The Plantagenets & the Hundred Years' War
UK History
Chapter 5 · The Plantagenets & the Hundred Years' War
Chapter 4 covered the Norman conquest. This chapter follows the dynasty that ruled England from 1154, the Plantagenets, and the long war with France that dominated much of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The sources are two reference articles, one on the dynasty and one on the war. They give dates and outcomes but little on how ordinary people experienced either, and the chapter marks what they leave out.
The Plantagenet Dynasty
The House of Plantagenet ruled England from 1154 to 1485. Henry II began the dynasty, and Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth Field ended it.
| Reign | King | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| 1154 to 1189 | Henry II | Established extensive continental territories. |
| 1189 to 1199 | Richard I | Took part in the Crusades. |
| 1199 to 1216 | John | Lost most French holdings, including Normandy, by 1204. |
Law and Parliament
The source describes the period as one in which "the king was no longer just the most powerful man in the nation" but acquired "defined duties to the realm, underpinned by a sophisticated justice system." It names two key developments: Magna Carta in 1215, and Simon de Montfort's Great Parliament of 1265, which first included city and borough representatives.
Expansion Within the Isles
Edward I conquered Wales and asserted claims over Scotland, and established the first English Prince of Wales. Edward III saw the adoption of Middle English in governance. I did not find the dates of these events or how the Scottish claim ended.
The Hundred Years' War
The conflict spanned 1337 to 1453, about 116 years, intermittently. Historians divide it into three phases:
The Edwardian War
1337 to 1360.
The Caroline War
1369 to 1389.
The Lancastrian War
1415 to 1453.
Why It Began
The war emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy of Aquitaine. It was triggered when Edward III claimed the French throne after Charles IV died in 1328 without male heirs. The French nobility rejected his claim on the basis of Salic law and chose Philip VI instead.
The Main Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1346 | Battle of Crécy: a decisive English victory. |
| 1356 | Battle of Poitiers: the English capture King John II. |
| 1415 | Battle of Agincourt: Henry V's overwhelming victory. |
| 1420 | Treaty of Troyes: recognizes Henry V as French heir. |
| 1429 | Siege of Orléans: Joan of Arc inspires a French revival. |
| 1453 | Battle of Castillon: the final English defeat. |
Consequences
- The war transformed European warfare, through professional standing armies and artillery.
- It strengthened national identities in both kingdoms.
- England lost its continental possessions except Calais, which it held until 1558.
- The loss contributed to the domestic instability that led to the Wars of the Roses (Chapter 6).
Hands-On Exercises
Set out the three phases of the Hundred Years' War with their dates and name one event from the third phase.
A student writes "The Hundred Years' War lasted exactly 100 years." Use the chapter to correct it.
Explain the difference between the war's long-term cause and its trigger, and name one thing the sources do not explain.
Quick Reference
- Plantagenets: 1154 (Henry II) to 1485 (Richard III dies at Bosworth)
- Normandy lost: by 1204 under John
- 1215: Magna Carta; 1265: Simon de Montfort's Great Parliament
- War: 1337 to 1453; three phases (1337 to 1360, 1369 to 1389, 1415 to 1453)
- Battles: Crécy 1346, Poitiers 1356, Agincourt 1415, Orléans 1429, Castillon 1453
- Calais: held until 1558 (this source)
- Not covered: the Black Death, the longbow, Henry III, Edward II and Richard II