The Hundred Years War: King Of France

Hundred Years War The Hundred Years War is the name given due to the series of wars,battles, and kings fought between 1337 and 1453. The wars consisted of sieges, raids, sea battles, land battles, and had long periods of truce.The cause for The Hundred Years War was the disagreement of Edward III of England with Philip VI of France for not restoring part of Guienne that was taken by Charles IV. Philip VI also supported Scotland against England. Edward III would also want the title, King of France. The Hundred Years War was a conflict over land,titles, and rights between England and France.

It was around 1337 where Edward III wanted the title of king of France that was held by Philip VI.England first invaded France between 1339 and 1340
During the battle Philip's navy was mostly destroyed.This would give the English fleet complete control over the channel. By the end of Edward's reign the French had rebuilt their fleet and were to become a threat again. Six years later after the victory of Sluis was when England won another major battle. This battle would prove how superior England was, on the field of battle. At the battle of Crecy in 1346 the English archers devastated the French knights and foot soldiers with their deadly long-range longbows(Hundred Years War). The French knights used to dominate in the earlier battles of the Middle Ages. The long-range longbows that the English had would make the French knights obsolete. Edward III would land on the beaches of Normandy with 14,000 men to invade. The English army would push forward up the countryside. Philip heard of this invasion and got 12,000 men, that would be 8,000 mounted knights and 4,000 hired crossbow men. Edward III would stop his assault in knowing of Philip’s attack. Philip would have
It was the late 1340s when a plague happen, called the Black Death(Hundred). This would hurt the populations of France and England and bring military operations to a stop for years. One of the plague’s victims being the French king Philip VI. The new king would be King John II of France. In 1355 King Edward III again planned for an invasion of France. His son, Edward the Black Prince now being an experienced soldier at 26 years old(Hundred). Would land at Bordeaux in Western France and led his army on a march through Southern France to Carcassonne. Unable to take the walled city he would return to Bordeaux. In early 1356 the Duke of Lancaster landed with a second force in Normandy and began to advance south. Edward III was engaged in fighting in Scotland. The French army would be broken up in pieces and would be slaughtered by Edward the Black Prince’s army. King John II and his son Philip were captured also with many nobles. The French would suffered approximately 2,500 dead and 2,000 captured. As a result of the battle, England demanded an unreasonably high ransom for the king, which France would refuse to pay(Hundred). The battle also showed that superior English tactics could overcome the French numbers. King John II was released in 1360 after he promised to pay the enormous