Final Period.
Chronology is taken from various sources listed in the
associated Bibliography on the Hundred Years's War.
Preliminary
Summary.
1154
Accession of Henri 'Plantagenet' d'Anjou, Maine and Touraine, to
the English throne. Henry II began the Plantagenet dynasty in England. By inheritance (from his mother's side and sustained by force of arms) Henry II held ducal claim to Normandy. In 1152, he had become duke of Aquitaine by marriage to the heriess, Eleanor. King Henry II of England, as a duke, held far more French land in direct vassalage than did the French king. His son, Richard 'The Lionheart' managed to protect most of it from seizure by the French king Philippe II Auguste.
1214
King Philippe II Auguste of France defeated English-German coalition armies in the 'War of Bouvines', essentially confirming his earlier confiscation of Normandy, Anjou, and Maine from the English duke-king John I 'Lackland'. This effectively removed any direct claims of English Plantagenet kings to the French domains associated with the French-Norman conquest of England in 1066.
1242
King Louis IX (Saint Louis) defeated the English king Henry III and a rebel force of French nobles in the Santonge War of 1242. The result was confiscation by the French crown of large portions of the former 'Aquitaine'. However, Louis IX's main ambition was to devote his energies toward a crusade to the Levant, and he desired to assuage the king of England with some return of French ducal land in Guyenne.
1259
Treaty of Paris: Henry III of England acknowledged surrender of Plantagenet claims to
lands in France conquered by Philippe Augustus (Normandy, Anjou, Maine,
Touraine and Poitou). In addition, he accepted to hold the remaining Plantagenet fiefs in southwest France (partially increased from the 1242 losses, but still 'Guyenne', a lesser Aquitaine) by liege homage to the king of France. However, this region remained a significant source of disputes and confiscation initiatives by later French monarchs. Most significant was a 'small war' of Saint-Sardos (1325), which was the result of king Edward II of England refusing to pay homage to Charles IV of France for Guyenne.
1327
Accession of Edward III (1327-77) to the English throne. His mother, Isabelle, was sister to three French kings, none of whom left a direct male heir to the Capetian throne.
1328
Death of the last [direct] Capetian king of France, Charles IV.
Edward III's claim to succeed him was rejected, and Philippe de Valois, a cousin by direct male line, acceded to the French throne as Philippe VI (1328-1350). This began the royal Valois dynasty in France. In 1329, Edward III went to Amiems and paid homage to king Philippe IV of France for the duchy of Guyenne. He also paid homage for the county of Ponthieu.
Return to Directory.
Initial Period.
1337
King Philippe VI of France declared the duchy of Guyenne forfeited by Edward III for the latter's harboring Robert d'Artois a troublsome criminal in the eyes of the French crown.
Edward III sent letter of defiance to 'Pilip [sic] of Valois, who calls himself king of France'.
These incidents are usually cited as the Beginning of the Hundred
Years' War.
1338
Edward III's ambitions were supported by the newly appointed leader of the Flemish townsmen seeking independence from France. Jacob van Artevelde formed a commerical treaty with Edward III and encouraged Edward to claim the French crown.
1339
Edward III's first personally led campaign in France (launched from Flanders into Thiérache) proved ineffective, as well as financially costly. He returned to England to better prepare for a future invasion.
1340
Edward III assumed the title of "king of England and
France" (26 January), and concluded a military alliance with the Flemish.
Edward III's fleet defeated the French fleet at Sluys
[l'Écluse] (24 June).
1341
Death of the Jean III, duc de Bretagne [Brittany], led to a war of
succession (1341-64) for the duchy between Charles de Blois
(supported by the French king) and Jean de Montfort (supported by
the English king).
1345-7
English campaigns in Normandy, Brittany and Aquitaine; battle of
Crécy (26 August 1346) and capture of Calais (4 August 1347).
1348-49
The 'Black Death' (bubonic plague) spread in France and England.
1350
English defeated a Castilian fleet in battle of
Les-Espagnols-sur-Mer, off Winchelsea (August).
Death of Philippe VI (22 Aug) and accession of Jean II le Bon
(the Good) (1350-64).
1355-7
English campaigns in northern and southern France; and the battle
of Poitiers [Maupertuis] (19 September 1356), in which Jean II of
France was made prisoner of the English.
1358
In February, Parisian bourgeoise rebels, led by Etienne Marcel,
murdered the Marshals of Champagne and Normandy; and threatened
the life of the dauphin, Charles, who was forced to flee the city.
In May, a peasants' rebellion, known as the jacqerie,
began, but was put down near Meaux by Charles "the
Bad," King of Navarre.
1359-60
Hoping to gain from the dauphin's difficulties, Edward III
launched his last great campaign in France. He failed to get
himself crowned 'king of France' at Reims, was unable
to take Paris, and agreed to the preliminaries of a peace at
Brétigny near Chartes (8 May 1360). A modified version of
the treaty was ratified at Calais (24 Oct 1360). There was
relative peace in terms of direct combat between English and
French armies until 1369. The French king, Jean II was released
from English captivity in December, 1360.
1362
The Grand Companies ravaged the French countryside. The
routiers defeated a royal army at Brignais (6 April). Edward
III announced the creation of the sovereign principality of
Aquitaine [a region of ancient designation that was more
extensive than Guyenne, which it included] to be ruled by his
son, the 'Black Prince', Edward of Woodstock.
1364
King Jean II returned to London in 1364 (and died there in the
same year) when his son, the duc d'Anjou, refused to remain a
hostage until the full ransom was paid. Charles V, the Wise
became king of France (1364-80). In supporting his brother,
Philippe the Bold, as duke of Burgundy (since 1364), Charles V
incited Charles 'the Bad' of Navarre (who believed that he had a
better claim to the dukedom) to lead an uprising. Charles of
Navarre's forces were defeated in the battle of Chocherel (May
1364) by the French king's army, led by a low-ranking Breton
knight, Bertrand du Guesclin. Du Guesclin was later captured by
the English at the battle of Auray (29 September), in which Charles de Blois was killed. Montfort's son, became Jean IV, duke of Brittany, but paid homage to the French king, Charles
V.
Charles deployed du Guesclin to lead a force of routiers to
aid Enrique [Henry] of Trastámara against Pedro 'the Cruel', king of
Castile, who was supported by an English force under the Black
Prince. Enrique was defeated at the battle of Navarete
[Nájera] (2 April 1367) in Castile, and du Guesclin was
again captured by the English and ransomed by Charles V. Later,
the English withdrew support of Pedro, and Enrique (with du
Guesclin's help) defeated Pedro at Montiel (14 March 1369). The
new king of Castile, Enrique II, rewarded the French for
their support by sending the formidable Castilian navy to assist
the French in the struggle against England.
1369-73
Renewed warfare between France and England began in June. Charles
V anounced that he was confiscating Aquitaine (Guyenne) and
launched an invasion which took several towns. The Black Prince, experienced revolts in his domaine and sacked Limoges (19 September 1370). The Prince returned to England in
1371, leaving his French dominion to his brother, John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster.
Charles V had prepred his treasury for war, financed a new fleet,
Clos des Galées at Rouen, and recruited commanders
with proven battlefield experience: Oliver de Clisson, Boucicault,
Amaury de Craon, the Bègue de Vilaines, the Admiral Jean
de Vienne. In particular, Charles made du Guesclin constable (2 October
1370). In that same year the new constable and Oliver de Clisson
routed an Entlish force at Pontvallain, near Le Mans.
This latter part of the first period (the final phase) of the
Hundred Years' War receives little attention in most military histories, though it
was the decisive part of the period. By mostly avoiding open-field
battles, where the English longbow tactical system dominated, the
French followed Fabian methods of raids, ambushs, night attacks,
and harassment. Du Guesclin led most of the main French
operations and reconquered several towns in Guyenne in 1372. In
June of the same year, a Castilian fleet destroyed the English
fleet off La Rochelle. The trend was repeated in Brittany and
Normandy, as the French reclaimed, by force or bribery, most all
of the territories that had been ceded to Edward III at
Brétigny.
Return to Directory.
Interim Period.
1377
Death of Edward III (21 June) and accession of Richard II
(1377-99) of England at age eleven.
Jean de Vienne directed French naval raids on English coast.
Battle of Eymet (1 September), French defeated Anglo-Gascon army.
1378
Beginning of the Great Schism (1378-1417) in the western Church.
Charles V confiscated the duchy of Brittany.
1380
Death of du Guesclin (13 July) and of Charles V (16 September),
and accession of Charles VI (1380-1422) at age eleven.
1382
Battle of Roosebeke (November). French knights defeated Flemish
uprising led by Philippe van Artevelde.
1383
Upon the death of the count of Flanders, Louis de Mâle, his
son-in-law, Philippe, duke of Burgundy (and brother to king Charles V, of France) became the count of Flanders.
1389
Truce of Leulinghen, renewed repeatedly, prevented any major
campaign until 1404.
1396
Marriage of Richard II to Isabella of France, daughter of king Charles
VI. A twenty-eight year truce was agreed to, but the two monarchs were unable
to conclude a peace. Many of the English nobility resent no longer having an
opportunity to plunder the natural richness of France.
1399
Richard II was deposed by John of Gaunt's son Henry Bolingbroke,
who secured the throne as Henry IV (1399-1413), beginning the
Lancasterian dynasty.
1402
French troops (primarily Orléanist) assisted a Scottish
invasion of England.
1403
Charles VII was born (22 February) in Paris. He was the third son
of Charles VI and his queen, Isabeau. There was low expectancy of
him becoming dauphin, as he was preceded by his two brothers: Louis, duc de
Guyenne (b.1397) and Jean, duc de Touraine (b.1398). French raided the English coast
while Henry IV was preoccupied with scattered revolts.
1405
French sent an expedition to England to assit Owen Glendower's revolt in Wales, against king Henry IV, but withdrew as the rebellion faltered.
1406
French attacked English possessions in France, in Vienne, and Calais.
1407
Assassination of Charles VI's brother, Louis, duc d'Orléans, by Jean 'the
Fearless', duke of Burgundy (since 1404) initiated a dramatic eruption in the
ongoing friction between the two powerful houses. This resulted in
open civil war in France between partisans of the duke of
Burgundy (Burgundians) and those of the duke of Orléans,
called 'Armagnacs'. (In 1410 Charles, son of Louis d' Orléans, married the daughter of Bernard VII, count of Armagnac. Bernard assumed leadership of the faction.)
1411
Both the Orléanists ['Armagnacs'] and the Burgundians sought aid from
the English king, Henry IV.
1413
Henry V became king of England upon the death of his father.
The cabochienne uprisings (April and May) in Paris.
The Armagnacs gained control of Paris in September, and
ruthlessly expelled factions loyal to Burgundy. Charles [VII] was
betrothed to Marie d'Anjou, daughter of duc d'Anjou and Yolande
of Aragón. The House of Anjou allied itself with the
Orleanist-Armagnac faction. In May, Jean 'the Fearless' allied
Burgundy with the new English king, Henry V.
Return to Directory.
Final Period.
1415
As the powerful duke of Burgundy remained neutral, Henry V of
England invaded France, captured Harfleur (23 September) and
defeated the French army at Agincourt (25 October). The defeat resulted in the deaths
or capture of many of the leading French nobles that supported the
Orléanst-Armagnac faction, and, thereby, strengthen the Burgundian position. In
December, Bernard d'Armagnac became constable of France.
1416
Comte d'Armagnac, constable of France was defeated by English
force at Valmont (11-13 March). English fleet defeated French-Genoese fleet in a
naval engagment on the Seine (15 August). Henry V signed an alliance with
Emperor Sigismond de Luxembourg, for the latter to remain netural
in the English-French conflict.
1417
As Henry V began a conquest of Normandy (1417-19), save
Mont-Saint-Michel, France was divided. The Armagnacs maintain
themselves in the French capital. The duke of Burgundy, with close
alliance with Isabeau of Bavaria, Charles VI's queen, set up a
rival government at Troyes. The two eldest sons of Charles VI
died while 'under the portection' of the duc de Burgundy (Louis,
d.December 1415; and Jean, d.5 April 1417). This left the third
son of the French king, Charles, as the dauphin.
1418
Jean the Fearless secured control of Paris and Armagnacs were
massacred. The constable, Bernard, was killed. The dauphin Charles
escaped to south of the Loire, to Melun (29 May). With the
help of the Angevins, Charles established a rival government at
Bourges. Dauphin Charles assumed (29 June) the position of
lieutenant-general from his father. Charles retained a bodyguard
of Scots archers. In July he led a force that siezed the
Burgundian-held castle of Azay-le-Rideau. Henry V besieged Rouen
in July.
1419
Rouen surrendered in January, and Henry V completed his conquest
of Normandy. Jean the Fearless, while meeting (10 September) with
the dauphin Charles at Montereau, was assassinated in revenge for
the murder of the duc d'Orleans. Philippe the Good succeeded his father as duke of
Burgundy, and continued the alliance with Henry V of England in December.
1420
French-Scottish army was defeated by English at Fresnay (3 March).
The Treaty of Troyes (21 May) was the result of the
English-Brugundian alliance and the mental illness of the French
king, Charles VI. The treaty called for Henry V to marry
Catherine, daughter of Charles VI, and to become king of France
on the death of his father-in-law.
1421
The dauphin Charles' Scots allies and French (under Marshal
Gilbert Lafayette) defeated an English force at Baugé (22 March
1421), in which Henry V's brother, duke of Clarence, was killed.
A Burgundian force defeated French at Mons-en-Vimeu (31 August
1421), in which Jean Ponton de Xaintrailles and Etienne de
Vignolles, le Bourg de la Hire, were captured.
1422
Henry V died (31 August) before Charles VI (21 October). Henry
V's brother, duke John of Bedford, became the English regent in France and
tried to establish Henry V's ten-month old son on the French throne.
1422
Bedford launched a campaign that gradually expanded English holdings in France, and Maine
was added to Normandy as an English possession. With few reverses, the campaign continued until 1429.
1423
English forces defeated the dauphin's forces at Cravant (31 July).
1423
Yolande, duchess d'Anjou returned (after four years in Provence) to the court of Charles VII, and began to exert her influence.
1424
English forces defeated the dauphin's forces and at Verneuil (17 August), where the constable, the Scot Earl of Buchan, was killed and duc d'Alençon and Marshal Lafayette were captured.
1425
Charles VII awarded the Breton, Arthur de Richemont, the position of constable (7 March).
1426
Bedford defeated an army led by Arthur de Richemont at St-Jacques, near Avranches (6 March), which forced Richemont's brother, Jean V, duc de Brittany, to sign a treaty with Henry V; this led to Richemont's banishment from the French court (1427).
1427
Dunois and La Hire defeated an English army under Warwick at Montargis (September).
1428
The English invested Orléans (12 February).
1429
English food convoy (en route to besiegers at Orléans)
repulsed an attack by a larger French force in the 'Battle of the
Herrings' (12 February 1429) near Rouvray-Saint-Denis. Duc of
Burgundy withdrew his forces supporting the siege of Orléans in
April. French forces under the titular command of Jeanne d'Arc
relieved Orléans (8 May) and continued their campaign with a
series of small tactical victories: seized Jargeau (11/12 June)
and Beaugency (16/17 June). At Patay (18 June), the forces of
Jeanne d'Arc and the constable de Richemont defeated English in
open battle, and captured Talbot. Charles VII was crowned and
anointed king of France at Rheims (17 July). Jeanne d'Arc was
wounded leading a failed attack on Paris (16 August).
1430
Jeanne was captured by Burgundians at Compiégne (23 May).
1431
Jeanne was burnt at the stake in Rouen (30 May).
René d'Anjou, duc de Bar and Lorraine, was captured by
Antoine de Vaudement in a local territorial dispute, as battle of
Bulgnéville.
1432
The duc de Brittany and the Angevins made a treaty of alliance
(February). Richemont was reconciled with Charles VII (5 March). La
Trémoélle, the scheming advisor to Charles VII, was
overthrown and Charles [IV] d'Anjou (son of Yolande
of Aragón, and held the title of comte de Maine) assumed the position. In August, Dunois's army defeated Bedford's English force besieging Lagny-sur-Marne, the
latter abandoning their artillery.
