The Hundred Years’ War was not just a single conflict—it was a complex, drawn-out series of wars, truces, betrayals, and political intrigue that lasted from 1337 to 1453. This epic struggle between the kingdoms of England and France fundamentally reshaped both nations and had far-reaching consequences for European history.

At the heart of the Hundred Years’ War was a dynastic dispute over the French crown. When Charles IV of France died without a male heir in 1328, the question of succession sparked controversy. Edward III of England, whose mother was Charles IV’s sister, claimed the French throne. However, the French rejected his claim, citing Salic Law, which prohibited inheritance through the female line, and instead crowned Philip VI of Valois. This sparked a rivalry that escalated into full-blown war, with Edward III asserting his right by invading French territory.

The early phase of the war was dominated by a series of stunning English victories. With a smaller, better-trained army, England introduced new military tactics, particularly the use of longbowmen. The Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the legendary Battle of Poitiers in 1356 demonstrated the effectiveness of English strategy, with massive French losses and the capture of King John II of France. The English army’s use of terrain, disciplined formations, and devastating volleys of arrows gave them an edge over the heavily armored French knights.

Despite these early wins, England faced significant challenges. The Black Death ravaged both countries in the 1340s, halting many campaigns and causing immense social and economic disruption. The war entered periods of uneasy truces, shifting alliances, and internal revolts. France, under Charles V, began a slow but steady reconquest of territories lost to the English. Meanwhile, internal strife in England, including the Peasants’ Revolt and political instability, weakened the momentum.

A new phase began with the rise of Henry V of England, one of the most iconic monarchs of the Middle Ages. His campaign culminated in the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where English forces again triumphed against overwhelming odds. Agincourt is widely studied and searched for online, particularly for its dramatization in Shakespeare’s Henry V and its symbolic role in English history.

Following Agincourt, the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 was signed, naming Henry V as heir to the French throne. However, this victory was short-lived. Henry V died in 1422, leaving his infant son Henry VI to inherit the throne of both England and France. The dual monarchy was fragile and contested. France rallied under a powerful new symbol of resistance: Joan of Arc.

Joan of Arc’s emergence in 1429 marked a turning point. Claiming divine visions, she inspired the French to lift the siege of Orléans and turned the tide of the war. Her courage, conviction, and martyrdom—burned at the stake in 1431—transformed her into a national heroine and saint.

After Joan’s death, the French continued to reclaim lost territory. Under Charles VII, France reasserted control, pushed the English back, and ultimately expelled them from all mainland territories except Calais. The final blow came with the Battle of Castillon in 1453, considered the last major engagement of the Hundred Years’ War. England, exhausted and divided by internal conflict, abandoned its ambitions in France.