The Hundred Years War: England and France, 1337-1453

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
• look at the War in the round as a phenomenon involving the whole of society

Course content

The Hundred Years War is perhaps the most famous of all medieval military struggles, not least because Shakespeare’s history plays feature major episodes from it. An attempt will be made both to trace the changing character of the War and to evaluate what was at stake in the struggle. Was it actually about the English king’s claim to the crown of France, or were there other considerations at stake as well? And was it really a war between England and France, or was it in some sense a French civil war? These are among the questions we will consider 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 that at Agincourt but also in sieges of towns and castles and in the laying waste of the countryside. A brief review of the careers of some of the leading commanders will lead seamlessly into a discussion of how armies were recruited 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 War both in money and manpower encouraged, on both sides of the Channel, the development of the institutions of government, and how the long conflict sharpened contemporary perceptions of national identity.

What to expect on this course

The course will be taught in five informal lecture classes, with PowerPoint presentations and plenty of opportunity will be given for questions and discussion. Use will be made throughout of contemporary sources such as the accounts of the chroniclers and administrative records relating to the War.

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 it ended.
   
    
3. The War in the field - a review of the field engagements, the sieges of towns and castles and the devastation of the countryside; the laws of war 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 the armies of the sides were recruited, and of the rewards offered by and for military service. A glance at the careers of 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

As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:

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

Required reading

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