Why and How Did English Lose Hundred Years War - Essay Example

Running Head: Hundred Years' War Why and How Did English Lose Hundred Years War s Introduction Hundred Years' War is the series of armed war conflict that were faugh between England and France during the time period of 1337 to 1453. "The 'Hundred Years' War' is the name historians have given to a series of related conflicts fought over the course of more than a century between England and France. The causes were complex and varied, but included English territorial and dynastic ambitions in France. The war began with Philip VI's confiscation of Gascony, which led Edward III of Englandto declare himselfthe rightful heir to the French throne1. The war continued through the reigns of the French kings Philip VI., John II., Charles V., Charles VI., Charles VII., and of the English kings Edward III., Richard II., Henry IV., Henry V. and Henry VI2. In the Hundred Years' War France and Spain were allied and supported the Scottish cause of independence from the English crown. England was allied with Portugal and Burgundy and controlled large sections of Aquitaine and northern France"3. The Hundred Years' War was initiated by the King Philip VI of France in 1337 when he stabbed to impound the territories of England which were situated in the southwestern France. The war was ended in 1453 with the victory of France that resulted in expelling of English from the continent. During the war many new weapons and war tactics were used by the French and English army. The historians consider the Hundred Years' War as the most significant conflict of the medieval warfare that further defined the history of both England and France. "The war was consisted of a series of set backs and victories for each side as well as a multitude of shifting alliances between the major and minor powers of Europe in the region"4. "The significance of the Hundred Years' War is the rise of nationalism it engendered, compared to earlier medieval conflicts"5. The English military secured victories in several battles fought during the war but at times they were also defeated by France. "The war laid waste to much of France and caused enormous suffering; it virtually destroyed the feudal nobility and thereby brought about a new social order. By ending England's status as a power on the continent, it led the English to expand their reach and power at sea"6. The English defeat in Hundred Years' War possesses several important aspects and reasons behind it which are going to be discussed after the background, causes and other information about the war. About Hundred Years' War The background for Hundred Years' War was stated preparing 400 years as a result of conflicts occurring between the English and French King. "The conflicts arise because the King of England being a vassal of French King, rules the territory of France more than the King of France himself"7. The French attempted to resolve the problem in three decisive wars including the conquest of Normandy in 1214, The Saintonge War in 1242 and the War of Saint-Sardos in 1324. These wars resulted in the end of English hold on the continent. The conflicts between the two countries grew along with time. "One of the major conflicting issues between England and France was regarding the duchy of Aquitaine which was located in Southwestern France"8. In 1259, the Treaty of Paris designated that Henry III held the duchy as a fief of the French king Charles IV, King of France who will pay liege homage to the king but the situation become complicated with the death of Charles IV, King of France in 1328 without a male heir. Edward III, the King of England claimed that he has a right to take the thorn as his mother was the sister of King Charles. In 1337, the war was started when Edward III raided into French territory and became the King of France. This action of King Edward III initiated the series of war which spread over a century. There were many battles fought during the war period including the Battle of Crecy and Battle of Poitiers which were won by England in 1346 and 1356 respectively. Some treaties were formulated after these battles but after the death of John II, his son refused to accept those treaties, as a result conflicts between the English and France raised. Several battles were fought between them and as a result of English defeat; they lose their control over the territory of Normandy. "Some historians also divide the Hundred Years' War in to four phases: a phase of English success under Edward III from 1337 to 1360; a phase from 1360 to 1400, where the French were successful in nearly driving out the English; a phase from 1400 to 1429, marked by great English victories under Henry V; and a final phase from 1429 to 1453, in which France was united under the Valois kings"9. English Defeats in Hundred Years' War If we look at the war tactics and armaments, it is revealed that English were facing very powerful and much larger enemy that's why it become necessary for them to use some modern tools of war. The English used some modern warfare and advance ways of fighting during the Hundred Years' War. English were succeeded to win many battles during the war including Breton War of Succession, Battle of Crecy, Battle of Neville's Cross and Battle of Poitiers but later in some battles they were defeated by the France and were expelled from the territory for example they were defeated by France near St Omer in 1352. After the early English victories in many battles the situation changed for them as the reign of Charles V pushed back them steadily. The Breton soldier Bertrand du Guesclin also became one of the winning French generals of the Hundred Years' War and leaded many winning battles against England. Though French leadership planned several strategies in order to fight well against the England but the internal problems of France arising from the conflicts of power, stopped them to apply those strategies however England was also facing problems at that time due to civil war and outbreak of border conflicts. In the year 1366 the Black Prince Edward was occupied by the Spanish army after a war. France also got an advantage over England when they faced lots of problem regarding its leadership when Edward the Black Prince got ill. At that time Edward III was too young to manage the matter so the leadership of English went in the hands of Edward's uncle John of Gaunt who didn't have capability to lead the force; on the other hand the French were having strong leadership under the guidance of French Constable Bertrand du Guesclin. In the end of year 1369, England lost their strength when one of their major general John Chandos, Seneschal of Poitou died at the bridge at Chateau Lussac. His death created a big upset for the England. Another setback for England occurred when its army commander Captal de Buch was captured and locked up by Charles V. The modern warfare and fighting techniques which were introduced by the English during the war were also adopted by the France that resulted in increase of their power and strength. All these factors added to the strength of France and as a result by the end of the year 1370, France succeeded to capture Poitou, Quercy, and Rouergue, Henry of Trastamara and Castille. After two years in 1371, France and Spain combined their fleets and attack English fleet at the naval battle of La Rochelle. England not only lost that battle but also the whole passage became unsafe for them. The joint fleets of Spain and France continued their attacks and successfully raided Kent, Sussex, Devon, and Cornwall. The English army also raided some of the French territories but they got little success at that time. By the year 1374, England lost most of the territories in France; left with English were the Calais and a coastal strip between Bordeaux and Bayonne. In January 1375 a truce was signed between the countries at Bruges. When the powerful leaders of France Charles V and Constable Bertrand du Guesclin died in 1380, that was a good chance for England to restore its position but at that time English were facing certain internal conflicts that's why they failed to take advantage of that chance. France continued to expel England out of region and "one by one, Charles VII besieged and captured the remaining English strongholds. With the capture of Bordeaux (1453), the English had lost all their French lands except Calais. That was really the end of the One Hundred Years war so far as England was concerned, though a formal treaty to end the war between England and France was only signed in 147510." Reasons behind English defeat in Hundred Years' War There were several reasons behind the defeat of England in Hundred Years' War like problem of managing financial resources of war, leadership problems, allies problem, black death etc. these reasons are discussed as follow. Resources and War Expenditures An important reason behind the English weakness during the war was the inequality of resources in both the sides. There was a big difference in the population of England and France. In 1328, the population of France was 12.25 million which was more than double from that of England. The population of England was just six millions at that time. "This meant that the French had a much greater potential for larger armies, as well as a much larger tax base."11 Another problem in front of the English was that they had to bring their troops over the channels. The troops had to undergo very unsafe journey also they encountered pirates and enemy fleets several times. On the other hand France had an advantage that they were fighting at their homeland and there is no issue in front of them regarding the gathering of troops. The expenditure of shifting English troops from their homelands to France caused increased war expenditure to England and further added to their problems. The English "relied on requisitioning merchant ships, which were then provided with fighting platforms and defensive structures - and when the ships went to war, they lost out on the wool trade on which England greatly depended.12" France had good resources to finance the army expenditures because the French land produced over 26 tones of silver annually however England was producing just 5 tones of silver from annually from their lands and hence they have to depend on taxes in order to fulfill the financial requirements of war. The number of soldiers also reduced in France because England also had to keep considerable numbers of army at the border of Scotland. As France and Scotland were allies so there was a greater need for England to keep strong defensive line near the Scottish border. Black Death The English faces problems when in the year 1348 plague, the Black Death was spread through out the country. The disease was first out broken at Melcombe Regis in Dorset, later it was spread in different areas. The English faced lots of consequences and due to the spread of this disease England was prevented from financing and launching any major offence. Fighting against the disease disrupted the economy very much. There were appalling plagues and Black Death causes the death of at least one third English and France population in 1348. There were also many incidents of robbery and peasants looted of noble's houses and castle which further added to the problems of situations. The disease and its consequences also became reason for English military weakness that in turn resulted in English defeat during the Hundred Years' War. Leadership and Allies Problem The world witnesses downfall in the English fortune after many early victories in the Hundred Years' War. When Edward II died in 1377, the position of England also became week and they lost many territories by 1374. The illness of Edward III further added to the weakness of English as he also suffered from severe diseases for many years and e died in 1379, a year before his father. He was succeeded by his ten-year-old grandson, Richard II13. Hence the lleadership problem became another important reason of English defeat in the Hundred Years' War. In 1366, Edward the Black was poisoned after the war against Spain. Later he felt ill. Edward III was too young at that time and his Uncle John did not deserve person for the leadership of English forces. This situation caused the weakness in the English military power. English leaders also faced problem regarding their allies. For example Edward II collated with some countries forces and form a group of allies but that also become problem for him. To keep allies proved to be very expensive and another problem was the unity among the forces. The allies often followed their own intensions rather Edward's. Events Contributing towards English Defeat During the time of Hundred Years' War several incidents took placed that further added to the weakness of English that finally resulted in their defeats in Hundred Years War. The English peasant revolt in 1381 is also such incident which was dispersed by Richard II at Smithfield, London. The conflict was raised due to increase in heavy taxes. "Young Richard II faced an English Peasants' Revolt in 1381. - fuelled by bitter resentment of the unfair Poll Tax raised to pay for the costly French wars. The French took advantage of English weakness. Having driven the English out of all but Calais and a few other strongholds in France, the French struck across the Channel, helped by Spanish warships based in Rouen14. After rebel leader Watt Tyler was killed, the Tower of London was stormed and prominent individuals were executed"15. Later in 1380, the France army succeeded in capturing the Isle of Wight. After that they burned the south coast town including Sandwich, Win Chelsea and Gravesend. French also reflected through their preparation that they are getting read for the war quite strongly and as a result England had to face big French fleets that resulted in the defeat of England. Internal Problems England also faced the problems of interruption at border from other countries. England went through a war with Scotland on the border issue. There was also a wave of rebellion in Ireland and Wales that was an important point of concern for the English people. There were troubles in Ireland because the Richard II didn't resolve the problems of the region during his rule. As a result in 1399he lost the thorn as well as his life as a result of the action of his cousin Henry. After this event there was revolt of Owain Glyndr in Wales. This rebellion took a long time to settle and in 1415 there was semi independence of North Welsh. "In Scotland the change in regime prompted a fresh series of border raids which were countered by an invasion in 1402 and the destruction of a Scottish army at the Battle of Homildon Hill. There was a dispute between Henry and Earl of Northumberland for the control of Northern England which continued for many years16". This extended and bloody tussle resulted in absolute demolition of Percy family in 1408. During this period French and Scandinavians pirates several times invaded in England and gave away serious damages to the trade and economy of the country. Due to these problems England fail to properly concentrate on the issues related to the disputes with France. The Hundred Years' War finally ended in 1453 after several battles between the two countries that not only caused lost of many lives, property, assets but also change the geography of both the countries. The researchers associate many significance with the war because before war France and England were bound together for centuries by outmoded feudal ties and concepts, but after the was they were wrenched apart, leaving in their wake two distinct nations free to follow their own destinies17. English loses many territories in France due to certain weak points. Though England used advanced war fare and innovative was fighting tactics during the Hundred Years' War but as a result of several other factors, the English failed to keep French areas under their control and they had to leave the land after facing defeats in some battles. 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