Hundred Years’ War

Armed conflict between France and England during the years from 1337 to 1453. The Hundred Years’ War was a series of short conflicts, broken intermittently by a number of truces and peace treaties. It resulted from disputes between the ruling families of the two countries, the French Capetians  and the English Plantagenets, over territories in France and the succession to the French throne. It was basically caused by the refusal of the Plantagenet of England to do homage to the kings of France for the fief of Aquitaine. Other causes were Anglo-French rivalry for the Flanders wool trade, and a growing sense of national consciousness. The war began in 1337, when Edward III of England claimed the French throne. The English won victories at Sluis (1340), Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), and gained more French territory, though most of it was lost again by 1373. Henry V renewed the war (1415), won a crushing victory at Agincourt (1415) and was recognized as heir to the French throne (Treaty of Troyes, 1420). After his death (1422), Joan of Arc rallied the French , and the English were gradually expelled (1423 - 53) from France, until only Calais remained in their possession.