The Hundred Years War: England and France, 1066-1453

Aims

This course aims to: 

• examine the causes and progress of the War and the manner of its ending
• consider how the War was fought and why men were attracted to fight in it
• look at the War in the round as a phenomenon involving the whole of society

Content

The Hundred Years War is perhaps the most celebrated of all medieval military struggles, not least because Shakespeare’s history plays feature major episodes from it. An attempt will be made in the course both to trace the changing character of the War, as it was fought across two centuries, and to evaluate what was at stake in it. Was it actually about the English king’s claim to the crown of France, or were there other considerations at stake as well? Was it really a war between England and France? Or was it at least in some sense actually a French civil war? These are among the questions that will be considered in the first two classes of the course. Consideration will then be given to how the War was fought, not only on land but at sea, and not only in set-piece battles such as those of Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt, but also in sieges of towns and castles and in the laying waste of the countryside. The day-to-day realities of the fighting will be considered in the context of the laws of war as these were laid down by the lawyers and theorists. A brief review of the careers of some of the leading commanders in the War will lead on, in the next class, to a discussion of how armies were recruited on the two sides of the Channel, and of what the attractions of war were to those who took part in it. Finally, there will be an examination of how the demands made by the struggle both in money and manpower encouraged, on both sides of the Channel, the development of the agencies of government, and of how the long conflict sharpened contemporary perceptions of national identity. Use will be made throughout the course, where appropriate in translation, of such contemporary sources such as the accounts of the chroniclers and administrative records relating to the War.

Presentation of the course 

The course will be taught in five informal classes with PowerPoint presentations; ample opportunity will be offered for questions and discussion.

Course sessions

1. The point of it all 
   How the War began, why it was different from previous Anglo-French wars and what it was all about.
2. The War at a glance 
   An overview of the War, looking at the main engagements and considering how the contest ended.
3. The War in the field 
   A review of the various forms that the War took: field engagements, sieges of towns and castles, and devastation of the countryside; the laws governing the conduct of war; and the effects of the War on the civilian population.
4. Recruitment and rewards 
   An examination of the ways in which armies on the two sides were recruited, and of the rewards offered by and for military service. A glance at some of the leading commanders of the period.
5. The State, public opinion and reactions to the War 
   The effect of the long hostilities in both stimulating the development of the State and encouraging an emergent sense of national identity; reactions on the two sides of the Channel to the ending of the War.

Learning outcomes

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course. 

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• to gain an understanding of the distinct character of the Hundred Years War
• to appreciate the effects of the War on society more widely
• to understand the appeal of War in the Middle Ages

Required reading

Curry, Anne, The Hundred Years War (Basingstoke, Macmillan: 1993, 2nd edition 2003)

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.