Hundred Years War

Hundred Years War, sporadic series of wars fought mainly between England and France from 1337 to 1453. They originated in disputes over English possessions in France, and the claims of Edward III of England to the throne of France. In 1337 he invaded Gascony and won the battles of Sluis (1340), Crécy (1346), and Poitiers (1356), and seized Calais, gaining important concessions at the Treaty of Brétigny (1360). The French under Charles V retained much of their lost territory (1369–75) and attacked the English coast. Henry V of England destroyed the resulting uneasy truce when he invaded France in 1415, in pursuit of a dream of establishing himself as monarch of Britain and France; he captured Harfleur and defeated a superior French force at Agincourt. At the Treaty of Troyes (1420) Henry V was recognized as heir to the French throne, and from 1422 his infant son, Henry VI, ruled the dual monarchy, with John, Duke of Bedford, as French regent. His able rule won French support, and only the resurgence led by Joan of Arc in 1429 halted English gains. Although the dauphin (French heir to the throne, son of Charles VI) was crowned Charles VII at Reims in 1429, the English position was not assailed until 1435, when Philip the Good of Burgundy recognized Charles VII as king of France. After 1444 the English were driven back until they held only Calais (until 1448) and the Channel Islands.