Conduct and Course of the War
The 1337 army of France was very upper class based. Meaning that there were many knights and many cavalrymen. While this seems beneficial at first upon closer examination you find that the knights and cavalrymen in the French army also rejected any, "inferior," peasant foot-soldiers. This likely greatly diminished the possible size of the French army. The English army, on the other hand, welcomed the foot-soldiers and, in fact, came to depend upon them. While the English also had many knights and some cavalrymen like the French they had an advantage due to their openness and acceptance towards peasant soldiers.
Early Phases of the War
Edward III quickly invaded France, though he was originally unsuccessful. Later in 1346 he turned the tide of war in the sense that he battled differently, more ferociously. He stormed Normandy, but was quickly met by a much larger French force at Crécy. Because the French had a staggeringly large force compared to the English army, they didn't feel there was much need for a plan of action and instead ran wildly into the battle. The English took control of the moment and won themselves a great victory with their longbows and proceeded to take the French port of Calais.
There was, however, still much of the war to undergo. While Edward III fought in France his son Edward, or the Black Prince, fought alongside him. The Black Prince, while he possessed an army, didn't engage the enemy in battle, but instead waged a completely different type of campaign. He and his army pillaged the French country and burned and looted villages, towns and cities. Finally the French were able to stop the Black Prince and forced him to engage in battle. He did and he won. The French King John II (1350-1364) was also captured at this battle, later called the BAttle of Poitiers (1356). By doing so Edward was able to, for his father, end the first part of the Hundred Years' War. The French called for the Peace of Brétigny and payed a large ransom for the return of their king in 1359 (Spielvogel). While the English had won the early stages of the war they also realized that they couldn't muster up enough resources and man power to take all of France and thus Edward III relinquished his rights to the French throne and with it the dreams of taking it.
While there was a call for peace the English never stopped pillaging and John II's son, Charles V (1364-1380) created an army to combat the English and take back lost lands. He didn't, however, engage in open battle like his father, but instead slowly ate away at the enemy forces until they were reduced to nothing but bands of unpaid mercenaries roaming the French countryside for money and food. This seemed the end of the war.
There was, however, still much of the war to undergo. While Edward III fought in France his son Edward, or the Black Prince, fought alongside him. The Black Prince, while he possessed an army, didn't engage the enemy in battle, but instead waged a completely different type of campaign. He and his army pillaged the French country and burned and looted villages, towns and cities. Finally the French were able to stop the Black Prince and forced him to engage in battle. He did and he won. The French King John II (1350-1364) was also captured at this battle, later called the BAttle of Poitiers (1356). By doing so Edward was able to, for his father, end the first part of the Hundred Years' War. The French called for the Peace of Brétigny and payed a large ransom for the return of their king in 1359 (Spielvogel). While the English had won the early stages of the war they also realized that they couldn't muster up enough resources and man power to take all of France and thus Edward III relinquished his rights to the French throne and with it the dreams of taking it.
While there was a call for peace the English never stopped pillaging and John II's son, Charles V (1364-1380) created an army to combat the English and take back lost lands. He didn't, however, engage in open battle like his father, but instead slowly ate away at the enemy forces until they were reduced to nothing but bands of unpaid mercenaries roaming the French countryside for money and food. This seemed the end of the war.
Renewal of the War
The English King Henry V (1413-1422) waited. He sat back in England for the perfect time to once again invade France to settle the score and take the throne. He waited until 1415 when, after about two years of infighting, France was in too much turmoil to notice English activity much less be prepared for it. So Henry V landed at the French Agincourt in 1415 and took the French nobles by surprise killing 6,000 of their men and only loosing 300.
After demonstrating such force at the battle of Agincourt, King Henry V formed an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, one of the men who was leading an army in the French civil war agains French King Charles VI at the time. This seemingly unstoppable alliance forced King Charles VI into a treaty in which Henry V was named heir to the French throne, he was married to Charles VI's daughter, Catherine and England was given power of N. France.
After demonstrating such force at the battle of Agincourt, King Henry V formed an alliance with the Duke of Burgundy, one of the men who was leading an army in the French civil war agains French King Charles VI at the time. This seemingly unstoppable alliance forced King Charles VI into a treaty in which Henry V was named heir to the French throne, he was married to Charles VI's daughter, Catherine and England was given power of N. France.
Joan of Arc
Born in 1412, Joan of Arc was a simple peasant girl who had visions from God and from those visions she learned her God given purpose. Her goal was to liberate France and see that the dauphin was crowned king. Both of these goals she fulfilled after, in 1429, she traveled to the dauphin's court and made her case as to why she should travel with the army to Orleans. Her wish was approved and upon seeing this lowly girl with them the French army found new vigor and the tide of the war turned. Orleans was seized for the French Kingdom and in 1429 the dauphin was crowned king and named Charles VII (1422-1461) (Spielvogel).
Soon Joan was captured by the English allies of Burgundy in 1430. This was a huge English success as she inspired the French in so great a way it effected the war. The English, however, realized they had no plans for the captured Joan, so at 19 she was burned at the stake on account of being a heretic and of practicing witchcraft seeing as how she was believed to have received the visions from the devil. Later in 1920 she was made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church
Soon Joan was captured by the English allies of Burgundy in 1430. This was a huge English success as she inspired the French in so great a way it effected the war. The English, however, realized they had no plans for the captured Joan, so at 19 she was burned at the stake on account of being a heretic and of practicing witchcraft seeing as how she was believed to have received the visions from the devil. Later in 1920 she was made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church
End of the War
Though the English had captured and killed Joan it was already too late. The French armies had been inspired and were taking back the lands lost. The French were able to combat the English with a new war machine, the cannon. With the inspiration of Joan, the newfound weapon, the cannon, the death of essential English military leaders and the fragile English government under Henry VI (1422-1471) the French were able to, by 1453, finally end the Hundred Years' War by taking back all of its lands previously lost except that of the town of Calais which remained English until about 1553.