Clash of Lions: The Hundred Years' War

**The Hundred Years' War was a protracted conflict between England and France that spanned the 14th and 15th centuries. This epic struggle, characterized by its intermittent nature, political intrigue, and sweeping territorial shifts, left an enduring mark on the history of both nations and the wider geopolitical landscape.

Prelude to War

A Clash of Lions (The Hundred Years' War Book 2)

by A.J. MacKenzie

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2877 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	413 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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**The origins of the Hundred Years' War lie in a complex tangle of dynastic claims, territorial disputes, and economic rivalries. The Plantagenet dynasty, which ruled England, held extensive lands in France, including the Duchy of Aquitaine. However, the French monarchy, under the Capetian dynasty, sought to consolidate its authority and regain those territories.

**In 1337, Philip VI of France declared Edward III of England a vassal and demanded that he pay homage for his French lands. Edward, who believed he had a legitimate claim to the French throne, refused and declared war.

Early Campaigns

**The early stages of the war were marked by English victories. In 1346, Edward's army defeated the French at the Battle of Crécy, employing a devastating combination of longbowmen and dismounted knights.

**In subsequent years, the English seized Calais and other strategic ports in northern France. They also launched devastating raids into the French countryside, plundering and burning.

French Resistance

**Despite the initial setbacks, the French gradually rallied under the leadership of King Charles V. He adopted a strategy of avoiding pitched battles, instead harassing the English with guerrilla tactics and cutting off their supply lines.

**In 1369, the French won a decisive victory at the Battle of Cocherel, regaining control of Normandy and much of northern France.

Shifting Fortunes

**The Hundred Years' War continued for another century, with periods of intense fighting alternating with truces and negotiations. The fortunes of war ebbed and flowed, with both sides claiming victories and suffering defeats.

**In 1415, the English under King Henry V invaded France again and won a crushing victory at the Battle of Agincourt. This led to the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, which recognized Henry as heir to the French throne.

Joan of Arc

**The tide of war turned against the English with the rise of Joan of Arc, a young peasant girl who claimed to have received divine visions to lead the French to victory.

**Joan inspired the French troops and led them to a series of victories, including the lifting of the siege of Orleans. However, she was captured by the English in 1430 and burned at the stake as a heretic.

End of the War

**After Joan of Arc's death, the French continued to fight, and in 1453, they finally expelled the English from almost all of their French possessions.

**The Hundred Years' War officially ended with the Treaty of Picquigny in 1475. The war had lasted for 116 years and had left both England and France exhausted and deeply indebted.

Legacy of the War

**The Hundred Years' War had a profound impact on the history of both England and France. It weakened the power of the monarchy in both countries and contributed to the rise of national consciousness.

**The war also had a significant military impact. It led to the development of new weapons and tactics, including the use of gunpowder artillery and the formation of professional armies.

**The Hundred Years' War remains an enduring symbol of the complex and often tragic nature of war. It is a story of shifting alliances, heroic battles, and the indomitable spirit of the human soul.

A Clash of Lions (The Hundred Years' War Book 2)

by A.J. MacKenzie

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2877 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	413 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE