The Hundred Years' War was a series of major conflicts between England and France fought intermittently from 1337 to 1453. It lasted 116 years over a dispute for the French throne. Kids will learn about powerful kings, secret weapons like the longbow, and the legendary Joan of Arc!
Imagine two of the biggest kingdoms in the Middle Ages fighting over who gets to be the King... not just for a year, or five, but for over 100 years!
Welcome to the wildest, longest medieval showdown ever: The Hundred Years' War! This massive conflict was mostly between the kingdoms of England and France. It didn't last *exactly* 100 years—it was actually a series of fights spanning 116 years, from 1337 to 1453! The main reason these two kingdoms went to war was a HUGE argument over who deserved to wear the crown of France. France was super rich and popular back then, making the French throne a prize everyone wanted!
Mira says:
"Wow, 116 years of fighting! That’s longer than even most grown-ups have been alive! I guess when it comes to thrones, people can be *very* stubborn."
What Sparked the Fiery Fight?
It all started with a tricky family tree and a piece of land. When the King of France died in 1328 without a son, the English King, Edward III, thought he had the best claim to the French throne because of his mother!
But the French nobles disagreed. They crowned a different guy, Philip VI, instead. To make things even more complicated, the English kings actually owned a big piece of land in France called the Duchy of Guyenne, and they had to promise loyalty to the French King—awkward!
When Philip VI decided to take that land back in 1337, Edward III said, 'If you won't let me be your King, I'll fight for it!' and that’s when the long war officially began!
Mind-Blowing Fact!
The war was so long that it actually saw five different generations of English kings and five generations of French kings come and go while the fighting continued!
Amazing Battles and Super Weapons!
Even though it lasted over a century, the war was fought in bursts, with long breaks in between, like a giant, on-and-off wrestling match!
The early years were really good for the English! They had a secret weapon that changed everything: the English longbow!
This bow could shoot arrows faster and farther than the French crossbows. Imagine being a French knight in heavy armor—an arrow storm from a longbow was super tough to stop!
(1337–1453)
(France had about 17 Million!)
(A huge English victory)
(The port of Calais)
How Did a Peasant Girl Change the Whole War?
The war had many ups and downs, but a major turning point for France happened thanks to a very special young woman: Joan of Arc!
By 1429, the English were winning and had surrounded the French city of Orléans.
Joan, a teenage peasant girl, claimed she was chosen by God to lead the French army to victory. She convinced the French prince (Charles VII) to let her try!
Joan of Arc's Amazing Impact
Joan convinced the French forces to fight hard, and she led them to successfully lift the Siege of Orléans in 1429!
This victory was like a giant shot of excitement for the French army, boosting their morale big time.
She continued leading them to more wins, which helped Prince Charles finally get crowned King Charles VII of France!
💡 Did You Know?
Sadly, Joan was captured by the English and their allies, put on trial, and burned at the stake in 1431. But even after her death, the French kept fighting and were inspired by her bravery!
🎯 Quick Quiz!
What was the special weapon that gave the English an early advantage in many battles?
Why Did the Fighting Finally Stop?
After Joan of Arc’s incredible turnaround, the French kept pushing the English back. They got stronger as a united country, while England faced some problems back home.
A big moment was when a powerful French state called Burgundy decided to stop being England's ally and made peace with France in 1435!
The very last battle was at Castillon in 1453. This time, the French used cannons—gunpowder weapons—which were a huge factor in their final victory!
- No Official Treaty: Even though the fighting stopped, England and France never actually signed a peace treaty to officially end the war!
- England Lost Everything (Almost!): By 1453, the English were kicked out of France, only keeping the small coastal port of Calais!
- National Pride: The war helped both England and France become stronger, more unified countries with a real sense of national pride.
So, while it was a super long and sometimes sad time in history, the Hundred Years' War for kids taught us how important teamwork, cool new technology (like the longbow and cannons!), and heroic figures like Joan of Arc can change the world!
Questions Kids Ask About Medieval History
Keep Exploring the Middle Ages!
From powerful kings to brave peasant girls and amazing bows, the Hundred Years' War was an incredible chapter in history! Keep listening to History's Not Boring to discover more amazing stories from the Medieval period and beyond!
