Essay: The Hundred Years War

In 1337 a significant event in British History had just began. This was the Hundred Years War that was between the French and the English. What all led up to this war, what battles were taken place during the period that this war was taking place, and what was the turning point of the war that made this dramatic war come to?
The Hundred Years War was known to be the longest war known to history, but what exactly triggered this event to occur? It is said that the main cause of the war beginning is because of King Edward III ended up attacking parts of French territory that he had already taken over. This was due to King Edward III wanting to take over the throne of France. This had only caused even more problems between England and France. What all else all led up to the feuding between these two places?
The feuding had only continued due to King Edward III knowing that he should have been the King of France. The only reason that he knew of this is because of his mother Isabella. This was due to his mother being a descendant of the throne in France. The French Salic law stated, “possession and property can only be inherited through the parental line.” According to Dr. L. Kip Wheeler this means “only males descended from the sons on the king’s side of the family can inherit the throne, land, or titles.” This had caused him to feel like he could declare himself the King of France, but this was due to the English law which states, “possession and property can also descend to male children through the maternal bloodline.” According to Dr. L. Kip Wheeler this means “males descended from the king’s sons or male children descended from the king’s daughters have a claim to the throne. All that matters in English law is that the “the blood of kings” runs in the firstborn male child’s veins, even if that blood does not come directly through the father’s sons.” This had just been the major cause of the upcoming events that occurred during the Hundred Years War.
In 1347 the main battle that had led up to the beginning of the Hundred Years War had taken place. This was the Battle of Crécy which had taken place in Normandy. This battle had begun due to King Edward III sending approximately 10,000 of his men to Normandy. The French knew this attack was coming, but they just didn’t know when. As the English were traveling the French had known that they had arrived and planned a surprise attack. This did not go over to smoothly with the English and they fought back. When this battle came to an end it was said that the English were the first to win.
In 1356 the next major battle in this war had taken place. This battle was called the Battle of Poitiers which had taken place in Poitiers. This battle had begun due to King Edward III’s son Edward the Black Prince attacking the French. While the attack had been taking place the French had actually believed that they had a chance at winning this battle. That had all changed when Prince Edward had made it through the lines outside the city of Poitiers. After he had managed to break through the French began to realize the devastation that had been already been done. Just as the people had thought things couldn’t get worse their king and 2,000 nobleman had been taken back to England where they were held captive. French felt that after this event that they could no longer put up a decent attack toward the English but they were determined enough to keep going.
Finally Henry V becomes the King of England, but this would not be a new beginning. The Hundred Years War would still have not come to its ending. King Henry V felt like the war should still go on. This is what led up to the first major battle that he had occurred in. The Battle of Agincourt that had occurred in 1415. This battle had taken place outside of Calais due to the 20,000 men that were a part of the French army stopping the 6,000 men in the England army right in their tracks. Even though the English were outnumbered by 14,000 men that was not going to stop them from doing what they came there to do. Through every problem they faced they ended up facing the English had stayed determined. This determination had led them to victory in this battle.
The final major event that had taken place was the Siege of Orleans. This had taken place between 1428 through 1429. The Siege of Orleans was said to be the turning point of this dramatic war. This was because when the English had came to siege Orleans with their 5,000 men. When the French had finally had enough the Joan of Arc withdrew the English from their positions which had caused the English had stopped with the siege. With the English leaving this event it left the French with a victory.
Years go by with the war and many wonder if this war will ever come to its ending, and if it does what event will cause this tremendous war to come to its closure? This war came to its ending after the Battle of Castillon. This was due to Bordeaux surrendering against the English which had left Calais as the only remaining territory to the English. After the surrender has been made the English then leave France and the Hundred Years War finally comes to its end.
The Hundred Years War which had taken place from 1337 to 1453 had many dramatic events that occurred. These things consisted of the significant reason that the war began and the battles that had taken place. These battles are what played a major part of what made the war what it was and also played a huge part on what made the war come to its dramatic closing. The Hundred Years War will forever be remembered as that longest war that had ever occurred in the history of wars .