Hundred Years’ War

Introduction & Top Questions
Causes of the Hundred Years’ War
- The problem of English lands in France
- Conflict over the French succession
From the outbreak of war to the Treaty of Brétigny (1337–60)
- The war at sea and the campaigns in Brittany and Gascony
- The Crécy campaign and its aftermath (1346–56)
- The Poitiers campaign (1355–56)
- Negotiations during John II’s captivity
From the Treaty of Brétigny to the accession of Henry V (1360–1413)
- Richard II and Charles VI
- Henry IV, the Armagnacs, and the Burgundians
From the accession of Henry V to the Siege of Orléans (1413–28)
- Agincourt and the conquest of Normandy
- Civil war in France and the accession of Charles VII
Expulsion of the English (1428–53)
- Joan of Arc
- Treaty of Arras (1435) and Truce of Tours (1444)
- Reconquest of Maine and Normandy
- Conquest of Guyenne (1453), the Treaty of Picquigny (1475), and the conclusion of the war
Significance of the Hundred Years’ War

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

Medieval illustration of the Battle of Crecy shows armored soldiers fighting with swords, shields, and bows as mounted knights and banners fill the background.

Family tree diagram of the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou or Angevin dynasty, showing royal lineage and connections to other European royal families, with names, titles, and dates organized by generation.

What was the Hundred Years' War?

At a Glance

Medieval illustration of the Battle of Crecy shows armored soldiers fighting with swords, shields, and bows as mounted knights and banners fill the background.

Hundred Years’ War summary

Hundred Years’ War: Media

England and France [14th–15th century]

Videos

What was the Hundred Years' War?

What was the Hundred Years' War?

Learn more about the Hundred Years' War.

Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Joan of Arc's heroic life

Joan of Arc's heroic life

Overview of Joan of Arc's life.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

Medieval illustration of the Battle of Crecy shows armored soldiers fighting with swords, shields, and bows as mounted knights and banners fill the background.

The Battle of Crécy

Image depicting the Battle of Crécy, during the Hundred Years' War, in which Edward...

© Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com

Henry II

Henry II

Henry II, depicted in a coloured printed wood engraving, c. 1860.

Photos.com/Jupiterimages

Family tree diagram of the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou or Angevin dynasty, showing royal lineage and connections to other European royal families, with names, titles, and dates organized by generation.

House of Plantagenet

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Louis IX

Louis IX

Louis IX, carrying the hand of justice.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (RP-P-OB-76.255)

King Philip IV

King Philip IV

Philip IV, detail of the statue from his tomb, 14th century; in the abbey church...

Archives Photographiques, Paris

Edward II

Edward II

Edward II, detail of a watercolour manuscript illumination, mid-15th century; in...

Courtesy of the trustees of the British Library

Charles IV

Charles IV

Charles IV receiving his sister Isabella and her son Edward from England, miniature...

Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

Edward III

Edward III

Edward III, watercolour, 15th century; in the British Library (Cotton MS. Julius...

By permission of the British Library

Philip VI

Philip VI

Philip VI, detail from a French manuscript, 14th century; in the Bibliothèque Nationale,...

Courtesy of the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

Medieval illuminated painting by Loyset Liedet showing the Battle of Sluys with armored soldiers fighting on crowded wooden ships, some falling into the water, with banners and sails overhead.

Battle of Sluis during the Hundred Years' War

Battle of Sluis during the Hundred Years' War, illustration from Jean Froissart's...

© Fine Art Images—Heritage Images/Getty Images

Painting by Jean-Simon Berthelemy showing Philippa of Hainaut kneeling and pleading before a standing armored man, surrounded by soldiers and townspeople at the Siege of Calais.

Jean-Simon Berthélemy: The Courageous Action of Eustache de Saint-Pierre at the Siege of Calais

The Courageous Action of Eustache de Saint-Pierre at the Siege of Calais,...

Print Collector—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Auguste Rodin: The Burghers of Calais

Auguste Rodin: The Burghers of Calais

The Burghers of Calais, bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin commemorating...

© Hemera/Thinkstock

Engraved portrait of David II of Scotland wearing a crown and fur-trimmed robe, with a beard and shoulder-length hair, facing slightly to his left.

David II of Scotland

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Historical map of Europe showing the spread of the Black Death during the second pandemic from 1347 to 1351. The map uses color-coded regions to indicate the approximate year the plague first reached different areas, with arrows marking the spread along major marine and land routes, and major cities labeled. Areas relatively unaffected are shown in gray.

second pandemic of the Black Death in Europe

The second pandemic of the Black Death in Europe (1347–51).

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Edward the Black Prince

Edward the Black Prince

Edward The Black Prince, illustration after a stained glass window from St. Stephen's...

From Dress and Decorations of the Middle Ages by Henry Shaw, 1843

John II

John II

John II, portrait by an unknown French artist, 14th century; in the Louvre, Paris.

© Leemage—Corbis/Getty Images

Bronze equestrian statue of Etienne Marcel in Paris, showing Marcel in medieval attire riding a horse, with a historic building in the background.

Étienne Marcel

Étienne Marcel, statue in Paris.

© homeros/Shutterstock.com

Charles V

Charles V

Charles V (the Wise), sculpture by an unknown artist; in the Louvre Museum, Paris.

Archives Photographiques, Paris

Bertrand du Guesclin

Bertrand du Guesclin

Bertrand du Guesclin, head of a funerary statue by T. Pirvé and R. Loisel; in the...

Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

John I and John of Gaunt

John I and John of Gaunt

John I (right) entertaining John of Gaunt (on his right), miniature from a late 15th-century...

Courtesy of the trustees of the British Library

Richard II

Richard II

Richard II.

© Photos.com/Jupiterimages

Engraving after John Northcote's painting shows Richard II and Bolingbroke on horseback entering London, greeted by crowds, with dramatic gestures and banners.

Richard II and the Peasants' Revolt

Richard II (left) entering London during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, as depicted...

© Photos.com/Jupiterimages

Peasants' Revolt

Peasants' Revolt

The death of Wat Tyler (left) and Richard II addressing the peasants (right), miniature...

The British Library (Public Domain)

Charles VI the Well-Beloved

Charles VI the Well-Beloved

Charles VI the Well-Beloved, detail of a miniature from a contemporary manuscript;...

Courtesy of the Bibliothèque Publique et Universitaire, Geneva

Charles VI of France

Charles VI of France

Charles VI of France receiving English envoys, illustration from Jean Froissart's...

The British Library/Robana/REX/Shutterstock.com

Henry IV

Henry IV

Henry Bolingbroke, who became Henry IV, king of England. Illustration for A Child's...

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (02012610)

Battle of Agincourt (1415)

Battle of Agincourt (1415)

Historia/Shutterstock.com

John, duke of Burgundy

John, duke of Burgundy

John, duke of Burgundy (John the Fearless), portrait by an unknown master of the...

Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp (ID 540), kmska.be.

Portrait of Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, also known as Philip the Good, wearing an ornate red robe and elaborate red headdress, painted in oil on panel.

Philip III

Philip III, oil on panel by an unknown artist, c. 1460–80; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford

John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford

John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford, praying to St. George, miniature from the Bedford...

Courtesy of the trustees of the British Library

Charles VII

Charles VII

Charles VII, detail of a portrait by Jean Fouquet, c. 1447; in the Louvre, Paris.

© Photos.com/Getty Images

Medieval illuminated manuscript illustration of the siege of Orleans shows soldiers firing a cannon at fortified city walls, with defenders and townspeople inside.

Hundred Years' War: Siege of Orléans

The Siege of Orléans (1428–29).

© DeAgostini/Getty Images

Painting by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres showing Joan of Arc in armor holding a banner at an altar during the coronation of Charles VII in Reims Cathedral, with figures praying behind her.

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres: painting of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc at the Coronation of Charles VII in Reims Cathedral, by Jean-Auguste-Dominique...

© G. Dagli Orti—DeAgostini/Getty Images

Color-printed wood engraving depicting Joan of Arc falling from a horse during battle, surrounded by soldiers and chaos, with arrows flying overhead.

Capture of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc being captured during her attempt to relieve Compiègne from an English...

© Photos.com/Getty Images Plus

Painting by Gillot Saint-Evre showing Joan of Arc standing and speaking before a seated Charles VII and a group of prelates and courtiers in a grand, dimly lit hall.

Joan of Arc

Jeanne d'Arc, featuring Joan of Arc answering the questions of the prelates;...

© Photos.com/Getty Images Plus

Death of Joan of Arc

Death of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc being burned at the stake for heresy, May 30, 1431.

© Photos.com/Jupiterimages

Richard Beauchamp, 13th earl of Warwick

Richard Beauchamp, 13th earl of Warwick

Richard Beauchamp, 13th earl of Warwick, kneeling to receive the appointment of captain...

Reproduced by permission of the British Library

Margaret of Anjou

Margaret of Anjou

Margaret of Anjou.

© Hulton Archive/Getty Images

René I

René I

René I, detail of a portrait by Nicolas Froment, 1475–76; in the Cathedral of St....

© DeAgostini/Getty Images

Jean d'Orléans, count of Dunois

Jean d'Orléans, count of Dunois

Jean d'Orléans, count of Dunois, detail from a statue in the chapel of the castle...

H. Roger-Viollet—Hurault

Lithograph by Maurin of King Louis XI of France wearing a fur-trimmed robe, a chain with a medallion, and a round hat, with his name inscribed below.

Louis XI

Louis XI.

© Print Collector/Getty Images

Edward IV

Edward IV

Edward IV, portrait by an unknown artist; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Photos.com/Thinkstock

Charles the Bold

Charles the Bold

Charles the Bold, detail of a portrait by Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1460; in the...

Courtesy of the Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preussischer Kulturbesitz

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