latter’s cousin, Philip de Valois. This decision was protested by the King of England Edward III Plantagenet, who was the grandson of Philip IV, the son of his daughter Isabella of England.

Attention! The Council of Peers of France refused to consider the candidacy of Edward III because of a decision made several years earlier that it was impossible for a woman or through a woman to inherit the crown of France. The decision was made after the Nels affair: the only daughter of Louis X the Grumpy, Jeanne of Navarre, could not inherit the French crown due to the fact that her mother Margaret of Burgundy was convicted of treason, which means that the origins of Jeanne herself were called into question. The House of Burgundy disputed this decision, but after Joan was made Queen of Navarre, it backed down.

Edward III, whose origins were not in doubt, could not agree with the decision of the Council of Peers and even refused to take a full vassal oath to Philip of Valois (he was nominally considered a vassal of the King of France, since he had land holdings in France). The compromise homage made in 1329 satisfied neither Edward III nor Philip VI.

Attention! Philip de Valois was Edward III's cousin, but even close kinship did not keep the monarchs from direct military conflict.

Territorial disagreements between countries arose during the time of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Over time, those lands on the continent that Eleanor of Aquitaine brought to the English crown were lost. Only Guyenne and Gascony remained in the possession of the English kings. The French wanted to liberate these lands from the British, as well as maintain their influence in Flanders. Edward III married the heir to the throne of Flanders, Philippe de Arnaud.

Also, the reasons for the Hundred Years' War lay in the personal hostility of the rulers of states towards each other. This history had long roots and developed progressively, despite the fact that the ruling houses were connected by family ties.

Periodization and course

There is a conditional periodization of military operations, which in fact was a series of local military conflicts occurring with long intervals. Historians identify the following periods:

• Edwardian,
• Carolingian,
• Lancastrian,
• advance of Charles VII.

Each stage was characterized by a victory or conditional victory of one of the parties.

Essentially, the beginning of the Hundred Years' War dates back to 1333, when English troops attacked France's ally, Scotland, so the question of who started the fighting can be answered unequivocally. The British offensive was successful. Scottish King David II was forced to flee the country to France. Philip IV, who planned to annex Gascony “on the sly,” was forced to switch to the British Isles, where a landing operation took place in order to restore David to the throne. The operation was never carried out, as the British launched a massive offensive in Picardy. Flanders and Gascony provided support. Further events looked like this (the main battles of the Hundred Years' War in the first stage):

• military operations in the Netherlands - 1336-1340; battles at sea -1340-1341;
• War of the Breton Succession -1341-1346 (the Battle of Cressy in 1346, devastating for the French, after which Philip VI fled from the British, the capture of the port of Calais by the British in 1347, the defeat of the troops of the Scottish king by the British in 1347);
• Aquitanian company - 1356-1360 (again, the complete defeat of the French knights in the Battle of Poitiers, the siege of Reims and Paris by the British, which was not completed for a number of reasons).

Attention! During this period, France was weakened not only by the conflict with England, but also by the plague epidemic that broke out in 1346-1351. The French rulers - Philip and his son John (II, the Good) - could not cope with the situation and brought the country to complete economic exhaustion.

Due to the threat of the possible loss of Reims and Paris in 1360, the Dauphin Charles signed a humiliating peace for France with Edward III. It gave England almost one-third of all French territories.

The truce between England and France did not last long, until 1369. After John II died, Charles V began to look for ways to reconquer the lost territories. In 1369, the peace was broken under the pretext that the British did not comply with the peace terms of the 60th year.

It should be noted that the elderly Edward Plantagenet no longer wanted the French crown. His son and heir, the Black Prince, also did not see himself in the role of a French monarch.

Carolingian stage

Charles V was an experienced leader and diplomat. He managed, with the support of the Breton aristocracy, to push Castile and England into conflict. The main events of this period were:

• liberation from the British of Poitiers (1372);
• liberation of Bergerac (1377).

Attention! England during this period was experiencing a serious internal political crisis: first, Crown Prince Edward died (1376), then Edward III (1377). Scottish troops also continued to harass the English borders. The situation in Wales and Northern Ireland was difficult.

Realizing the complexity of the situation, both in the country and abroad, the English king requested a truce, which was concluded in 1396.

The time of the truce, which lasted until 1415, was difficult for both France and England. A civil war broke out in France, caused by the madness of the reigning king Charles VI. In England the government tried:

• fight the uprisings that broke out in Ireland and Wales;
• repel the attacks of the Scots;
• cope with the rebellion of Earl Percy;
• put an end to the pirates who were disrupting English trade.

During this period, power also changed in England: the minor Richard II was removed, and as a result, Henry IV ascended the throne.

The third Anglo-French conflict was started by Henry V, the son of Henry IV. He led a very successful campaign, as a result of which the British managed to:

become winners at Agincourt (1415); capture Caen and Rouen; take Paris (1420); win a victory at Cravan; divide French territory into two parts, which were unable to contact due to the presence of English troops; besiege the city of Orleans in 1428.

Attention! The international situation became complicated and confused due to the fact that Henry V died in 1422. His infant son was recognized as king of both countries, but most French people supported the Dauphin Charles VII.

It was at this turning point that the legendary Joan of Arc, the future national heroine of France, appears. Largely thanks to her and her faith, the Dauphin Charles decided to take active action. Before its appearance, there was no talk of any active resistance.

The last period was marked by a peace signed between the House of Burgundy and the Armagnacs, who supported the Dauphin Charles. The reason for this unexpected alliance was the offensive of the British.

As a result of the creation of the alliance and the activities of Joan of Arc, the siege of Orleans was lifted (1429), victory was won in the Battle of Pat, Reims was liberated, where in 1430 the Dauphin was declared King Charles VII.

Joan fell into the hands of the British and the Inquisition; her death could not stop the advances of the French, who sought to completely clear the territory of their country from the British. In 1453 the British capitulated, signaling the end of the Hundred Years' War. The French king won, naturally, with the active support of the Ducal House of Burgundy. This is the entire course of the Hundred Years' War in brief.

Causes and beginning of the Hundred Years' War (Russian) History of the Middle Ages.

End of the Hundred Years' War. Unification of France. (Russian) History of the Middle Ages.

Summarizing

France managed to defend its territories. Almost all except the port of Calais, which remained English until 1558. Both countries were economically devastated. The population of France has decreased by more than half. And these are probably the most important consequences of the Hundred Years' War. The conflict had a profound impact on the development of military affairs in Europe. Most importantly, the formation of regular armies began. England entered a protracted period of civil war, which led to the Tudor dynasty taking the throne of the country.

The history and results of the Hundred Years' War by numerous professional historians and writers. William Shakespeare, Voltaire, Schiller, Prosper Merimee, Alexandre Dumas, and A. Conan Doyle wrote about her. Mark Twain and Maurice Druon.

So, the two branches of the same family could not agree even in the face of foreign interference. The War of Succession of Brittany (1341-1365) is more than a simple family quarrel. It shows the clash of powerful interests. For France, which supports Charles de Blois, the point is to avoid the restoration of Plantagenet power in Brittany. The Blois party uses for this purpose the Frenchized elements of the duchy: the grandees, the clergy, the Gallo region. For England, Brittany is an excellent springboard for an invasion of France. English assistance is provided to the house of Montfort, supported by the main Breton-speaking elements of the duchy, the minor nobility, representatives of the cities, the western regions of the country...

Thus, Brittany again becomes, as in the 12th century, a pawn in the struggle between France and England. It is important to recall in this regard that this conflict developed against the backdrop of the Hundred Years' War, which began in 1337.

Legal issues

From a legal point of view, this matter is very ambiguous: we recall that in 1328, after the death of Charles IV, who left no direct heir, the prelates and barons of France recognized Philip of Valois as king, bypassing Edward III of England, who was the grandson of Philip IV the Fair. The nobility of the kingdom could not come to terms with the idea that an Englishman would become the king of France, and jurists tendentiously interpreted one of the points of Salic law, which states that women cannot inherit the throne (“it is not fitting for lilies to spin!”). And Edward III was the grandson of Philip IV through his mother. Thus, French law excluded women from the succession process. A precedent has been set.

But - what a passage! - Charles de Blois, who represented the interests of France in Brittany, laid claim to the ducal crown on the basis of the rights of his wife, that is, through the female line. Thus, the French king, by supporting his nephew, questioned his own legitimacy.

History is full of similar paradoxes related to succession to the throne - sometimes even more delicate and complicated situations did not lead to any serious consequences. But not in this case. All of the above took on a completely different look in the context of the Hundred Years' War.

Busy with wars in Scotland, Edward III of England puts aside his claims for a while, however, enraged by the intervention of Philip VI in Guienne, he declares himself, in October 1337, king of France and sends a challenge to King Philip: “If you value yourself, come to Valois, don't be afraid. Don't hide, show up, show your strength; like your withered lily flower, you will fade and disappear. A hare or a lynx cannot compare with a lion...” (Geoffroy le Baker, Poemes).

The Hundred Years' War begins.

Two kings, two dukes

Events follow each other very quickly. In 1341, Jean de Montfort was proclaimed Duke of Nantes, captured the main fortresses, and attracted the British to his side (June - July). Convened in Paris in August 1341, the assembly was to decide who would be the official heir to the Duchy of Brittany. Arriving in Paris, Jean de Montfort is easily convinced that there will be no fair (from his point of view) trial. Deciding that he had no reason to trust the King of France, Jean, despite the strict order of Philip VI to remain at court, fled and strengthened himself in Nantes.

On September 7, the peers of France created Charles de Blois Duke of Brittany, and French troops invaded the duchy through the Loire Valley. After a month of fighting, they captured Nantes. Jean de Montfort was escorted to Paris, and imprisoned in the tower of the Louvre, where he remained for three years.

The anti-French party was beheaded. It seemed that nothing was stopping Charles de Blois from taking up his duties as ruler of Brittany. And then Montfort’s wife, Jeanne of Flanders, becomes the leader of her husband’s supporters. Immediately, she recognizes Edward III as King of France. Having established her general headquarters outside the fortress walls of the city of Ennebon, she not only restrained all French attacks, but carried out a number of demonstrative raids against Charles de Blois, which aroused the admiration of not only her supporters, but also the Bretons who sided with Charles, as well as the French themselves. For her fearlessness and loyalty, she received the nickname Fiery Jeanne.

Throughout 1342, armed forces of many nationalities passed through Brittany; The French called for help from the Genoese crossbowmen and the Spanish fleet, led by the grandee of Castile, Louis of Spain. Supporters of the Montfort clan are known to have been supported by the British: on October 30, 1342, King Edward personally arrives in the duchy at the head of a small army, which strengthens the English troops already in Brittany and the supporters of his candidate. The Spaniards were quickly taken out of the game at Roscasgouen (Quemperle), where out of three thousand Spaniards, only one in ten escaped, and the Spanish-Genoese fleet, which unloaded this army, was completely destroyed by the British and Bretons.

At the end of the year, French and English reinforcements arrived on both sides, and in January the war took a new turn when Pope Clement VI secured, on January 19, a truce between the warring parties, signed at Malestroit.

Edward III returned to his foggy island at the end of February 1343. Joan of Flanders, exhausted by the war that had been waged throughout the previous year, went there with her two children, one of whom would later become Duke of Brittany, under the name of Jean IV. Philip VI of Valois, taking advantage of the truce, invited his main opponents among the Breton nobles to compete in a tournament in Paris. There they were captured by the king's servants and about fifteen of them (including Olivier de Clisson) were beheaded in a public place. Clisson's head was sent to Nantes, as a warning to the Bretons who did not want to submit to the king of France.

Jean de Montfort, disguised as a merchant, manages to escape from the Louvre on March 27, 1345. He goes to England to receive reinforcements and lands in Brittany, where he besieges Quimper, however, unsuccessfully. Returning to Ennebon, on September 26 of the same year, he died of an open wound and was temporarily buried in the abbey of Saint-Croix de Quimperlet, then his remains were transferred to a grave in the chapel of the Dominican monastery located in Bourjneuf de Quimperlet.

Several centuries later, during the French Revolution, the monastery chapel was demolished, the tomb was destroyed and Jean de Montfort was forgotten until 1883, when a certain person, excavating in the destroyed churches, discovered bones, which he placed in a small chapel. This man was none other than Theodore Hersart de Villemarquet.

The period from 1347 to 1362 passes mainly under the sign of mutual blunders of the contenders. Charles de Blois, captured by the English (1347), son of Jean de Montfort, too young for political activity, is in England. The only prominent fact of that time is the famous “Battle of the Thirty”, which took place in 1351, between the garrisons of the cities of Joseline and Ploermel.

Joseline supports Charles de Blois. Ploermel, under the command of the Englishman Richard Bembrugh, part of Jean de Montfort. The country, divided into two camps, is devastated by constant clashes between warring parties. Outraged by this state of affairs, Bomanois, Joseline's captain, writes to the leader of the English garrison:

“It’s time to stop torturing people in this way [...]. May God be the judge between us! Let each of us choose thirty comrades to support our cause. Let's see whose side the truth is on...”

Then they agree on the place and time of the meeting: an oak tree, halfway between Ploermel and Joseline, on Saturday March 26, 1351. Beaumanois chooses nine knights and twenty squires. In the opposite camp, everything happens differently. Bembro could not find thirty Englishmen for this task. He is forced to invite six German mercenaries and four Bretons from Montfort's party. It was decided to fight dismounted, using swords, daggers and axes. At the appointed time, the detachments gather at the appointed place and, at a signal, rush into battle. The fight continues until the fighters are completely exhausted. Wounded during the battle, the leader of the Bretons asks for a drink and one of the participants in the battle utters the now legendary phrase: “Drink your blood, Beaumanois, thirst will leave you!” The Bretons lost only three that day. On the British side, losses amounted, according to Froissart, to a dozen dead, among whom was their captain Richard Bembrough, the rest were captured.

Froissart noted this battle as an example of chivalry.

Let us also note the nine-month siege of Rennes by the British. The city is saved for the French by Bertrand du Guesclin, an outstanding Breton strategist of that era. Otherwise, the conflict is becoming protracted. Both sides were exhausted by the war, which, among other things, depleted the finances of the duchy, as well as the patrons of both claimants (for example, the landing of Edward III on the continent in 1342 cost the English treasury 30,472 pounds).

Meanwhile, the Hundred Years' War takes an extremely unfavorable turn for France. The defeat in the naval battle of Ecluse (1340) was followed by the disaster of Crecy (1346), and after an eleven-month siege Calais fell (1347). This is followed by a temporary truce, during which a plague rages in the country, destroying everyone indiscriminately, regardless of the camp. In 1356, the war resumes with the Battle of Poitiers, where the French again suffer a crushing defeat. Philip VI's son and heir, John the Good, was captured and sent to London as a prisoner.

The Treaty of Bretigny (1360), which temporarily put an end to the French-English conflict, imposed very heavy territorial sacrifices on France: the loss of Poitou, Périgord, Limousin, parts of Picardy and Calais. These regions return to the ownership of the King of England. As for Brittany, the two kings decide to divide the duchy between the claimants.

It was decided to give northern Brittany to Charles de Blois, and three southern dioceses to young Jean de Montfort. However, the interested Breton parties (in particular Jeanne de Penthièvre) do not even want to discuss the division of their country.

Events rapidly escalated from 1362, that is, from the moment the young Jean de Montfort, the future Jean IV, returned from England to Brittany. Now, the outcome of the Succession War must be decided in a decisive battle between the contenders.

September 29, 1364, Jean de Montfort leads an English army of two thousand soldiers and a thousand archers to the city of Ouray. The troops of Charles de Blois are in a bad position, however, such a wise commander as Bertrand du Guesclin is with him. Despite du Guesclin's advice, Charles decides to attack, but his four thousand horsemen come under fire from Montfort's archers. The battle was brutal: according to English sources, approximately half of Charles de Blois's army was put out of action (1,000 dead and 1,500 wounded). Du Guesclin is captured. The head of the English, giving the order to send the prisoners with a wave of his hand, tells him: “This is not your day, sir Bernard, next time, you will be more fortunate.” Charles de Blois is found dead on the battlefield. Over the body of his cousin, young Montfort could not cope with his excitement, Jean Chando, constable of Guienne and the head of his army, tried to console him: “You cannot have your cousin alive and the dukedom at the same time. Give thanks to God and your friends." In 1383, in order to perpetuate the memory of those killed in the Battle of Ouray, where representatives of the best families of Brittany fought against each other, a chapel was erected on the battlefield. Charles de Blois, already in our century, will be canonized.

So, there is only one contender left and the conflict ends. According to the treaty of Guerande (1365), the representative of the house of Montfort, Jean IV, comes to power.

Jean IV, is one of the most interesting figures in Breton history. During his life, he had to endure shame, expulsion, return to his homeland, expulsion again and, in the end, universal popular adoration. Having grown up and brought up in England, having become the sole ruler of the duchy, he surrounded himself with the British (thus, the chief treasurer of Brittany between 1365 and 1373 was Thomas Melbourne, the British occupied a number of other prominent posts; in some cities of the duchy there were strong English garrisons), which caused discontent among not only supporters of the Blois-Pentievre clan, with whom he officially reconciled after coming to power, but also some of his comrades. But what can you expect from a person whose childhood and youth were spent in England, whose guardian was an English king, and whose wife was an English princess?

The situation inside the duchy is heating up again. The Breton nobility, unaccustomed to self-control over a quarter of a century of civil strife, is not satisfied with Montfort’s attempts to restore strong ducal power, the heavy tax of 1365 causes disappointment among the people. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that, having brought homage to the king of France in 1366, Jean de Montfort refuses to support him in 1369, when Charles V decides to reconquer from the English the lands lost under the treaty in Bretigny, although this was required by his vassal duty.

Thus, the young Duke has practically no allies left on the continent; he is again forced to seek help from his allies in England. On July 12, 1372, the Duke entered into a secret treaty with Edward III. However, it was not secret for long, since already in October, the French took possession of the original agreement, although not yet signed by the Duke. The King of France sends copies to the Breton lords. In April, the landing in Saint-Malo of the Earl of Salisbury, at the head of a military contingent, convinced the last doubters that Jean IV had violated his vassal duty.

On April 28, 1373, he, abandoned by everyone, leaves Brittany. December 18, 1378, the Parliament of Paris, at the instigation of Charles V, decides to include Brittany in the royal domain.

This was a big mistake for King Charles.

Of course, the Breton nobles could have different attitudes towards Jean de Montfort and his policies, but they were not going to put a Frenchman on their neck (even if his last name was Valois) instead of their duke. Patriotic leagues are formed everywhere and come into contact with Jean IV. Now he is supported by all of Brittany, even by adherents of the Penthievre family. The widow of Charles de Blois, Jeanne de Penthievre, was in the first ranks of the noblest nobles of the duchy who received the Duke in Dinard, where he arrived in triumph on August 3, 1379, amid general rejoicing. Moreover, Bertrand du Guesclin, who had made a brilliant career at the French court (by that time he had already become constable of France), did not react in any way to the categorical orders received from the king: he had no desire to start a war in his homeland. The king, who realized his mistake, will not be too strict with him.

However, Charles V is not going to meet the dukedom halfway, but his death, which followed suddenly in September 1380, allows the situation to defuse: the second treaty of Guerand, signed on January 15, 1381, regulated relations between the two states. Breton neutrality is recognized and John IV expresses, in all form, submission to Charles VI. Now it is difficult to judge how pleased the new French monarch was with this: due to his complete mental insanity, the unfortunate king was under the tutelage of the States General. The diplomacy of John IV thus triumphs: English influence ends without being replaced by French. At the moment, Charles VI is nominally recognized as overlord. Until the end of his reign, Jean IV kept his word.

In 1399, the first Duke of Montfort dies. He saved and partially restored the duchy, but he leaves his son with the painful legacy of a turbulent century: long-disputed power and an unstable position between France and England. On the whole, however, Brittany emerged strengthened from this long series of "state" marriages and disputes over inheritance. The 15th century will be a reflection of this newfound power.

N.B. It is about Jean IV that is spoken of in the wonderful Breton song An Alarc'h (The Swan), which in our century has become one of the patriotic anthems of Brittany.

Brittany in the 15th century.

The 15th century is, without any doubt, the great Breton century, famous even more for the fact that it was during its course that the duchy dissolved, finally this time, into the French kingdom. In all works devoted to the history of Brittany, special attention is paid to him. The denouement came at the end of this period, a particularly stormy and difficult one.

The Hundred Years' War continues. The strengthening of the English garrison at Calais, in 1400, clearly shows the renewal of hostility. Breton diplomacy is on the eve of a particularly delicate situation. The Bretons are divided. Some great lords take a pro-French position, because too many things connect them with France. They know that if Brittany chooses England, they will lose either their Breton or French lands. To these motives are added the concerns of domestic politics: strengthening the influence of the King of France in Brittany will result in a weakening of the ducal power. Of course, these same arguments are a temptation for the Duke to take the side of the British. The Bretons, however, proved in 1272-1273 that if they were hostile to French rule, they treated the English no better. Thus, the only possible, but very difficult to implement, solution is cautious neutrality.

The period during which the reign of Jean V (1399-1442) falls is cardinal for Brittany. The personality of this sovereign was given the most contradictory assessments, both during his life and after his death. For some, “the mind is mediocre and fearful, without high virtues, greedy and driven exclusively by selfish concern for one’s interests and one’s peace of mind” (A. Rebillon, Histoire de la Bretagne), for others he is a benevolent person, pious, but cheerful, able to be broad... Everyone, in any case, recognizes behind him the presence of a personal style in foreign policy, which, from this era, determines the totality of the ducal policy in general. In Jean V it is subtle and changeable, rich in unexpected turns.

The period from 1399 to 1419 is characterized by the gradual stagnation of Breton neutrality. Since 1403, the Bretons and the English have mutually ravaged each other's shores. This small war is included in a wider conflict when, in 1404, the Bretons, together with the French, send 300 ships to Devonshire. The English will respond in Guerand... the fight follows the same rhythm in 1405-1406. Brittany enters the war on the side of the French.

Very quickly, however, Jean V realizes the danger of this policy, and again takes a position of neutrality. From that moment on, he acted as a mediator between England and France, first in 1416, then in 1418.

It is precisely this decisive turn in Breton diplomacy that accounts for the conspiracy of the incorrigible Penthievre clan. Since 1410, the situation inside Brittany was quite calm. But, tension increases in 1419, due to the Dauphin's incitement of the Penthièvre family. This is a direct consequence of the Duke's transition from a pro-French policy to neutrality.

On February 13, 1420, the Duke was lured into a trap by representatives of the House of Penthièvre, and remained imprisoned in one of their castles until July 5. Jean V's only concern then was to survive. He promises everything: pensions, estates, marriages... Salvation comes thanks to the energy of his wife, Jeanne. Showing diplomatic foresight, she surrounds herself with the highest nobility of Brittany and appoints the Viscount de Rohan as governor of the duchy. She thus prevents the expansion of the rebellion.

Since the French support the Penthievre family, this provides her with the help of the British, but she, also appealing to the heir to the French throne, asks him as overlord to protect his vassal! Confused, the Dauphin takes a wait-and-see attitude. Jeanne also addresses the commercial partners of Brittany: Rochelles, Bordeaux, Spaniards, Scots... Thus, she isolates the Penthièvre family, avoiding a new War of Succession. On May 8, she begins the siege of the castle in which her husband was imprisoned. Two months later, the Duke, freed, returns to Nantes.

This incident had two consequences. This is the collapse, on the one hand, of the house of Penthievre. All their possessions were confiscated and divided mostly among the grandees, thus rewarded for their loyalty to the Duke. In relation to France, on the other hand, the realism of the sovereign of Brittany and the defeat of the British at Beaujes help him overcome his rancor. From 1422, Jean V returned to neutrality. Thus, the matter did not have significant consequences, except that it strengthened the Duke's distrust of France.

The policy of balance characterizes the last twenty years of his rule... but then, at the initiative of the British, the Hundred Years' War is resumed.

In the face of danger, Jean V plots a new turn. The years 1427-1435 are pro-English, but the Duke avoids a general quarrel with France. Breton nobleman Arthur de Richemont is a loyal ally of Joan of Arc, and the Duke allows Bretons such as Gilles de Retz, another companion of the Maid of Orleans, to serve in the French army. Another significant factor that pushed the Duke to leave the alliance with the British was powerful public opinion in Brittany itself. Joan of Arc symbolized the idea of ​​French unity...

The finale of the reign is the apogee of ducal politics. Jean finally reaches absolute neutrality. It is symbolic that it was in the midst of mediation between the French and the British that the Duke dies on August 28, 1442.

His merit is not only in preserving, in general, peace in Brittany. “He left his country peaceful, rich and abundant in all kinds of goods,” states Alan Bouchard. At the same time, his position of neutrality laid the foundations for the policy of independence. But it becomes more and more difficult to maintain as the power of royal power is restored in France. Jean V belonged to that category of large feudal lords, the destruction of which “as a class”, the kings of France now consider their most important task. The Middle Ages, and with it the feudal freemen, are coming to an end...

From 1442 to 1458, three dukes share this period.

First the eldest son of Jean V, Francis I (1442-1450). Very loyal to France, he is encouraged in this policy by the moderation of the claims of Charles VII, who is content with the feudal dependence of only the Duke's French lands. As a result, Brittany enters the war on the side of France, July 31, 1449.

The reign of Francis I, who died on July 18, 1450, is interesting for its divergence from the policies of his predecessor, Jean V. The balance is followed exclusively by the playing of the French card, which can be justified, of course, by the political and military situation, very favorable for the King of France. However, the policy of the next sovereign of Brittany, his brother Pierre, will return everything to its place.

Fragile, timid, prone to bouts of cruelty, Pierre II occupies a prominent place in Breton history. He removes supporters of excessive rapprochement with France from the ducal court, but continues to support the kingdom against England, albeit moderately. He allows the Bretons to fight on the side of the French. It was the Breton fleet, led by Jean Quelennec, that blockaded Bordeaux in 1453 and landed a force of 8,000 soldiers who occupied the city.

But at the same time, the Duke is trying to assert the independence, or at least the independence, of Brittany. He maintains direct relations with foreign rulers and signs commercial treaties with Castile and Portugal in 1451. When Charles VII demands fief homage from Brittany, Pierre evades...

The position of the duchy is distinguished by its then resurgent prosperity and a clear tendency to defend its independence. The very short reign of Arthur III (Arthur de Richemont, September 1457-December 1458) does not mark any changes in this regard. Remaining constable of France, loyal to the king, this stern old soldier shows, however, the same vigilance as Pierre II when it comes to defending Breton rights.

The results of this policy, pursued with great consistency (with the exception of Francis I), from 1422 to 1458, are nevertheless unsatisfactory. Brittany is now much less independent than, for example, Burgundy. It is considered part of France by many foreign rulers, and part of its own aristocracy. The rise to power in Brittany of Francis II coincides with the reign of the very energetic Louis XI, King of France from 1461.

La guerre de cent ans is a tragic period in French history that claimed the lives of many thousands of French people. The armed conflict between England and France lasted intermittently for 116 years (from 1337 to 1453), and if not for Joan of Arc, who knows how it could have ended. The history of the Hundred Years' War is quite tragic...

Today we will try to understand the causes and consequences of this war, which ended in the victory of France, but what did it cost her? So, let’s get comfortable in the time machine and go back in time, to the 14th century.

In the first half of the 14th century, namely after the death of the last representative of the royal Capetian dynasty (Les Capétiens) Charles IV in 1328, a difficult situation arose in France: the question arose of who should pass the throne to if there was not a single Capetian in the male line left?

Fortunately, the Capetian dynasty had relatives - the Counts of Valois (Charles Valois was the brother of Philip IV the Fair). The council of representatives of noble French families decided that the crown of France should be transferred to the Valois family. Thus, thanks to the majority of votes at the Council, the Valois dynasty ascended to the French throne in the person of its first representative, King Philip VI.

All this time, England closely watched events in France. The fact is that the English king Edward III was the grandson of Philip IV the Fair, so he considered that he had the right to claim the French throne. In addition, the British were haunted by the provinces of Guyenne and Aquitaine (as well as some others), located on French territory. These provinces were once the domain of England, but King Philip II Augustus reclaimed them from England. After Philip VI of Valois was crowned in Reims (the city where French kings were crowned), Edward III sent him a letter in which he expressed his claims to the French throne.

At first, Philip VI laughed when he received this letter, because this is incomprehensible to the mind! But in the fall of 1337, the British launched an offensive in Picardy (a French province), and no one was laughing in France.

The most striking thing about this war is that throughout the history of the conflict, the British, that is, the enemies of France, from time to time support various French provinces, seeking their own benefit in this war. As they say, “To whom there is war, and to whom the mother is dear.” And now England is supported by the cities of southwest France.

From all of the above it follows that England acted as the aggressor, and France had to defend its territories.

Les causes de la Guerre de Cent ans: le roi anglais Eduard III prétend àê tre le roi de France. L'Angleterre veut regagner les territoires françaises d'Auquitaine et de Guyenne.

French Armed Forces

It should be noted that the French army of the 14th century consisted of a feudal knightly militia, the ranks of which included both noble knights and commoners, as well as foreign mercenaries (the famous Genoese crossbowmen).

Unfortunately, the system of universal conscription, which formally existed in France, practically disappeared by the beginning of the Hundred Years' War. Therefore, the king had to think and wonder: will the Duke of Orleans come to my aid? Will another duke or count help with his army? However, cities were able to field large military contingents, which included cavalry and artillery. All soldiers received payment for their service.

Les forces armées françaises se composaient de la milice féodale chevaleresque. Le système de conscription universelle, qui existait formellement en France, au début de la guerre de Cent Ans presque disparu.

Beginning of the war

The beginning of the Hundred Years' War, unfortunately, was successful for the enemy and unsuccessful for France. France suffers several defeats in a number of significant battles.

The French fleet, which prevented English troops from landing on the continent, was almost completely destroyed at the naval battle of Sluys in 1340. After this event, until the end of the war, the British fleet had supremacy at sea, controlling the English Channel.

Further, the troops of the French king Philip attacked Edward's army in the famous Battle of Crecy August 26, 1346. This battle ended in a catastrophic defeat for the French troops. Philip was then left almost completely alone, almost the entire army was killed, and he himself knocked on the doors of the first castle he came across and asked for an overnight stay with the words “Open to the unfortunate king of France!”

English troops continued their unhindered advance north and besieged the city of Calais, which was taken in 1347. This event was an important strategic success for the British, it allowed Edward III to maintain his forces on the continent.

In 1356 it took place Battle of Poitiers. France is already ruled by King John II the Good. An English army of thirty thousand inflicted a crushing defeat on France at the Battle of Poitiers. The battle was also tragic for France because the front ranks of French horses were frightened by gun salvos and rushed back, knocking down the knights, their hooves and armor crushing their own warriors, the crush was incredible. Many warriors died not even at the hands of the British, but under the hooves of their own horses. In addition, the battle ended with the capture of King John II the Good by the British.

King John II is sent to England as a prisoner, and confusion and chaos reign in France. In 1359, the Peace of London was signed, according to which England received Aquitaine, and King John the Good was released. Economic difficulties and military failures led to popular uprisings - the Parisian Uprising (1357-1358) and the Jacquerie (1358). With great effort, these unrest were pacified, but, again, this cost France significant losses.

English troops moved freely across French territory, demonstrating to the population the weakness of French power.

The heir to the French throne, the future king Charles V the Wise, was forced to conclude a humiliating peace for himself in Bretigny (1360). As a result of the first stage of the war, Edward III acquired half of Brittany, Aquitaine, Calais, Poitiers, and approximately half of the vassal possessions of France. The French throne thus lost a third of the territory of France.

The French king John had to return to captivity, since his son Louis of Anjou, who was the king's guarantor, escaped from England. John died in English captivity, and King Charles V, whom the people would call the Wise, ascended the throne of France.

La bataille de Crécy et la bataille de Poitiers se termèrent par une défaite pour les Français. Le roi Jean II le Bon est capturé par les Anglais. Le trône français a perdu un tiers du territoire de la France.

How France lived under Charles V

King Charles V of France reorganized the army and introduced important economic reforms. All this allowed the French to achieve significant military successes at the second stage of the war, in the 1370s. The British were driven out of the country. Despite the fact that the French province of Brittany was an ally of England, the Breton dukes showed loyalty to the French authorities, and even the Breton knight Bertrand Du Guesclin became the constable of France (commander-in-chief) and the right hand of King Charles V.

During this period, Edward III was already too old to command an army and wage war, and England lost its best military leaders. Constable Bertrand Du Guesclin, following a cautious strategy, liberated many cities such as Poitiers (1372) and Bergerac (1377) in a series of military campaigns avoiding confrontations with large English armies. The allied fleet of France and Castile won a landslide victory at La Rochelle, destroying the English squadron in the process.

In addition to military successes, King Charles V of France was able to do a lot for his country. He reformed the taxation system, managing to reduce taxes and thereby make life easier for the common population of France. He reorganized the army, bringing order to it and making it more organized. He carried out a number of significant economic reforms that made life easier for peasants. And all this - in a terrible time of war!

Charles V le Sage a réorganisé l’armée, a tenu une série de réformes économiques visant à stabilizer le pays, a réorganisé le système fiscal. Grace au connétable Bertrand du Guesclin il a remporté plusieurs victoires importantes sur les Anglais.

What happened next

Unfortunately, Charles V the Wise dies, and his son Charles VI ascends the French throne. At first the actions of this king were aimed at continuing the wise policy of his father.

But a little later, Charles VI goes crazy for unknown reasons. Anarchy began in the country, power was seized by the king's uncles, the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry. In addition, a civil war broke out in France between the Burgundians and the Armagnacs due to the murder of the king's brother, the Duke of Orleans (the Armagnacs are relatives of the Duke of Orleans). The British could not help but take advantage of this situation.

England is ruled by King Henry IV; V Battle of Agincourt On October 25, 1415, the British won a decisive victory over the superior forces of the French.

The English king captured most of Normandy, including the cities of Caen (1417) and Rouen (1419). Having concluded an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, in five years the English king subjugated approximately half of the territory of France. In 1420, Henry met at negotiations with the mad king Charles VI, with whom he signed the Treaty of Troyes. According to this agreement, Henry V was declared the heir of Charles VI the Mad, bypassing the legitimate Dauphin Charles (in the future - King Charles VII). The following year, Henry entered Paris, where the treaty was officially confirmed by the Estates General (French parliament).

Continuing hostilities, in 1428 the British besieged the city of Orleans. But 1428 marked the appearance of the national heroine of France, Joan of Arc, on the political and military arena.

La bataille d'Azincourt a été la défaite des Français. Les Anglais sont allés plus loin.

Joan of Arc and the French victory

Having besieged Orleans, the British understood that their forces were not enough to organize a complete blockade of the city. In 1429, Joan of Arc met with the Dauphin Charles (who at that time was forced to hide with his supporters) and convinced him to give her troops to lift the siege of Orleans. The conversation was long and sincere. Karl believed the young girl. Zhanna managed to raise the morale of her soldiers. At the head of the troops, she attacked the English siege fortifications, forced the enemy to retreat, lifting the siege from the city. Thus, inspired by Joan, the French liberated a number of important fortified points in the Loire. Soon after this, Joan and her army defeated the English armed forces at Pat, opening the road to Reims, where the Dauphin was crowned King Charles VII.

Unfortunately, in 1430, the folk heroine Joan was captured by the Burgundians and handed over to the English. But even her execution in 1431 could not influence the further course of the war and pacify the morale of the French.

In 1435, the Burgundians sided with France, and the Duke of Burgundy helped King Charles VII take control of Paris. This allowed Charles to reorganize the army and government. The French commanders liberated city after city, repeating the strategy of Constable Bertrand Du Guesclin. In 1449, the French recaptured the Norman city of Rouen. At the Battle of Formigny, the French completely defeated the English troops and liberated the city of Caen. An attempt by English troops to recapture Gascony, which remained loyal to the English crown, failed: English troops suffered a crushing defeat at Castiglione in 1453. This battle was the last battle of the Hundred Years' War. And in 1453, the surrender of the English garrison in Bordeaux put an end to the Hundred Years' War.

Jeanne d'Arc aide le Dauphin Charles et remporte plusieurs victoires sur les Anglais. Elle aide Charles àê Tre couronne à Reims et devenir roi. Les Français continuent les succès de Jeanne, remportent plusieurs victoires et chassent les Anglais de France. En 1453, la reddition de la garrison britannique à Bordeaux a terminé la guerre de Cent Ans.

Consequences of the Hundred Years' War

As a result of the war, England lost all its possessions in France, except for the city of Calais, which remained part of England until 1558 (but then it returned to the fold of France). England lost vast territories in southwestern France that it had held since the 12th century. The madness of the English king plunged the country into a period of anarchy and internecine conflict, in which the main characters were the warring houses of Lancaster and York. The War of the Roses began in England. Due to the civil war, England did not have the strength and means to return lost territories in France. In addition to all this, the treasury was devastated by military expenses.

The war had a significant impact on the development of military affairs: the role of infantry on the battlefield increased, which required less expenditure in creating large armies, and the first standing armies also appeared. In addition, new types of weapons were invented, and favorable conditions appeared for the development of firearms.

But the main result of the war was the victory of France. The country felt its power and the strength of its spirit!

Les Anglais ont perdu les territoires françaises. La victoire définitive de la France.

The theme of the Hundred Years' War and the image of the folk heroine Joan of Arc became fertile ground for works of cinema and literature.

If you are interested in how it all began, what the situation was in France before the Hundred Years War and its first period, then be sure to pay attention to the series of novels “The Damned Kings” by Maurice Druon. The writer describes with historical accuracy the characters of the kings of France and the situation before and during the war.

Alexandre Dumas also writes a series of works about the Hundred Years' War. The novel “Isabella of Bavaria” - the period of the reign of Charles VI and the signing of peace in Troyes.

As for cinema, you can watch the film “Joan of Arc” by Luc Besson, based on the play “The Lark” by Jean Anouilh. The film does not entirely correspond to historical truth, but the battle scenes are shown on a large scale.