Personalities who influenced the course of the Hundred Years War. Abstract: The era of the Hundred Years War. The beginning of the war and its causes

The main cause of the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) was the political rivalry between the French royal dynasty of Capet - Valois and English Plantagenets. The first strove for the unification of France and the complete subjugation of all vassals to their power, among which the English kings, who still owned the Guyenne (Aquitaine) region, occupied a leading place and often overshadowed their overlords. The vassal relations of the Plantagenets to the Capetians were only nominal, but the English kings were even weary of this. They sought not only to return their former possessions in France, but also to take the French crown from the Capetians.

In 1328 the French monarch died CharlesIV Handsome, and with him the senior line of the Capetian house came to an end. Based salic law, the French throne was occupied by the cousin of the deceased king, PhilipVI Valois. But the English king EdwardIII, son of Isabella, sister of Charles IV, considering himself the closest relative of the latter, laid claim to the French crown. This led to the beginning in 1337, in Picardy, of the first battles of the Hundred Years' War. In 1338, Edward III obtained from the emperor the title of imperial governor west of the Rhine, and in 1340, having concluded an alliance against Philip VI with the Flemings and some German princes, he took the title of King of France. In 1339, Edward unsuccessfully besieged Cambrai, in 1340 - Tournai. In June 1340 the French fleet was decisively defeated in a bloody battle. battle of Sluys, and in September the first truce of the Hundred Years' War took place, which was interrupted by the English king in 1345.

Battle of Crecy 1346

The year 1346 was marked by a major turning point in the course of the Hundred Years' War. The hostilities of 1346 took place in Guyenne, Flanders, Normandy and Brittany. Edward III, unexpectedly for the enemy, landed at the cape La-gog with 32 thousand soldiers (4 thousand cavalry, 10 thousand foot archers, 12 thousand Welsh and 6 thousand Irish infantry), after which he ravaged the country on the left bank of the Seine and moved to Rouen, probably to join the Flemish troops and to lay siege to Calais, which at this stage of the Hundred Years' War could have obtained for him the importance of a base.

Meanwhile, Philip VI set off with a strong army along the right bank of the Seine, meaning to prevent the enemy from Calais. Then Edward, defiantly moving towards Poissy (in the direction of Paris), attracted the attention of the French king in this direction, and then, quickly turning back, crossed the Seine and went to the Somme, devastating the space between these two rivers.

Philip, realizing his mistake, rushed after Edward. A separate French detachment (12 thousand), stationed on the right bank of the Somme, destroyed bridges and crossings on it. The English king found himself in a critical situation, having the aforementioned detachment and the Somme in front, and Philip's main forces in the rear. But, fortunately for Edward, he learned about the ford of Blanc-Tash, along which he moved his troops, taking advantage of the ebb. A separate French detachment, despite the courageous defense of the crossing, was overturned, and when Philip approached, the British were already completing the crossing, and meanwhile the tide had begun.

Edward continued his retreat and stopped at Crecy, deciding to take the fight here. Philip made his way to Abbeville, where he stayed all day to bring in suitable reinforcements, which brought his army to about 70,000 men. (including 8-12 thousand knights, most of which are infantry). Philip's stop at Abbeville gave Edward the opportunity to prepare well for the first of the three major battles of the Hundred Years' War, which took place on 26 August at Crécy and resulted in a decisive English victory. This victory is due mainly to the superiority of the English military system and English troops over the military system of France and its feudal militias. From the side of the French, 1,200 nobles and 30,000 soldiers fell in the battle of Crecy. Edward for a time achieved dominance over all of northern France.

Battle of Crécy. Miniature for Froissart's "Chronicles"

Hundred Years' War in 1347-1355

In the following years of the Hundred Years' War, the British, under the leadership of King Edward himself and his son, black prince, scored a number of brilliant successes over the French. In 1349, the Black Prince defeated the French commander Charni and took him prisoner. Later, a truce was concluded, which ended in 1354. At this time, the Black Prince, appointed ruler of the Duchy of Guyenne, went there and prepared to continue the Hundred Years War. At the end of the truce in 1355, he moved from Bordeaux to devastate France, and with several companies passed through the county of Armagnac to the Pyrenees; then, turning towards the north, he ravaged and burned everything as far as Toulouse. From there, fording the Garonne, the Black Prince went to Carcassonne and Narbonne and burned both of these cities. Thus, he devastated the whole country from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea and from the Pyrenees to the Garonne, ruining more than 700 cities and villages within 7 weeks, which terrified the whole of France. In all these operations of the Hundred Years War, goblers (light cavalry) played the main role.

Battle of Poitiers 1356

In 1356, the Hundred Years' War was fought in three theaters. In the north, a small English army was operating, led by the Duke of Lancaster. french king John the Good, capturing the king of Navarre Karl the Evil, was busy besieging his castles. The Black Prince, moving suddenly from Guyenne, penetrated through Rouergue, Auvergne and Limousin to the Loire, destroying more than 500 places.

Edward "The Black Prince", son of the English king Edward III, hero of the Hundred Years War. 15th century miniature

This pogrom brought King John into a violent rage. He hurriedly assembled a rather sizable army and marched towards the Loire, intending to act decisively. At Poitiers, the king did not wait for the attack of the English, who were at that time in a difficult situation, since the army of the king was opposite their front, and in the rear - another French army, concentrated in Languedoc. Despite the reports of his advisers, who spoke in favor of defense, John set out from Poitiers and on September 19, 1356 attacked the British in their fortified position at Maupertuis. John made two fatal mistakes in this battle. He first ordered his cavalry to attack the English infantry stationed in a narrow ravine, and when this attack was repulsed and the English rushed into the plain, he ordered his horsemen to dismount. Because of these blunders, the 50,000th French army suffered a terrible defeat at the battle of Poitiers (the second of the three main battles of the Hundred Years War) from five times less numerous English. French losses amounted to 11,000 killed and 14,000 captured. King John himself was taken prisoner with his son Philip.

Battle of Poitiers 1356. Miniature for Froissart's Chronicles

Hundred Years' War in 1357-1360

During the captivity of the king, his eldest son, the Dauphin Charles (later King Charles V). His position was very difficult, due to the success of the British, which complicated the Hundred Years' War of internal French turmoil (the desire of the townspeople led by Etienne Marcel to assert their rights to the detriment of the supreme power) and especially, from 1358, due to the internecine war ( jacquerie), caused by the uprising of the peasants against the nobility, which, therefore, could not provide the Dauphin with strong enough support. The bourgeoisie also nominated a pretender to the throne of France, the king of Navarre, who also relied on hired squads (grandes compagnies), which in the era of the Hundred Years War were the scourge for the country. The Dauphin suppressed the revolutionary attempts of the bourgeoisie and in August 1359 made peace with the Navarrese king. Meanwhile, the captured King John entered into an agreement with England that was very unfavorable for France, according to which he gave the British almost half of his state. But states general, gathered by the Dauphin, rejected this treaty and expressed their readiness to continue the Hundred Years' War.

Then Edward III of England crossed over to Calais with a strong army, which he allowed to support himself at the expense of the country, and moved through Picardy and Champagne, destroying everything on the way. In January 1360, he invaded Burgundy, forced to abandon its alliance with France. From Burgundy, he went to Paris and unsuccessfully besieged it. In view of this, and due to lack of funds, Edward agreed to a peace that suspended the Hundred Years War, which was concluded in May of that year in bretigny. But wandering squads and some feudal owners continued hostilities. The Black Prince, having undertaken a campaign in Castile, imposed large taxes on the English possessions in France, which caused a complaint from his vassals there to the French king. Charles V in 1368 demanded the prince to be tried, and in 1369 resumed the Hundred Years' War.

Hundred Years' War in 1369-1415

In 1369 the Hundred Years' War was limited to small businesses. The British mostly prevailed in field battles. But their affairs began to take an unfavorable turn, mainly from the change in the nature of the conduct of operations by the French, who began to avoid open clashes with the English troops, turned to the stubborn defense of cities and castles, attacked the enemy by surprise and cut off his communications. All this was facilitated by the ruin of France by the Hundred Years' War and the depletion of its resources, forcing the British to carry with them everything they needed in a huge convoy. In addition, the British lost their commander, John Chandosa, King Edward was already old, and the Black Prince left the army due to illness.

Meanwhile, Charles V appointed commander-in-chief Bertrand Dugueclin and entered into an alliance with the king of Castile, who sent his fleet to help him, which turned out to be a dangerous rival for the English. During this period of the Hundred Years' War, the English more than once took possession of entire provinces, without meeting strong resistance in the open field, but suffered hardship, as the population locked themselves in castles and cities, hired wandering bands and repulsed the enemy. Under such conditions - large losses in men and horses and a lack of food and money - the British had to return to their homeland. Then the French went on the offensive, robbed the enemy of his conquests, and over time turned to larger enterprises and more important operations, especially after the appointment of Du Guesclin, who achieved a number of brilliant successes in the Hundred Years War, as constable.

Bertrand Dugueclin, constable of France, hero of the Hundred Years War

Thus, almost all of France was liberated from the rule of the British, in whose hands, by the beginning of 1374, only Calais, Bordeaux, Bayonne and a few places in the Dordogne remained. In view of this, a truce was concluded, then continued until the death of Edward III (1377). In order to strengthen the military system of France, Charles V ordered in 1373 to form the rudiment of a standing army - ordinance companies. But after the death of Charles, this attempt of his was forgotten, and the Hundred Years War again began to be waged mainly by mercenary bands. .

In subsequent years, the Hundred Years War continued intermittently. The successes of both sides depended mainly on the internal state of one and the other state, and the enemies mutually took advantage of the troubles of their opponent and then acquired a more or less decisive advantage. In this regard, the most favorable era for the British during the Hundred Years War was the reign of a mentally ill person in France. KarlaVI. The imposition of new taxes aroused unrest in many French cities, especially in Paris and Rouen, and resulted in the so-called war. mayotenes or berdyshnikov. The southern provinces, regardless of the revolt of the townspeople, were torn apart by civil strife and predation by mercenary bands participating in the Hundred Years' War, to which the Peasants' War (guerre des coquins) also joined; finally, an uprising broke out in Flanders. In general, success in this turmoil was on the side of the government and the vassals loyal to the king; but the citizens of Ghent, in order to be able to continue the war, entered into an alliance with England. However, not having time to get help from the British, the inhabitants of Ghent suffered a decisive defeat in battle of Rosebeck.

Then the Regency of France, having outwardly suppressed the unrest and at the same time aroused the people against themselves and the young king, resumed the Hundred Years War and entered into an alliance against England with Scotland. The French fleet, Admiral Jean de Vienna, headed for the coast of Scotland and landed a detachment of Enguerrand de Coucy, consisting of adventurers. However, the British managed to devastate a significant part of Scotland. The French suffered a lack of food and quarreled with their allies, but nevertheless they invaded England together with them, and showed great cruelty. The English, at this point in the Hundred Years' War, were compelled to mobilize their entire army; however, the allies did not wait for its offensive: the French returned to their homeland, while the Scots retreated deep into their country in order to wait there for the end of the term of the fief service of the English vassals. The English devastated the whole country as far as Edinburgh; but as soon as they returned to their homeland and their troops began to disperse, the detachments of Scottish adventurers, having received monetary subsidies from the French, again raided England.

This attempt by the French to move the Hundred Years' War to Northern England failed, as the French government turned its main attention to operations in Flanders, in order to establish the dominion of Duke Philip of Burgundy there (the king's uncle, the very son of John the Good, who was captured with him at Poitiers). This was achieved in the autumn of 1385. Then the French began to prepare again for the same expedition, equipped a new fleet and put up a new army. The moment for the expedition was well chosen, as at that time there was a renewed unrest in England, and the Scots, having made an invasion, devastated it and won a number of victories. But the commander-in-chief, the Duke of Berry, arrived at the army late, when, in view of the autumn time, the expedition could no longer be undertaken.

In 1386 constable Olivier du Clisson was preparing to land in England, but his overlord, the Duke of Brittany, prevented this. In 1388 the Anglo-French truce again suspended the Hundred Years' War. In the same year, Charles VI took over the government, but then fell into insanity, as a result of which France was seized by the struggle between the closest relatives of the king and his primary vassals, as well as the struggle between the parties of Orleans and Burgundy. Meanwhile, the Hundred Years' War did not stop completely, but as before was only interrupted by truces. In England itself, an uprising broke out against the king Richard II, who was married to the French princess Isabella. Richard II was deposed by his cousin Henry of Lancaster, who succeeded to the throne under the name HenryIV. France did not recognize the latter as king, and then demanded the return of Isabella and her dowry. England did not return the dowry, because France had not yet paid the entire ransom for King John the Good, who had previously been released from captivity.

In view of this, Henry IV intended to continue the Hundred Years' War with an expedition to France, but, busy defending his throne and generally turmoil in England itself, could not fulfill this. his son HenryV, having calmed the state, decided to take advantage of the illness of Charles VI and the strife between the applicants for the regency in order to renew the claims of his great-grandfather to the French crown. He sent ambassadors to France to ask for the hand of Princess Catherine, daughter of Charles VI. This proposal was rejected, which served as a pretext for the vigorous resumption of the Hundred Years' War.

King Henry V of England, hero of the Hundred Years War

Battle of Agincourt 1415

Henry V (with 6 thousand cavalry and 20 - 24 thousand infantry) landed near the mouth of the Seine and immediately began the siege of Garfleur. Meanwhile, the constable d "Albret, who was on the right bank of the Seine and watching the enemy, did not try to help the besieged, but ordered the call to be trumpeted throughout France so that the accustomed to arms noble people gathered to him to continue the Hundred Years War. But he himself was inactive. The ruler of Normandy, Marshal Boucicault, having only negligible forces, also could not do anything in favor of the besieged, who soon surrendered. Henry supplied Garfleur with supplies, left a garrison in it, and, thanks to this, having received a base for further operations in the Hundred Years' War, moved to Abbville, intending to cross the Somme there. However, the considerable efforts required to capture Garfleur, illness in the army due to bad food, etc., weakened the English army that fought in the theater of the Hundred Years War, the situation of which worsened even more from the fact that the English fleet, having crashed, had to retire to the shores of England . Meanwhile, reinforcements coming from everywhere brought the French army to a large number. In view of all this, Henry decided to go to Calais and from there restore more convenient communications with the fatherland.

Battle of Agincourt. 15th century miniature

But it was difficult to carry out the decision made, due to the approach of the French, and all the fords on the Somme were blocked. Then Henry moved up the river, in order to find a free passage. Meanwhile, d "Albret was still inactive at Peronne, having 60 thousand people, while a separate French detachment followed parallel to the British, devastating the country. On the contrary, Henry during the Hundred Years War maintained the strictest discipline in his army: robbery, desertion and the like crimes were punished by death or demotion. Finally, he approached the ford at Betancourt, near Gam, between Peronne and Saint-Quentin. Here, on October 19, the British crossed the Somme without hindrance. Then d "Albret moved from Peronne to block the enemy's path to Calais, which led October 25 to the third main battle of the Hundred Years War - at Agincourt, which ended in the complete defeat of the French. Having won this victory over the enemy, Henry returned to England, and instead of himself left the Duke of Bedford. The Hundred Years War was again interrupted by a truce for 2 years.

Hundred Years' War in 1418-1422

In 1418, Henry again landed in Normandy with 25 thousand people, took possession of a significant part of France and, with the assistance of the French Queen Isabella (Princess of Bavaria), forced Charles VI to conclude with him on May 21, 1420 peace in Troyes, by which he received the hand of the daughter of Charles and Isabella, Catherine, and was recognized as heir to the French throne. However, the Dauphin Charles, son of Charles VI, did not recognize this treaty and continued the Hundred Years' War. 1421 Henry landed in France for the third time, took Dreux and Mo and pushed the Dauphin beyond the Loire, but suddenly fell ill and died (1422), almost simultaneously with Charles VI, after which Henry's son, an infant, took the thrones of England and France HenryVI. However, the Dauphin was also proclaimed King of France by his few adherents under the name KarlaVII.

End of the Hundred Years War

At the beginning of this period of the Hundred Years' War, the whole of northern France (Normandy, Ile-de-France, Brie, Champagne, Picardy, Pontier, Boulogne) and most of Aquitaine in the southwest were in the hands of the British; the possessions of Charles VII were limited only to the territory between Tours and Orleans. The French feudal aristocracy was finally humiliated. In the Hundred Years War, it repeatedly demonstrated its failure. Therefore, the aristocrats could not serve as a reliable support for the young king Charles VII, who relied mainly on the heads of mercenary gangs. Soon he entered the service, with the rank of constable, Earl Douglas with 5 thousand Scots, but in 1424 he was defeated by the British at Verneuil. Then the duke of Brittany was appointed constable, to whom the management of state affairs also passed.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Bedford, who ruled France as Henry VI's regent, was trying to find funds to end the Hundred Years' War in favor of the English, recruiting new troops in France, transporting reinforcements from England, extending the boundaries of Henry's dominions, and finally proceeded to lay siege to Orleans, the last stronghold of the defenders of an independent France. At the same time, the Duke of Brittany quarreled with Charles VII and again took the side of the British.

It seemed that the loss of the Hundred Years War by France and her death as an independent state were inevitable, but from that time her revival began. Excessive misfortunes aroused patriotism among the people and put forward Jeanne d "Arc to the theater of the Hundred Years War. She made a strong moral impression on the French and their enemies, which served in favor of the legitimate king, delivered a number of successes to his troops over the British and opened the way for Charles himself to Reims, where he was crowned.Since 1429, when Jeanne liberated Orleans, not only was an end to the successes of the British, but in general the course of the Hundred Years War began to take an increasingly favorable turn for the French king.He renewed his alliance with the Scots and the Duke of Brittany, and in 1434 Mr. entered into an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy.

Jeanne d "Arc during the siege of Orleans. Artist J. E. Lenepve

Bedford and the English made new mistakes, which increased the number of supporters of Charles VII. The French began to gradually take away conquest from their enemy. Disappointed by this turn of the Hundred Years' War, Bedford died, and after him the regency passed to the incapable Duke of York. In 1436, Paris expressed its obedience to the king; then the British, having suffered a series of defeats, concluded a truce in 1444, which lasted until 1449.

When, in this way, the royal power, having restored the independence of France, also strengthened its position, it became possible to lay a solid foundation for the internal and external security of the state by establishing standing troops. Since then, the French army could already boldly compete with the British. This was not long in coming to light in the last outbreak of the Hundred Years' War at the end of the reign of Charles VII, which ended in the complete expulsion of the English from France.

Charles VII, King of France, victorious in the Hundred Years' War. Artist J. Fouquet, between 1445 and 1450

Of the clashes of this period of the Hundred Years War, the most remarkable are: 1) The battle of August 15, 1450 at Formigny, in which the dismounted archers of the ordonnance companies went around the British from the left flank and rear and forced them to clear the very position on which the French frontal attack was repelled. This made it possible for the gendarmes of the ordinance companies, with a decisive attack on horseback, to inflict a complete defeat on the enemy; even freestyle shooters acted quite well in this battle; 2) the last major battle of the Hundred Years War - July 17, 1453 at Castiglione, where the same free shooters, in shelters, threw back and upset the troops of the old English commander Talbot.

Charles VII was also favored by the fact that Denmark entered into an alliance with him, and in England itself, internal turmoil and civil strife again began. Although the struggle between the two states still continued after the death of Charles VII and Henry VI, and the English king did not cease to call himself the king of France, he no longer sought to enter the French throne, but only to divide the state of the Capet-Valois. - thus, the end date of the Hundred Years War itself is usually recognized as 1453 (still under Charles VII).

The history of mankind is full of terrible wars. Some lasted just a few days, others - for many years. The longest war that took place in the Middle Ages was called the Hundred Years War. In short, it lasted 116 years.
The Hundred Years War is a long military conflict between France and England that began in 1337 and ended in 1453. More precisely, it was a series of military clashes. The name of this longest feud in history appeared in the early 19th century.
Causes of the war
There were several. On the part of France, it was a desire to oust the British from the primordially French land in Hyena. The British authorities, on the contrary, sought to defend this province, and at the same time regain the recently lost rich lands of Normandy and Anjou. It fueled the conflict and confrontation over Flanders, which formally belonged to France, but maintained close trade ties with England. It must be said that the inhabitants of Flanders did not at all strive to completely come under the authority of the French king and in the future conflict took the side of England.
The Hundred Years' War, in short, began because of the claims made by Edward III to the French throne. In fact, its origins go back to the distant 11th century, when the Duke of Normandy, William, conquered England. He became the king of this country, but at the same time retained his possessions in France. And so it happened that England for a long time owned part of the French lands.

The course of the war
The first stage of the war fell on the period from 1337 to 1360. The French were defeated in all battles, lost the port of Calais and were forced to agree to difficult peace conditions. The main reason for the failures was the backward French army and outdated weapons. Charles V, King of France, understood this and decided to close the gap between his army and the English. He successfully reorganized the army, partially replacing the knights with mercenary infantry, and also put things in order in the tax system. This led to the success of France during the second stage of the Hundred Years' War in 1369-80. English troops were forced out of the previously occupied territories to the sea. Now England agreed to a truce.
The third period of the Hundred Years' War (1415-24) fell on a very difficult period for France and ended in complete defeat. Almost the entire territory was in the hands of the enemy.
And then a third force entered the war - the French people. The guerrilla war began. With the appearance of Jeanne d'Arc in the ranks of the people's militia, the war went successfully for France and ended in 1453 with the surrender of the English army.

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Introduction

Hundred Years' War 1337-1453 between England and France is the longest military-political conflict in the history of the past. The term "war" in relation to this event, as well as its chronological framework, is rather arbitrary, since military operations have not been constantly conducted for more than a hundred years. The source of the contradictions between England and France was the bizarre interweaving of the historical destinies of these countries, which began with the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The Dukes of Normandy, established on the English throne, came from northern France. They united under their rule England and part of the continent - the northern French region of Normandy. In the 12th century the possessions of the English kings in France increased sharply as a result of the annexation by dynastic marriages of regions in Central and South-Western France. After a long and difficult struggle, the French monarchy at the beginning of the 13th century. regained most of these lands. Together with the traditional possessions of the French kings, they formed the core of modern France.

However, under English rule, the territory in the southwest remained - between the Pyrenees and the Loire Valley. In France she was called Guienne, in England Gascony. "English Gascony" and became one of the main reasons that caused the Hundred Years' War. The preservation of English domination in the south-west made the position of the French Capet unreliable, hindered the real political centralization of the country. For the English monarchy, this area could become a springboard in an attempt to regain the former huge possessions on the continent. In addition, the two largest Western European monarchies competed for political and economic influence in the virtually independent County of Flanders (modern Netherlands).

The Flemish cities, which bought English wool, sent a wealthy merchant from Ghent, James Artevelde, to England and offered Edward III the crown of France. At this time, the Valois dynasty (1328-1589), the younger line of the Capetians (the previous royal dynasty) settled in France.

Another object of sharp contradictions was Scotland, whose independence was threatened by England. In search of political support in Europe, the Scottish kingdom sought an alliance with the main rivals of the English crown - France. As the Anglo-French contradictions aggravated, both monarchies tried to strengthen their positions in the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian countries were especially interested in them due to the fact that they bordered on the "English Gascony". All this led to the emergence of military-political alliances: Franco-Castilian (1288), Franco-Scottish (1295), between the English crown and the cities of Flanders (1340).

In 1337, the English king Edward III declared war on France, resorting to a legal form natural for that time: he proclaimed himself the legitimate king of France in opposition to Philip VI of Valois, who was elected to the throne by the French feudal lords in 1328, after the death of his cousin, who had no sons, King Charles IV - the last of the older branch of the Capetian dynasty. Meanwhile, Edward III was the son of the elder sister of Charles IV, who was married to the English king.

There are four stages in the history of the war, between which there were periods of relatively long calm.

1. Background of the Hundred Years War

centenary janna war battle

The traditional borders of the Anglo-French war, which has been called since the 19th century. Centennial, are considered 1337-1453. Military operations for such a long time, of course, were not continuous. The accepted chronological framework of the war is, rather, the approximate boundaries of the protracted military-political conflict between the two Western European monarchies. But this conflict was only the final act of a longer historical drama of rivalry between the two royal houses. Its origins, according to most historians, must be sought in the events of the 11th and 12th centuries.

The Kingdom of France began to take shape as a relatively isolated state by the end of the 10th century. There was still no political and territorial unity within it, although the king from the first proper French Capetian dynasty was already at the head. The largest feudal lords - dukes and counts - behaved in relation to the early Capetians quite independently. The concept of the state border was completely absent, and the right of the strong often decided the most serious political issues. It was upon this that the audacious and essentially adventurous undertaking of Duke William of Normandy was based, who in 1066 landed on the southern English coast, accompanied by a relatively small force, and with surprising ease defeated the militia of the scattered and more backward Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. William the Conqueror became King of England, naturally retaining the Duchy of Normandy in Northern France under his rule. This event marked the beginning of centuries-long attempts by the Norman dynasty of English kings and their successors to create and maintain under their rule a kind of political entity that extended to the British Isles and French territory.

Taking advantage of the political weakness of the early Capetians, the House of Normandy established its power over the counties of Maine and Anjou in the center of the French lands. In 1154, Henry II, the founder of the new Plantagenet dynasty, became king of England. His mother Matilda came from the Norman dynasty, she was the granddaughter of William the Conqueror. Henry II's father was a French count from the Anjou family. In 1152, while not yet king of England, Henry married Eleanor of Aquitaine, who brought him huge dowries in the southwest of France as a dowry. About half of the French lands were under the rule of the English crown: all of their western part, except for the independent duchy on the Brittany peninsula. It should be noted that the Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine was the divorced wife of the French king from the Capetian house of Louis VII.

During the long reign of Henry II (1154-1189), conflicts between the English and French royal houses arose almost every year. At the beginning of the XIII century. the French king Philip II, who eventually received the honorary title "August" and is considered one of the true creators of a strong independent France, won a significant part of the French possessions from the heir of Henry II, John the Landless. Normandy, Maine, Anjou and Touraine returned to the French crown. But Aquitaine remained under the rule of the English Plantagenets. This duchy was the cause of the ongoing conflict between England and France.

In the XIII century. the enmity between the Capetians and the Plantagenets grew into a clash of state interests between France and England. Allies began to gather around rival countries, especially from among those relatively small political entities that were forced to seek protection and patronage against stronger neighbors. Scotland, neighboring England, was increasingly drawn to the French crown, which, not without reason, was afraid of being absorbed by the English kingdom. The rich Flanders cities began to count on an alliance with England. Although the count of Flanders was considered a vassal of the French king, the townspeople of this powerful cloth-making center hoped to maintain de facto independence. In addition, the wool they needed was imported from England.

In the 13th century, the money provided by trade (wine, cloth, etc.) became more and more important. And it became more and more obvious that under these conditions both the struggle for the preservation of the remnants of the Duchy of Aquitaine under English rule and the rivalry in rich Flanders could be resolved only by armed means.

Conflicts followed one after another. In 1215, France took advantage of the dissatisfaction that broke out in England with the policy of John the Landless and sent troops to England under the leadership of the French prince, who had remote rights to the English throne. French troops were expelled not without difficulty in 1217. In 1294-1302. in the South-West, in the area of English rule, a local war broke out between England and France, which did not bring any practical results. In 1295, France concluded an openly anti-English military-political treaty with Scotland. Rival countries began to look for allies in the Iberian Peninsula, where the English monarchy gained support in the small but strategically very important Navarre, and the French achieved an alliance with Castile. In 1323-1325. the Anglo-French military conflict broke out again in the former Aquitaine. Again, local, without the participation of allies, but without results.

The papacy and the German Empire, as well as the rulers of virtually independent counties and duchies in the Netherlands, were involved to some extent in the Anglo-French contradictions. The inevitable big war between France and England was resolutely placed on the agenda. It was clear that without this, the English kings would not give up trying to realize the old dream of the Plantagenets of a kingdom, or even an empire, stretching on both sides of the English Channel. There was no other way for the French monarchy to complete the long and painstaking effort to gather French lands around Paris. Without joining the territory of the former Duchy of Aquitaine, which had been greatly reduced over several centuries (it began to be called the “English Gascony”), the Capetians could not feel like masters in their own kingdom. The existence of English rule there has become an obvious historical anachronism. It was to be either eliminated or used as the basis for the formation and growth of the Anglo-French empire that the Plantagenets dreamed of.

The impetus for the beginning of a serious war, which acquired almost Western European proportions, was the dynastic situation that developed in 1328. The question of succession to the crown is the most important for any monarchy. After the death of the French king Charles IV, the direct line of the Capetian house, which had ruled the country since 987, ceased. The assembly of representatives of the highest French nobility had to decide which of the indirect heirs to recognize as the most worthy of the royal title. Among the applicants, the sixteen-year-old English king Edward III, who was the nephew of the last Capet, declared his rights. His mother, Queen Isabella, daughter of the famous ruler of France, Philip IV the Handsome, was married to the English King Edward II. Referring to the "Salic Truth" - a barbarian judicial code written around 500, members of the assembly of the highest French nobility rejected the claims of Edward III.

In the domestic historiographical tradition, this plot has long been called a "pretext" for the start of the Anglo-French war. N.I. Basovskaya points out that the issue of succession to the crown was the most important in feudal times, and that the rights of Edward III were not at all fictional. According to the researcher, “the option of acquiring the crown of France dynastically promised a seductively easy solution to the long and persistent desire of the Plantagenets to gain a foothold in France. It was one of the many unrealized, alternative, as they say today, options for the development of historical events. It was about creating a united kingdom, which was not such an impossible thing for the Middle Ages.

However, the crown was transferred to the representative of the lateral branch of the Capetians - Philip VI of Valois (1328-1350). Then Edward III decided to achieve his rights with the help of weapons.

2. The course of hostilities

The first period of the war (1337-1 360 gg.)

The first period of the war - the struggle for supremacy at sea, the defeat of France and popular uprisings.

The English in 1339 undertook the first invasion of the continent, where they besieged the fortress of Cambrai in the province of Artois. The fortress could not be taken, and Edward returned to England to prepare the next campaign. Equipping a large fleet and a strong army, the British laid siege to the fortress of Tournai. In June 1340, the French hired ships from the Genoese, mobilized merchant ships, reinforcing their fleet, and moved to the shores of Flanders to attack the English fleet, stationed at the mouth of the river. Scheldts. In the battle, called the Battle of Sluys (Ecluse), the French fleet was completely destroyed and the British gained dominance at sea. But on land, they again failed - the British could not take Tournai. Edward lifted the siege and concluded a truce that lasted until 1346.

In 1341, Jean III, Duke of Brittany died. The throne of Brittany was empty, and the so-called. War of succession (1341-1364), between French and English henchmen.

Meanwhile, the British government, having gathered significant forces, resumes hostilities. In 1346, the British landed in three places - in Flanders (a distraction), Brittany and Guyany. They systematically plundered and ravaged France, in the south they took possession of almost all the castles. In the second half of 1346, King Edward himself landed in Normandy. Having devastated this province, he decided to march to Flanders, which was probably due to the departure of his fleet to Britain. The French destroyed the bridges across the Seine and the Somme, forcing the British to make a detour. However, Edward managed to force these rivers and go north of Abbville, where the famous battle of Crecy (Cressy), brilliantly won by the British, took place. Then Edward laid siege to Calais and took it 11 months later.

After that, a truce was signed, which lasted until 1355. And in 1348-1349. both warring countries were covered by a terrible plague epidemic - the Black Death, which claimed millions of lives - a good half of all people living then. In 1355, the war resumed, the British (the Black Prince's chevosche) ravaged the south of France (Languedoc) and even reached the Mediterranean, destroying everything in their path. In 1356 Edward the Black Prince laid siege to Ramorantin, south of Orleans. The French under the command of King John released the city and forced the enemy to retreat in the direction of Poitiers. Here the British took a strong position and gave the battle that went down in history as the battle of Poitiers. Despite a significant numerical superiority, the French were utterly defeated, and the king himself was captured. After this shameful defeat, a wave of discontent swept through the country, resulting in armed uprisings: the Parisian uprising (1357) and the Jacquerie (1358). Trying to exploit the difficulties of the heir to the crown, the young Dauphin Charles (since 1364 King Charles V), Edward III began another company in France (1359-1360) and reached the very walls of Paris, but could not take Reims to receive there anointing. Exhausted and devastated, France could not continue the war, so a peace was signed at Brétigny on difficult terms. As a result, France lost a considerable part of its lands (see diagram).

Second period of the war (1369-1 380 gg.)

The second period of the war (1369-1380) was marked by the transition of France to the offensive and the liberation of most of the occupied territories. The peace concluded in 1360 was a necessary respite, which allowed the French to somewhat improve the internal political situation in the country and strengthen the army and navy. The system of hiring troops was streamlined, fortresses were erected, artillery was improved, and a strong fleet was created.

Although England and France were officially at peace, skirmishes continued. The parties raided each other's territory, the war for Brittany continued. A typical example: in 1364 (that is, during the period of peace), the knight Matthew Gurnay, captain of Brest (Brittany), was subjected to confiscation of property "for having crossed the sea and engaged in war, while it was forbidden to him" . The royal army was defeated by the soldiers of the Free Companies (rutiers) at Brignes (1362). In 1364, an open war began with the British ally Charles II of Navarre (Charles the Evil), who claimed the duchy of Burgundy (as well as the crown of France - he was the son of Jeanne, the eldest among the grandchildren of Philip the Handsome). Du Guesclin defeated him at Kocherel (May 1364). In 1367-1369. The Hundred Years' War spread to the lands of the Iberian Peninsula - both warring parties fought for influence on the Castilian throne. The French supported Enrique Trastamarsky, and the British supported his half-brother, Pedro the Cruel. The Franco-Castilian army lost the Battle of Navaretta (Naher; 1367). However, later the British stopped helping Pedro the Cruel, and Enrique (with the help of Dugueclin) defeated and killed his rival at Montiel (1369). The new king (Enrique II), in gratitude for the support, sent his fleet to fight against the British.

In 1369 the war resumed in France. Charles V the Wise announced the confiscation of Aquitaine and sent troops into it, freeing several cities. The French now had different ways of waging war: avoiding major military clashes (nevertheless, field battles are also known, at Shiz, for example), the detachments carried out surprise attacks, interrupted enemy communications, made night sorties, and worked closely with the local population who opposed English. In 1372, the allied Castilian fleet under command defeated the English fleet under the command of the Earl of Pembroke, sailing to liberate La Rochelle, and Du Guesclin won the battle of Chise in the same year, freeing Saintonge and Poitou. By the end of 1374, the British had lost almost all of their possessions in France, except for Calais, Cherbourg and a small area with the cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne (see diagram).

In 1375 a truce was concluded, but in 1377 hostilities resumed. An attempt to attack England from the sea failed, but on the continent the French defeated the Anglo-Gascon army at Aime. Since 1380, after the death of Charles V (Dugueclin also died in the same year), during the reign of the young (in the year of his father's death he was only 12 years old) Charles VI, the period of decline of central power begins - the so-called. "The Feudalism of Princes".

The country was slowly recovering from the colossal devastation inflicted by the British interventionists and mercenaries. The French countryside has been sacked, the French cities have been devastated, and the royal treasury is empty. In connection with high taxes, a wave of uprisings swept through the country (1382). In the spring of 1382, the French defeated the Flemings at Rosebeck. To the deterioration of the internal political situation of the country, in 1392, Charles VI had the first bouts of mental illness, and the struggle for regency between the Orleans and Burgundy houses (the uncles of the king Philip of Burgundy and Louis of Orleans) began, which eventually escalated into a civil war ("Armagnac strife and Burgundians). In 1396, an Anglo-French truce was concluded for 28 years, which, however, did not resolve more than one controversial issue. In the same year, a crusade against the Turks was undertaken, culminating in the defeat of the western chivalry at the Battle of Nicopolis. This campaign is not part of the Hundred Years' War, but still significant, since a significant part of the crusaders were French knights led by the young Jean of Nevers, the eldest son of the Duke of Burgundy, and almost all of them died.

Third period of the war (1415-1 428 gg.)

The third period of the war - a new invasion of the British in France, the defeat of the French chivalry and the capture by England of a significant territory, which called into question the very existence of France as a nation and an independent state.

The beginning of the 15th century was marked by the complete ruin of France and the disorganization of the state apparatus as a result of the struggle of noble groups for power. The weak royal government was unable to either restore order within the country or organize the defense of the border areas from the British raids that devastated Normandy, Picardy, Poitou and Aquitaine. The population was ruined by constant requisitions, trade and crafts were dying out. In November 1407, the Burgundians killed the Duke of Orleans, and in 1411 an open civil war began between the "Armagnacs" (after the death of Orleans, they were led by his father-in-law Bernard VII, Count d "Armagnac, constable of France) and the" Burgundians "(supporters of Jean the Fearless , Duke of Burgundy.) In 1413, an uprising of cabochens broke out in Paris.

The British decided to take advantage of the chaos that reigned in France, and in 1415 they landed in Normandy with about 10,000 troops under the command of a talented commander, the young king Henry V. palisades and defended with large forces. The British moved to the upper reaches of the river and, having overcome over 100 km, crossed it, after which they headed for Calais. The French army moved parallel to the British and, after a five-day march, outstripped them at Agincourt. Here the French suffered a crushing defeat, many nobles were captured, including Duke Charles of Orleans, son of Louis. But even this tragedy did not force the nobility to agree among themselves, civil strife continued. Queen Isabella of Bavaria and the Burgundians create a government in Troyes (1417), and in 1418 they take possession of Paris, having staged a terrible massacre (see civil war). The remnants of the Armagnacs, led by Dauphin Charles (the future Charles VII), took refuge behind the Loire, in Bourges. Meanwhile, the British capture Normandy (1417-1419). The Burgundians do not provide any assistance to the besieged Caen (1417) and Rouen (1419), and after the murder of Jean the Fearless by supporters of the Dauphin on the bridge of Montero (September 10, 1419), his son Philip concludes an alliance with England. On May 21, 1420, on behalf of Charles VI (relapses of the disease struck him again and again, as a result, he hardly realized what he was doing), a peace treaty was concluded in Troyes, according to which Henry V was declared regent of France and heir to Charles VI after his death. The treaty was sealed by the marriage of the English king to Catherine, daughter of Charles VI. Their children (Henry VI) were to become rulers of both England and France. In accordance with the treaty, the French king disinherited his own son, the Dauphin Charles, who "behaved unworthily" in order to succeed to the throne.

But Henry V died in the prime of life on August 31, 1422, in the midst of preparations for a campaign in southern France. His brother John, Duke of Bedford, becomes regent for his infant nephew, ten-month-old Henry. In October of the same year, abandoned by everyone, the poor madman Charles VI, whose reign was a model of misfortune, dies. At the funeral procession in Saint-Denis, the herald announced: "May the Lord grant a long life to Henry, by God's grace, the king of England and France, our sovereign." But the inheritance of Henry VI, both mental and territorial, brought him eventually to a fatal end.

Dauphin, during the life of Henry V, won a victory at God (1421), but then suffered defeat after defeat: Mont-en-Vimeux (1421), Cravan (1423), Verneuil (1424). By 1425, the British gradually capture Maine, but due to the intensification of the partisan movement in the captured provinces, which fetters quite significant forces, the pace of advance slows down. In order to completely subjugate France, the English had only to cross the Loire, occupy the western provinces and link up with that part of their forces that was in Guiheny. This was precisely the strategic plan of Bedford, which he began to implement in the autumn of 1428. On October 12, an English army of 4,000 besieged Orleans. The British command attached exceptional importance to the capture of this large, well-fortified city. Located on the right bank of the Loire, in the center of its gentle bend towards Paris, Orléans occupied a key strategic position, controlling the roads that linked northern France with Poitou and Guienne. In the event of its capture, the British got the opportunity to launch a full-scale offensive, since the French did not have fortresses south of Orleans that could stop the enemy’s onslaught (see diagram).

By February 1429, Dauphin Karl had hardly gathered forces to unblock the city, but, trying to destroy the convoy with reinforcements going to the British from Paris, the French suffered another defeat at Rouvre (“Battle of the Herrings”). The situation was getting out of control - the remnants of the troops were completely demoralized, Charles had no troops, no money to hire them, no desire to fight further (the Dauphin was thinking about fleeing to Provence), Orleans was actually left to himself, and the British closed the ring siege. It was the darkest period in the history of France.

Fourth period of the war (1429-1 453 gg.)

The fourth period of the war is the victory of France in the war and the expulsion of the British. So, by March 1429, France's position seemed hopeless. But in this gloomy time, the cause of liberation is taken into their own hands by the people. In April, a girl appeared to the Dauphin, declaring that she was sent by God to save France, lift the siege of Orleans and crown the Dauphin as king in Reims. Jeanne Dark, a 17-year-old peasant woman from the village of Domremy near Lorraine, makes a deep impression on the king and people. There is an unprecedented patriotic upsurge, and, despite the intrigues of traitors, after many delays, Jeanne is appointed commander in chief, and troops gather in Blois. In addition to mercenaries, a large number of volunteers signed up for the army, and on April 27 the detachment moved to Orleans. On May 8, 1429, after 5 (!) days of hostilities, the siege of Orleans, which lasted 7 months, was lifted. For this epic feat, Jeanne was nicknamed the "Maid of Orleans". But due to the slowness of the king, the fighting continued only after a month. On June 10, a company unprecedented in speed and results began in the Loire Valley.

On June 14, Jarjot was taken, on June 17, Beaugency, on June 18, at the Battle of Patay, the British were defeated in a field battle, and Sir John Talbot himself, a thunderstorm of the French, was captured. “The impression of this eight-day company was unimaginable,” a contemporary wrote, “the people and soldiers knew only Jeanne. The great child not only changed happiness, she changed souls. On July 17, after the so-called "Bloody March", when the cities surrendered without a fight on the way to Reims, as soon as Jeanne appeared, the Dauphin was crowned under the name of Charles VII. After that, Jeanne proposed to go without delay to Paris, where at that time there were almost no British, and to take it before the enemy had time to pull the troops. The king, instigated by advisers, became more and more afraid of Jeanne's huge influence on the army and people, and gradually ceased to support her. The king gave permission to storm Paris only on September 8, when the British and Burgundians pulled in reinforcements and came to their senses a little. At the same time, out of envy of the glory of the Virgin, some military leaders took all measures to ensure that “misfortune happened to Jeanne”, preventing the assault from being completed. Instead of sending reinforcements, which Jeanne constantly asked for, the king ordered the troops to be withdrawn to the Loire. Paris then failed to take. Despite her numerous requests, the king was afraid to let Jeanne go home. Charles ordered Jeanne not to leave his court, and as a consolation he raised her and all her relatives to the noble dignity.

Finally, unable to bear the inaction, in the spring of 1430 Jeanne secretly left the court, coming to the aid of the besieged Compiègne. She successfully fought there, but one day, after a sortie, under rather strange circumstances, she was captured. It is likely that she was simply given to the enemy. Karl denied her, he distributed letters saying that the misfortune that happened to the Virgin was solely her own fault, because "she did not follow anyone's advice, but always acted in her own way." Jeanne was accused of pride: "She did not do what the Lord sent her to do, but showed her own will." April 30, 1431 in Rouen, the Virgin of Orleans was burned on charges of witchcraft. Already in 1456 the sentence was cancelled. After 500 years, the church officially recognized Joan of Arc as a saint.

Despite all this, France did not lose the initiative, and gradually began to oust the British. In 1432, Brittany again entered into an alliance with France, and in 1435 a peace treaty was signed with Burgundy in Arras. In 1436 Constable Arthur de Richemont occupied Paris. The talented merchant Jacques Coeur was appointed Minister of Finance, and undertook the reform of the financial and tax system, the revenues of the treasury increased dramatically. In 1444, a truce was signed with England, which lasted until 1449. A permanent mercenary army (ordinance companies) was created, firearms and artillery were significantly developed under the leadership of the Bureau brothers.

At the end of July 1449, after the capture of the fortress of Fougères (Brittany) by the detachment of Francois de Surienne (March 24) and the breaking of the truce of Tours, the war continued. From three sides, the French army invaded Normandy. In the east, from the side of Beauvais, the counts d "O and Saint-Paul crossed the Seine, took Pont-Audemer, Pont-l" Eveque and Lisieux and proceeded to methodically liberate the Bre region. In the south, Dunois entered Verneuil, then linked up with the king at Louviers, captured Mantes and Vernon, and continued on to Argentan. And in the west, the army of the Duke of Brittany Francis I and his brother, the constable de Richemont, took Coutances, Saint-Lo, Carentan and Fougeres. Rouen capitulated in the fall, followed by Harfleur, Bellem, Honfleur and Fresnay-le-Vicomte. The English government reacted belatedly, and then it managed to hastily raise only a small army under the command of Thomas Chiriel, which landed in March 1450 at Cherbourg. But this expeditionary force was utterly defeated by the forces of the Count of Clermont and de Richemont near Bayeux, near the village of Formigny. The last stage of the campaign was marked by the fall of Caen, where most of the British fled, who were besieged by four armies: Kings Charles VII and Rene of Sicily, Duke of Alencon and Chancellor Jean Juvenel, Constable and Count of Clermont, Dunois and Sir d'Orval. The last strongholds of the British are Falaise , Donfront and Cherbourg - fell like overripe fruits. Jean Chartier, without hiding his admiration, wrote: “And the whole Duchy of Normandy was conquered, all burghs, cities and castles submitted to the king in just a year and six days, and this great miracle is worthy of surprise ".

Then began the liberation of Gascony. On June 30, 1451, Bordeaux fell, and in fact the Hundred Years' War ended. But in the fall of 1452, the British made an attempt to regain the southwest. Their troops, under the command of 80-year-old John Talbot, captured Bordeaux and some other cities and fortresses in Guyany. In the spring of 1453, Charles VII personally led the French army to liberate Gascony, and at Castillon his army won a complete victory. On October 19, 1453, Bordeaux surrendered. The Hundred Years War, which lasted 116 years, is over. Only Calais remained in the hands of the British (see diagram).

3. Joan of Arc

In the time of Joan of Arc, it was widely believed that France was destroyed by a woman, and an innocent girl would save. The destroyer meant Queen Isabella of Bavaria, the wife of the mentally ill King Charles VI, who in 1420 signed a treaty tragic for the French kingdom in Troyes about the actual transfer of the crown of France to the English ruling house.It was believed that Isabella pushed her husband, who understood little in real life, to this hated agreement.

Jeanne was born in 1412 in the town of Domremy on the border of France and Lorraine. Under the influence of military disasters that did not bypass her native places, and deep love for her homeland, the conviction matured in her that it was she who should save France, becoming the head of the army that would drive out the British. Being an impressionable and deeply religious girl, she assured that she heard the voices of the saints, who urged her to a military feat and promised her their help. Having learned about the siege of Orleans, she went to the nearest town of Vaucouleurs and convinced the commandant of the castle in her liberation mission. Having received weapons and a war horse, in men's clothing and accompanied by a military detachment, she went through the regions occupied by the Burgundians and the British to Chinon, to the Dauphin. News of her quickly spread throughout France, giving rise to faith in the miraculous role of the Virgin, as the people began to call her. Being in distress, the king placed Jeanne at the head of the army, surrounded by experienced military leaders. Her natural intelligence and observation, receptivity in comprehending the simple military tactics of that time helped her not only behave with dignity in unusual conditions, but also make the right decisions. Her resourcefulness was reinforced by exceptional personal courage, thanks to which she was ahead of everyone in the most dangerous places, captivating others with her example. Jeanne's deep awareness of the task of liberating her beloved homeland as the main goal of her life, her attitude towards soldiers as compatriots who had the same goal, regardless of their social status - all this gave rise to extraordinary enthusiasm in the French army.

At the end of April 1428, Jeanne arrived with an army in Orleans. Within four days, the English fortifications under the city were taken one by one by the French, and on May 8, the British lifted the siege from the fortress. The liberation of Orleans was of exceptional importance not only due to the strategic role of the fortress city. This was the first great French victory after many years of national humiliation and ignominious defeats. She strengthened the faith of Charles VII in the legitimacy of his right to the throne, which he was deprived of under the peace treaty in Troyes. The combination of his struggle for the throne with the war for the liberation and independence of France strengthened the position of Charles VII. Under pressure from Jeanne, he made a trip to Reims, where the French monarchs were crowned. The solemn coronation of Charles VII turned him into the only legitimate sovereign of France in the eyes of the people and governments of other European countries. The ensuing liberation of Champagne dramatically improved the position of the king. However, Jeanne's attempt to storm Paris ended in failure. At the same time, after Joan's impressive early successes, serious concerns arose in the king's inner circle in connection with her growing fame and influence.

In May 1430, in a skirmish near Compiegne, besieged by the Burgundians, she was captured. The Duke of Burgundy sold his captive to the British for 10,000 gold pieces. At the end of 1430, Jeanne was transferred to Rouen - the center of English rule - and handed over to the Inquisition. In an attempt to belittle the significance of the French military victories, the British wanted to prove that they were the work of the devil. The ecclesiastical court, headed by Bishop Cochin, defending the interests of the British, accused Jeanne of witchcraft. The minutes of the process preserved evidence of Jeanne's steadfast behavior and her reasonable answers to the questions of the court, who wanted to confuse and destroy her. The tribunal found her guilty of heresy. In May 1431, she was burned in the central square of Rouen. At the site of the burning, a monument has now been erected and a church has been erected.

Charles VII, who owed so much to Jeanne, did not help her. The death of Jeanne ultimately resolved the difficulties that arose for the king and his entourage in connection with the unusual popularity of the folk heroine. Only a quarter of a century later, Charles VII ordered a review of the trial. Jeanne was found not guilty of heresy, and later even declared a saint.

Conclusion

Hundred Years' War 1337-1453 became the largest war on a European scale, involving through the system of allied ties such political forces and countries as the Empire, Flanders, Aragon and Portugal - on the side of England; Castile, Scotland and the papacy are on the side of France. In this war, closely related to the internal development of the participating countries, the issue of the territorial delimitation of a number of states and political entities - France and England, England and Scotland, France and Flanders, Castile and Aragon was decided. For England, it grew into the problem of the formation of a universal state, which included different peoples; for France - in the problem of its existence as an independent state. The victory of France meant the elimination of England's claims to the French crown and land on the continent. The end of the war in 1453 created favorable conditions for the further development of the process of centralization. At the same time, the French monarchy, in an extreme situation and partly thanks to it, managed to solve important tasks for its own strengthening - to create a standing army and permanent taxes. Joan of Arc played a huge role in France's victory in the Hundred Years' War. The feat of Joan of Arc strengthened the patriotic and national feelings of the French and contributed to a turning point in the war of liberation. It embodies the best qualities of the French people. France emerged from the war extremely devastated, many areas were devastated and plundered. Nevertheless, the victory objectively helped complete the unification of the French lands and develop the country along the path of political centralization. For England, the war also had serious consequences - the English crown abandoned its attempts to create an empire in the British Isles and the continent, national consciousness grew in the country. All this paved the way for the formation of nation-states in both countries.

List of used literature

1. Basovskaya N.I. Hundred Years' War 1337-1453 - M., 1985.

2. Guizot F. History of civilization in France. - M., 1980.

3. History of the Middle Ages / Ed. S.P. Karpov. - M., 1998.

4. Guizot F. History of civilization in France. - M, 1980.

5. Basovskaya N.I. Hundred Years War 1337-1453. - M., 1985.

6. Levandovsky A.P. Jeanne d "Arc. - M., 1982.

7. History of the Middle Ages / Ed. S.P. Karpov. - M., 1998.

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Causes of the Hundred Years War

The war has begun due to disputes over the succession to the throne of the kingdom of France. The English king Edward claimed his rights to the throne of France in connection with the salic law. In addition, the English king wanted return the lands lost by his father. New French King Philip VI he also demanded that the English monarch recognize him as the sovereign ruler of France. Also, the warring parties had a permanent conflict for the possession of Gascony, the English retained the right to its possession in exchange for the recognition of Philip as sovereign king.
But when Edward went to war against France's ally Scotland, the French king began to prepare a plan to capture Gascony and land his troops on the territory of the British Isles.
The Hundred Years War began with the landing of the English army in France, and their further advance on Picardy (a territory in the North-East of France).

The course of the Hundred Years War

As already mentioned, the first move was made by the English king Edward, invading the territory of Picardy in 1337 year. During this period, the French fleet completely dominated the English Channel, which did not allow the British to act more confidently. They constantly had the threat that the French army would land on the territory of England, and besides, in such a situation it was impossible to undertake a massive transfer of troops to the territory of France. The situation has changed in 1340 the year the English fleet defeated the French in Naval Battle of Sluys. Now the British were in complete control of the English Channel.
IN 1346 In the year Edward led a large army and landed near the city of Caen, and then captured the city itself during the day, which shocked the French command, no one expected that the city would fall in just one day. Philip moved towards Edward and the two armies clashed at battle of Crécy . 26 august 1346 year famous battle took place considered to be the beginning of the end of the era of chivalry A. The French army, despite the numerical advantage, was utterly defeated, the French knights could not do anything against the English archers, who showered them with a real hail of arrows, both from the front and from the flank.
In connection with the plague, countries stopped hostilities, as the disease claimed hundreds of times more lives than war. But after the epidemic ceased to rage, in 1356 In the same year, the son of the king, Edward the Black Prince, with a new, even larger army, invaded the territory of Gascony. In response to these actions, the French withdrew their army to meet the British. September 19 both armies converged in the famous battle of poitiers. The French again outnumbered the British. However, despite this advantage, the British, thanks to successful maneuvers, were able to capture the French army and even capture the king of France, John the Good, son of Philip VI. In order to buy back their king, France paid a ransom equal to two years of the country's income. It was a crushing defeat for French military thought, finally, they managed to understand that it was not the numerical advantage that decides the outcome of the battle, but successful command and maneuvers on the battlefield.
First stage of the war ended with the signing of the Breton peace in 1360 year. Edward, as a result of his campaign, received half of the territory of Brittany, all of Aquitaine, Poitiers, Calais. France lost a third of its territory.
The world lasted nine years until the new king of France, Charles V did not declare war on England, wanting to return the previously lost territories. During the armistice, the French managed to reorganize the army and build up their military power again. The English army was carried away by the war in the Iberian Peninsula, because of which the French achieved a number of important victories in the seventies of the fourteenth century, thereby regaining a number of previously captured territories. After the death of King Edward and his son the Black Prince, the young King Richard II took the throne. Scotland took advantage of the inexperience of the king, thereby starting a war. The British lost this war, having suffered a heavy defeat at the Battle of Otterburn. England was forced to conclude an unfavorable peace for her.
After Richard, ascended the throne of England Henry IV planning to take revenge on the French. But the offensive had to be debugged because of the difficult situation in the country, it was basically a war with Scotland and Wales. But when the situation in the country returned to normal, a new offensive began in 1415 year.
Henry himself was unable to carry out his invasion of France, but his son Henry V managed to do this. The English king landed in France and decided to move on Paris, but he did not have enough food and the French put forward a large army to meet him, outnumbering the British. Henry was forced to prepare for defense at the small settlement of Agincourt.
There began the famous battle of Agincourt (25 October 1415) , as a result of which, the English archers utterly defeated the heavy French horsemen and inflicted a crushing defeat on France. As a result of this victory, the king of England managed to capture the territory of Normandy and key cities: Caen and Rouen. Over the next five years, Henry managed to capture almost half of all French lands. To stop the takeover of France, King Charles VI concluded a truce with Henry, the main condition was the inheritance of the throne of France. From that moment on, all the kings of England had the title of King of France.
Heinrich's defeat is over V 1421 of the year when the Scottish troops entered the battle, defeating the English army at the Battle of God. In this battle, the British lost their command, which is why they lost the battle. Shortly thereafter, Henry V dies, and his young son takes the throne.
Despite the defeat, the British quickly recovered and already in 1423 year they answered the French with revenge, defeating them in Battle of Cravan (31 July 1423) , once again destroying an army outnumbered. It was followed by several more important victories for the English army, and France was in a serious, embarrassing situation.
IN 1428 year there was a turning point battle of Orleans. It was on the day of this battle that a bright figure appeared - Joan of Arc, breaking through the defense of the British and thereby, brought an important victory for France. The following year, the French army under the command of Jeanne d'Arc again defeated the British at the Battle of Pat. This time, the numerical advantage of the British played a cruel joke on them, this battle can be called a mirror of the battle of Agincourt.
IN 1431 Jeanne was captured by the British and executed, but this could no longer affect the outcome of the war, the French rallied and continued to attack decisively. From that moment on, the French army began to liberate one city after another, while driving the British out of their country. The last blow to the power of England came in 1453 year at the Battle of Castiglion. This battle became famous due to the first successful use of artillery, which played a key role in the battle. The British were utterly defeated and all their attempts to turn the tide of the war were completely over.
This was the last battle of the Hundred Years' War, followed by the capitulation of the garrison of Bordeaux - the last key focus of the British defense in Gascony.

Consequences of the war

No official peace treaty was signed within a decade, but the war stopped and the British renounced their claim to the throne. The British failed to achieve their goals, despite the initial success of the campaigns, only one large city of Calais and nearby territories remained in their possession. Because of the defeat in England, the War of the White and Scarlet Roses began.
The role of infantry on the battlefield was increased, and chivalry gradually declined. For the first time there were permanent regular armies, instead of the militia. The English bow demonstrated its advantage over the crossbow, but most importantly - started the development of firearms in Western Europe and for the first time artillery firearms were successfully used.

One of the most famous conflicts of the Middle Ages was the Hundred Years War. This conflict broke out on the basis of the desire of the kings of England to conquer the French kingdom. Two periods are clearly traced in this conflict: the first - when the throne of France is under the threat of conquest by the British, and the second - when the throne is practically conquered by the English kings.

Each of these periods has its own symbolism:

The first period was marked by the victory of England in Cressy and Poitiers and the capture of the king of France. Here appear such prominent personalities as Constable Bertrand Dugueclin and King Charles V.
The second period began with the civil war of the Armagnacs against the Burgundians, which became the launching pad in the victory of England at Acincourt. The throne of France was practically in the hands of England. During this period, awakening in him the will to win.

Beginning of the Hundred Years War

The long struggle between France and England, known as the Hundred Years' War, was not really a war and lasted over a hundred years (116 years: from 1337 to 1453). Five kings of France and the same number of English sovereigns have consistently participated in this struggle. Three generations lived in a constant atmosphere of unrest and fighting. The Hundred Years' War is divided into a series of battles followed by periods of relative peace or truce.

After the end of hostilities, robberies, famine and plague began, ending in the ruin of cities and towns. Having unleashed this war, England still suffered less than France, on whose lands the battles unfolded. As a result, the two warring parties, having undergone significant changes over a century, emerged from such a long conflict.

Three Pretenders to the French Throne

In 1328, the French monarch Charles IV the Handsome died, and with him the senior line of the Capetian house came to an end. After his death, there were three claimants to the throne:

Philip, Count of Valois, son of Charles de Valois, younger brother of Philip Fair. Philip was one of the leaders of the French bourgeoisie. His father was very influential during the reign of Charles IV, and after his death, Philip, Count of Valois becomes regent of the kingdom.
Edward III of England: The son of Edward II and Isabella of France, Edward III is the grandson of Philip of the Fair. But at that time it was quite difficult to erect an English nobleman to the throne of France.
Philippe d'Evreux: grandson of Philip III who married his first cousin Jeanne de Navarro (daughter of Louis X). Philippe d'Evreux has become king of Navarre, and claims the crown by right of his wife. Philippe d'Evreux became the father of Charles Ploch.

French succession conflict

The Peers of France elect Philippe de Valois as King of France. His advantage was that he was not close to either the British or the Navarrese. To get around the other two contenders, Philippe de Valois invoked the Salic law, according to this old Frankish law, the transfer of the crown by women was prohibited.

A new king was elected, but his legitimacy remained rather shaky.

If Edward III calmly accepts his loss in the fight for the crown, then the King of Navarre does not agree with this. Jeanne de Navarro's son, Charles Bud, will never accept exile and will do his best to harm the Valois.

After his accession to the throne, Philip will begin to assert his power, he will hasten to defeat the Flemish army that rebelled against his comite Louis de Nevers on Mount Cassel in 1328. Then Philip will remind the King of England that he owes him possessions in Guyenne. Indeed, the King of England still held part of Aquitaine and was therefore a direct vassal of the King of France. The meeting took place in the cathedral of Amiens in 1329.

The real reason for the confrontation in the Hundred Years War

The respect shown by the English ruler to the king of France showed that the conflict of succession was only a pretext for war. Edward III simply wants to keep his possessions in Aquitaine. And when Philip wanted to seize the duchy of Guyenne, the last stronghold of the king of England in France, Edward III unleashed a war. At the heart of the conflict, the main reason was to expand the royal domain, or, for Edward, to maintain his position.

Philip took Bordeaux in 1337 and was soon supported by the Count of Flanders. Edward III reacted immediately by imposing an embargo on the export of English wool, which allowed the Flemings to enrich themselves economically (Flemish cloth is sold throughout Europe). Soon there was a new uprising in Flanders, the rebels of Count Ghent take the side of the English king.

Then, from Westminster, Edward publicly challenges Philip. A few months later, with his Flemish allies, Edward publicly assumes the title of King of France. In 1339, the first battles took place, Edward destroys the Tierace campaign. Further, English operations were not so successful on the lands of France, but at sea the French fleet of Ekuse was crushed. In 1340, the two sovereigns sign a truce, which was extended until 1345.

War of Succession in Brittany (1341-1364)

Since 1341, another conflict has been unleashed, opposing the French and the British. A war will unfold for the succession of the Duchy of Brittany after the death of Duke John III. This war was called the "War of the Two Jeans". There was a clash of two clans:

Supporters of Charles de Blois and his wife Jeanne de Pentiviere (niece of John III), who received the support of King Philip VI.
Supporters of Jean de Montfort (brother of John III) and his wife Joan of Flanders, who, having taken possession of almost the entire duchy, went to seek an alliance with Edward III.

At first, events seemed favorable to the "protege" of the King of France, when Jean de Montfort was taken prisoner after the capture of Nantes. However, his wife, Jeanne de Flandres, organizes resistance and manages to bring back reinforcements from England. The British are victorious at Morlaix. The conflict drags on and the local population suffers from atrocities on both sides. In 1364, during the Battle of Aurai, Charles de Blois was killed. The son of Jean de Montfort can now assert his rights to the crown.

french insanity

The French and English resumed hostilities in 1346, when Edward III landed at the Cotentin and invaded Normandy. The capture of Normandy happened swiftly, and the troops of Edward III approached Paris. Philip VI of Valois, king of France, was shocked by such unexpected and swift actions of the British, he tried his best to quickly gather his army.

It would seem that under all favorable circumstances, the British campaign against Paris this time was unsuccessful. The forces of the English army were weakening, it was difficult to move along the roads of the enemy devastated country, while the forces of the French were rapidly increasing and gaining power. Edward's troops were forced to retreat to the county of Pontier, which was given to him as an inheritance from his mother, and there Edward hoped to rest and gather strength.

On August 16, the English army crossed the Seine. The French, having gathered a large and prepared army, followed them. Philip ordered his subjects to destroy all the bridges on the Somme in the rear of the English, and to seize the ford at Blanchetache, which is below Abbeville. But the British forces were still able to capture this crossing and approach Crecy to join their fleet. However, the fleet was not in sight, and Edward had no choice but to take the battle with the French, who by that time twice outnumbered him. Edward ordered his army to refresh themselves and get off their horses to take the fight on foot. So the knights and barons, by order of the monarch, were in this battle without horses.

On August 26, the English army, rested, is waiting for the French on the heights. Edward III skillfully organized his troops so that they were ready to withstand the attack of the French cavalry: his archers were placed in such a way that each group stood in an arc. Behind them, carts containing a supply of arrows are also arranged in an arc, helping in the protection of horses and riders. Anarchy reigned on the French side! The army left Abbeville early in the morning, the overconfident French think they can easily defeat the enemy, and the organization of the army leaves much to be desired. But, seeing the positions of the British, the king of France became nervous, he tries to send his troops, but in vain - it was already too late. The rearguard, trying to join the vanguard, is such a mess that even the banners do not distinguish one from the other.

Nevertheless, three groups are finally formed: the Genoese crossbowmen, the Comte d'Alençon's men, and finally the king's men. A fierce storm broke out, making the land muddy and impassable. In such a situation, how to reload crossbows? The warriors are tired of the difficult transition, because weapons and ammunition weigh up to 40 kg. But they advance through a hail of arrows so dense that “it was like snow,” says Freussart. People are running from all sides, sweeping away the soldiers. The king is furious. The horsemen have been ordered to kill the fleeing infantry and attack! Knights fight bravely, of course, but, alas, in vain. The king himself rushes into battle, two horses are killed under him. With the onset of darkness, everything ends, the English victory becomes unexpected for the French.

Crécy's defeat

Crécy marks a turning point in military strategy, with bombardiers appearing in battle for the first time. Although not very effective due to their limited field of action, they nevertheless frightened the French troops and cavalry, thus contributing to the confusion in the French army.

In addition to the war, a terrible plague came to France and engulfed all of Europe. Starting from the East, more precisely from the highlands of Iran, where the plague was endemic and began as being carried only by a certain type of rat, it assumed epidemic proportions, akin to a forest fire in 1347. The main reason for this rapid spread was the overpopulation of the main countries of Europe, which increased the vulnerability of the population. Residents of cities and religious communities were especially affected due to their dense concentration in one area.

The plague spread to Italy, southern France, Spain, and in 1349 reached Germany, Central Europe and England. When asked who is to blame for this cataclysm, some have found scapegoats: the Jews. Accused of spreading the plague, they were killed or burned by the thousands; bonfires were set up in Strasbourg, Mainz, Speyer and Worms. Then the Pope began to threaten those who persecuted the Jews with excommunication. Others saw the plague as God's punishment and instigated atonement for their mistakes. The plague claimed a third of the population before disappearing in the middle of the century.

Black Death

The plague was brought to France in 1348 by merchant ships coming from the East. Since the French did not know the causes of the disease, they did not treat the sick, and did not bury the dead, which continued and increased the scale of the infection.

New defeats

After the capture of Crécy, Edward begins the siege of Calais. After several months of siege, six townspeople, barefoot, in shirts and with ropes around their necks, went to the King of England to entrust their lives and the key to the city into his hands. Thanks to these actions, the destruction of Calais was avoided, and the lives of the townspeople were saved by the intervention of Queen Philippa of Hainaut. This was a victory for England, and thus the lands remain English until 1558.

In 1350, Philip VI dies, his son John the Good takes the throne. Almost immediately, the new king is faced with the intrigues of Charles Bad, King of Navarre, who does not hesitate to plot assassinations and alliances with England. John II the Good captured him at Rouen, but Normandy was still in the hands of the supporters of the king of Navarre. Taking advantage of this conflict, the British carry out two campaigns:

In one part of Brittany, Henry Lancaster (the future king of England) is advanced.
The son of King Edward, the Prince of Wales, is sent to another part of Guyenne. Nicknamed the Black Prince because of the color of his armor, the prince leads bloody expeditions into the French countryside, plundering and destroying them.

Faced with the raids of the black prince, John the Good is unable to react as he lacks money. He begins to unite the countries in 1356 in order to raise an army. To effectively pursue the English, he uses only horsemen.

The battle will take place south of Poitiers, in hilly terrain cut by obstacles, so John II decides that the battle would be best fought with infantry. Believing in their victory, the French take the road, and on the hilly terrain they become easy prey for the English archers. As a result, both combat corps begin to randomly retreat. The battle quickly turns in favor of the Black Prince.

Feeling defeated, John decides to send his three eldest sons to Chauvigny. Only the younger Philip Le Hardy (the future Duke of Burgundy), aged 14, remained to support his father, he uttered these famous words: “Father, keep to your right, father, keep to your left!”.

But the king was surrounded and captured by the enemy. The defeat was disastrous, ten years after Crécy, the kingdom plunged into the worst crisis in its history. In the absence of the king, the northern peers meet and decide to release Charles Bud in the hope that he will protect the country from defeat. But the traitor Navarro comes into contact with the British in order to appropriate new fiefdoms.

City riots and jacquerie

Urban unrest: During this time in Paris, the bourgeoisie rises against the nobility and the Dauphin, the future Charles V. Under the leadership of Etienne Marcel, the leader of the merchants (who was like the mayor of Paris), they demand the abolition of certain privileges and control of taxes. In fact, Étienne Marcel dreams of making his city autonomous, like some Flemish or Italian cities.

One day in 1358, he broke into the Dauphin's room, killing his marshals before his eyes. Poor Dauphin, at 18, is feeble and unable to carry a sword. But miraculously, the Dauphin manages to escape, and soon he besieges Paris with his troops. While the Dauphine is preparing to hand over the keys to the city to Charles Bud, Étienne Marcel is killed. So, the heir to the throne freely and triumphantly enters the capital. Later he would erect the Bastille to keep the rebellious Parisians out of the way.

Jacquerie: In the countryside, because of the unpopularity of the nobility after the defeat at Poitiers and the suffering caused by the war and the plague, a revolt arose. Jacques (nickname of Jacques Bonhomme) set fire to castles and threatened the lords. The repression, especially in the region of Beauvais and Meaux, was terrible, and thousands of peasants were killed.

french riot

Imprisoned in the Tower of London, John the Good promised his captor, Edward III, a ransom of 4 million gold crowns in exchange for his release, as well as all the possessions of the Plantagenets. But Dauphin Charles, surrounded by the halo of his victory over the bourgeois Parisians, does not want to hear this.

Edward III attempted a new takeover aimed at getting him crowned at Reims. Exhausted by long passages, the British were forced to leave the territory of France. The Treaty of Brétigny was signed in 1360, the British received new possessions in France. King Jean-le-Bon was released, but after a few months he surrendered: his son Louis d'Anjou, who had been used as a hostage, fled to join his wife.

Finally, John II died in captivity in 1364. Charles V was crowned and began the restoration of France. A cultivated collector of rare manuscripts and works of art, fond of writers, artists, musicians, he restored the Louvre and founded the royal library. Hardworking, he knew how to surround himself with good ministers. Thanks to the new tax on salt, he restores the economy of the kingdom. Wisely analyzing the lessons of the failures at Poitiers, he reorganized the army: he abolished the epic cavalcades of the feudal barons! From now on, the main element will be the formation of a militia that is fluent in guerrilla operations, and not carrying out aggressive front-line battles with a huge number of victims.

The birth of a franc

After paying part of his ransom, Jean-le-Bon is released from captivity. In 1360, he issues a new currency, the franc, to commemorate his liberation. This money is in addition to the golden ecu of St. Louis and the silver pound. The 1360 coin depicts the king on horseback, the second coin, issued in 1365, will depict the king on foot (“franc on foot”).

Bertrand Dugueclin, Constable of France

Bertrand Dugueclin was born near Rennes in 1320. At birth, he had dark skin, almost black, and was so ugly that his father did not want to recognize him. Once the child rebelled against his brothers and knocked over a long table, the nun reassured him and predicted that he would someday become a military commander and that Lily would bow before him. Later, in a tournament where he was banned from participating, he defeats all of his opponents. He cultivates in himself the strength of character and sculpts the body of an athlete, which will subsequently bring him a high position under the king.

Indeed, in 1370, Charles V presents Bertrand Du Guesclin with the sword of the constable of France (chief of armies). Until that date, the proud Bretrand had led a group of peasants that he had trained to fight like "partisans": an ax hanging around the neck signified the pursuit of the tormentors of the English and the conquest of their lands. While Henry de Lancaster leads a mounted campaign in Brittany, Bertrand excels in the defense of Rennes. Charles de Blois knights him in 1357. From now on, during the conflict of succession to the throne of Brittany, Du Guesclin will constantly be at the side of Jean de Montfort.

Legend or reality

The legend of the origin of the Hecklen family says that the fleet of the Saracen naves, led by a king named Akkin, approached the banks of the Breton and devastated the surroundings. Charlemagne personally participated in the battle and drove the invaders back into the sea. The panic was such that the Saracens left their tents and loot on the shore; in the midst of all this they found a child, Akkin's own son. Charlemagne christened him and became his godfather. He assigned tutors to him and made him a knight, giving him the castle of Glay, which became the fiefdom of Sir Glay-Akkin.

Constable serving his king

In 1357, Bertrand Du Guesclin was in the service of King Charles V. He participated in all the battles between the royal troops and the British and Navarre. He won his first victory at Cocherel (near Evreux), in 1364, defeating Charles Ploch's army. In the same year he was defeated at the Battle of d'Aure while attempting to conquer Brittany.

Geklen was taken prisoner, and the king immediately hastened to pay a ransom for him. Then Bertrand Du Guesclin began to fight against the scourge of the time: the "Big Companies": unemployed mercenaries gathered in the Côte d'Or. These famous companies engaged in various atrocities. A solution had to be found to get rid of these marauders.

Bertrand Du Guesclin was the only person with enough power to collect them. He collected and took them with him to fight in Spain. The future constable led the fight against Peter the Cruel, associated with the British, who disputed the kingdom of Castile with his brother Henry of Trastamar. Dugueclin successfully participates in the conquest of Castile, but is captured by the Black Prince.

The king paid the ransom again. Freed, Bertrand Du Guesclin managed to defeat his enemy at the Battle of Montiel in 1369.

As for the Big Companies, they gradually fell into decline. From 1370 to 1380, with the help of personally developed tactics of pursuing the enemy in well-defended territories and from fortresses, Bertrand Du Guesclin succeeded in expelling the British from almost all of the occupied French territory (Aquitaine, Poitou, Normandy). In 1380 he died at the headquarters of Châteauneuf-de-Randon in Auvergne. Charles V buried him, which was unique for a person who is not a king, in the royal basilica of Saint-Denis, next to the kings of France. The king fell ill and soon joined him.

Appointment of the Dauphin

During the reign of Jean le Bon, it was customary to crown the Dauphin. From now on, the first heir to the crown receives the lands and, consequently, the title of Dauphin. The first Dauphin will be Charles V, later this title will serve to appoint the heir to the throne of France (usually the eldest son of the king).

Charles VI "Beloved" or "Fool"

Before his death, Charles V abolished the tax levied on every household, thus depriving the monarchy of resources. When he died, his son Charles VI was only twelve years old.

In fact, his uncles, the Dukes of Anjou, Berry, Burgundy and Bourbon, began to rule the kingdom. Taking advantage of the situation, they squander the kingdom's resources and decide to impose new taxes for their own personal benefit. In 1383, there was an uprising of the "Mayotins": Parisians, armed with mallets, took to the streets to express their discontent.

In 1388, Charles VI took over the affairs of the kingdom, he begins to persecute his uncles and remembers his father's former advisers, whom the princes call "Marmosettes" (among them Constable Olivier de Clisson). For his subjects, Charles VI becomes "Beloved". In 1392 there are drastic changes in the life of the king. Crossing the forest of Man, during an expedition against the Duke of Brittany, the king confuses the members of his retinue with his enemies and attacks them, brandishing his sword. Six knights were killed before he was tied up.

The king's madness intensifies next year. The inhabitants of the kingdom fear the return of uncle Charles VI to power. But overcoming bouts of madness, the king's consciousness periodically clears up, and he rules wisely enough. No one dares to take the king under guardianship then.

From 1392, Queen Isabella of Bavaria presided over the existing regency council. After the clash of two factions, a serious civil war began:

Party of Orléans (later called Armagnacs) of Charles VI's brother: Louis of Orléans (grandfather of the future Louis XII).
Burgundian party of Charles VI's powerful uncle: Philip the Bold. Duke of Burgundy, Philip inherited the inheritance entrusted by his father, Jean the Good, he receives Flanders through his marriage. Possessing a huge inheritance, his descendants are gradually separated from the kingdom of France.

Meanwhile, France is planning a rapprochement with England. The King of England, Richard II marries the daughter of Charles VI. The two sovereigns meet but do not reach a peace agreement. In 1399 Richard II was overthrown by Henry of Lancaster, this was the end of the attempted truce between the two kingdoms. The rivalry continues to grow between Louis of Orléans, who leads the French army, and the new Duke of Burgundy, Jean Saint-Pour. The latter killed Louis d'Orleans in 1407 in the Marais district of Paris. This assassination marks the beginning of the civil war. The victim's son, Charles d'Orléans, asks for the support of his father-in-law, Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac (hence the name of the faction).

Armagnacs and Burgundians compete for the lands and resources of the kingdom, not shy about turning to the British for help. Jean San Perparvian occupies a high position in Paris. The Duke is very popular and has the backing of the University and the backing of a huge meat corporation led by Simon Kaboche.

In 1413 they carried out a major administrative reform: the Kabohian order. But unrest continues among the Parisian bourgeoisie, close to the Armagnacs. Count Bernard VII becomes mayor of Paris and appointed constable by Queen Isabella of Bavaria.

The fratricidal quarrels that engulf France did not escape the attention of the new King of England, Henry V Lancaster. The latter takes the opportunity to resume the war, he lands with his troops in Normandy. Henry V is the son of Henry IV, the usurper who ordered the assassination of Richard II, heir to the Plantagenets. He wants to reconsider the British claim to the French lands, and, if possible, to return the part of the state lost due to the campaigns of Bertrand Du Guesclin.

After landing in France, the British set off for Calais. The French army is organized around the Armagnacs. Again, they have a numerical advantage, but despite the defeats at Crécy and Poitiers, the French chivalry has not lost its arrogance and arrogance.

Despite the advice of the Duke of Berry, the French decide to attack the British in a narrow passage where the army will be impossible to deploy. Tired from a long night of waiting in the rain, the knights are blinded by the sun, their heavy cuirasses impede movement, and they are greeted by a volley of English arrows, for which the knights become easy prey. The English infantry in a very short time begins to push the French knights, inflicting massive blows on them with swords. The prisoners are killed. Agincourt is one of the deadliest battles of the Middle Ages with 10,000 casualties on the French side.

So, many French barons were killed, Charles of Orleans, the king's nephew and father of the future Louis XII, was captured and would remain in England for 25 years. The French chivalry, which has remained the elite of the kingdom for two centuries, is declining. His undeniable virtues, such as courage, faith and sacrifice, are swept away by military strategy. Once again, a handful of infantry defeated a horde of knights.

Civil War

The inaction of the Armagnac clan, still in power, prompted Henry V to expand the scope of his interests. He arrives in Normandy and conquers it. In 1417, Jean Saint-Pour and Isabella of Bavaria settled in Troyes, becoming an opposition government to the rule of the Dauphin.

In Paris, Armagnacs are associated only with horror. In 1418, a violent riot led to their expulsion from the city. Count Bernard VII and his men are murdered in cold blood. On the night of August 20, looting and massacres continue. There are over ten thousand dead. The Parisian Prevost comes to the Dauphin (future Charles VII) and organizes his escape. The 15-year-old Dauphin fled to Bourges in the Duchy of Berry, which he had inherited from his great uncle. This was a triumph for Jean St. Pour and his English allies.

The Duke of Burgundy manipulates King Charles VI and his Queen Isabella of Bavaria. Jean Saint-Pour, who has entered into an alliance with the British for his own interest, is surprised by the English invasion of French territory. He wants to make one last attempt at reconciliation with the Dauphin. Both sides seem to be inclined to end their rivalry, which serves only English interests.

The meeting took place on the bridge of Montero in 1419, Jean Saint-Pour goes there unprotected. It was then that the Dauphin's adviser, Tanguille du Châtel, stabbed him with an axe, Jean-Saint-Pour was beaten and killed. Naturally, the murder horrifies the country and revives the strife between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians.

Charles VI is persuaded by the British to disinherit his son, and signs the shameful Treaty of Troyes (1420). The daughter of Charles VI is given to the King of England, who becomes the successor to the throne of France. He made a triumphant entry into Paris with Charles VI. So the English king will sit on the royal throne of France!

A reconciliation between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians was to lead to the restoration of the French. But this did not happen, the assassination of Jean San Pour plunges the country into the darkest times.