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The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453 CE) was an intermittent conflict fought between England and France that started when king Edward III of England (r. 1327-1377 CE) squabbled with Philip VI of France (r. 1328-1350 CE) over feudal rights concerning Gascony and trade with the Low Countries. Edward also asserted that he was the rightful king of France and pressed this claim by winning great victories at the battles of Crécy (1346 CE) and Poitiers (1356 CE). In 1360 CE, Edward renounced his claim to the French throne in return for lordship over a quarter of France. The war then continued as each side attempted to control north and southwest France. After Charles V of France (r. 1364-1380 CE) steadily regained much of the lands lost since the war began, there was a period of peace when Richard II of England (r. 1377-1399 CE) married the daughter of Charles VI of France (r. 1380-1422 CE). Henry V of England (r. 1413-1422 CE), eager to win glory, booty, and legitimacy for his own reign, then reignited the conflict with his stunning victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 CE which enabled him to be nominated the heir to the French throne. After Henry V’s untimely death and the ineffectual rule of Henry VI of England (r. 1422-61 & 1470-71 CE), Charles VII of France (r. 1422-1461 CE) retook the initiative. With help from such figures as the Duke of Burgundy and Joan of Arc (1412-1431 CE), Charles won the war and managed to remove the English from all French territory except Calais.

King Edward III of EnglandNational Portrait Gallery (CC BY-NC-ND)

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