| Copyright | ||
|
Home The Hundred Years' War with France Edward III and Richard II 1327-1399; Part 1 |
Edward III and Richard II 1327-1399; Part 1In Edward III's reign the main thread of the time is not far to seek. It is found at once in the war with France. Plainly, however, the "Hundred Years' War" - for so it is named - will lead far beyond the reign of Edward III. War did not indeed go on all the time from 1338 till 1453. There were truces now and again, and often long ones. But, speaking generally, for a hundred years England and France were enemies. In following this extended period of history, which covers the reign of five English kings, it is convenient to fix in the mind some landmarks.The war may be divided into two periods of great success and two periods of failure; two huge waves of victory, each slipping away in its turn into a deep trough of defeat. The first wave covers the early part of Edward II's reign. We have the Battles of Crecy and Poitiers, and the Treaty of Bretigny, in which the French king admits the English claim to the south-west of France. This is followed by a time of decline in the latter part of Edward Ill's reign, and of complete failure in Richard IPs, when a French force lands in Sussex. The second wave begins to rise with Henry IV, and reaches its crest with Henry V. He outdoes glory of Crecy and Poitiers by his victory at Agincourt; he marries the King of France's daughter, and is called his heir; his infant son Henry VI is crowned King of France in Paris. The summit of Henry V's glory is marked by a treaty, the Treaty of Troyes, just as the Treaty of Bretigny had been the highest point of Edward Ill's achievements. But then came the second period of failure. First, Joan of Arc, and then the breach with Burgundy shook English power. By degrees all was lost that had been won, till, in 1453, nothing was left to England but Calais. |
Chronology |
| copyright by uus-ununseptium.info |