Timeline of the Hundred Years' War facts for kids

The Hundred Years' War was a long series of conflicts between the Kingdoms of England and France. It actually lasted for 116 years, from 1337 to 1453. This timeline will help you understand the main events and how this important war unfolded.

Why the War Started: The Background (1259-1337)

The Hundred Years' War didn't just start out of nowhere. There were many reasons, mostly about land and who should be king of France.

• 1259: The Treaty of Paris was signed between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France. England lost most of its lands in France, but Henry III kept a small area called Gascony. He had to promise to be a loyal follower (a vassal) of the French king for this land.
• 1314: Philip IV of France died. He had three sons: Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV.
• 1316: Louis X died. His daughter, Joan II of Navarre, was not allowed to become queen. Instead, his brother Philip V became king.
• 1322: Philip V died. His daughters were also passed over. His brother, Charles IV, became King of France.
• 1324: A small war, the War of Saint-Sardos, happened between Charles IV and Edward II of England. England lost, and France took the town of La Réole.
• 1328: Charles IV of France died without any sons. His sister, Isabella of France, was powerful in England. She claimed the French throne for her son, Edward III of England. He was Charles's closest male relative. However, French nobles chose Philip VI to be king. They followed a rule called Salic law, which meant only men could inherit the throne.
• 1330: Edward III took full power in England. He had his mother, Isabella, imprisoned and her friend, Roger Mortimer, executed.
• 1331: Edward III gave up his claim to the French throne. He accepted Philip VI as his king for the lands he held in Aquitaine (Gascony).
• 1332: Charles II of Navarre was born. He was the grandson of Louis X of France.
• 1332: War started between Edward III and David II of Scotland. This was the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scotland was an ally of France through a treaty called the Auld Alliance.
• 1335: Philip VI planned to send troops to help Scotland.
• 1336: France and England had many disagreements. Philip VI planned to invade England and Scotland. Edward III prepared his defenses and sought allies in Europe. French ships attacked English towns. Both sides arrested merchants and seized goods.
• 1337: Philip VI officially declared that Edward III had lost his right to Aquitaine. This was because Edward was protecting Robert of Artois, an enemy of the French king. This act was a major cause for the start of the Hundred Years' War.

First Phase: English Victories and the Black Death (1337-1360)

This period saw some big English wins and a terrible plague.

• 1340: The Battle of Sluys was a huge naval battle where England destroyed the French fleet.
• 1340: On January 26, Edward III declared himself 'King of France' in Ghent.
• 1341: The Breton War of Succession began. Edward supported one side, and Philip supported the other.
• 1346: Edward III won a massive victory over Philip VI at the Battle of Crécy. Later, the Scots invaded England but were defeated at the Battle of Neville's Cross.
• 1347: The important French city of Calais fell to Edward III. David II of Scotland was captured.
• 1348: The terrible disease known as the Black Death arrived in Europe. It killed millions and paused the fighting for a while.
• 1350: Philip VI died. His son, John II, became the new King of France.
• 1351: The Battle of the Thirty was a famous fight between 30 knights from each side.
• 1356: Edward, the Black Prince, who was Edward III's son, defeated John II at the Battle of Poitiers. King John II was captured by the English.
• 1358: A peasant revolt called the Jacquerie broke out in France.
• 1359: John II signed a treaty in London, giving up a lot of land and agreeing to a huge ransom. But his son, Charles, refused to accept it.
• 1360: The Treaty of Brétigny was signed. Edward III gave up his claim to the French throne. In return, he got back Aquitaine and other lands, and France recognized him as their ruler. Edward made his son, the Black Prince, the Duke of Aquitaine.
• 1360: Black Monday was a freak hail storm that killed about 1,000 English soldiers.

Second Phase: French Comeback (1360-1400)

After a period of peace, France started to win back its lands.

• 1364: The Breton War of Succession ended with a French victory at the Battle of Auray.
• 1366: The Black Prince got involved in a civil war in Castile (Spain).
• 1370: John Chandos, an English commander, was defeated and killed at Chateau Lussac.
• 1372: The skilled French commander Bertrand du Guesclin captured the city of Poitiers.
• 1376: Edward III's son, the Black Prince, died.
• 1377: Du Guesclin took the town of Bergerac.
• 1377: Edward III died. His grandson, Richard II, became the new King of England.
• 1380: The Earl of Buckingham led an English army into France to help the Duke of Brittany. The French avoided a big battle. The English army marched through the land and then besieged Nantes.
• 1381: The Duke of Brittany made peace with the new French king, Charles VI. He paid Buckingham to leave Nantes and end the campaign.

Third Phase: English Dominance Again (1400-1422)

England, led by a new strong king, once again took control.

• 1415: Henry V of England landed in Normandy and captured Harfleur. He then won a huge victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt.
• 1417: Henry V captured Caen.
• 1419: Rouen fell to Henry V on January 19, giving England control of Normandy. The Duke of Burgundy became an ally of England.
• 1420: Henry V and Charles VI of France signed the Treaty of Troyes. Henry married Charles VI's daughter, Catherine. Their child would inherit both kingdoms. The French heir, the Dauphin (Prince) Charles VII, was declared illegitimate.
• 1422: Henry V died on August 31. Charles VI died on October 21. Henry's young son, Henry VI of England, who was less than a year old, became king of both England and France. However, in central France, the Dauphin Charles VII continued the fight.

Final Phase: French Victory (1422-1453)

France, inspired by a young hero, finally pushed the English out.

• 1424: One of Henry VI's regents, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, married Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut. He invaded Holland to try and get her old lands back, which caused conflict with the Duke of Burgundy.
• 1428: The English began a long siege of the city of Orléans.
• 1429: Joan of Arc helped break the siege of Orléans. The Dauphin Charles was crowned King of France at Reims.
• 1430: Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians and later sold to the English.
• 1431: Joan of Arc was put on trial and executed.
• 1435: Burgundy changed sides and signed the Treaty of Arras with France.
• 1449: The French recaptured Rouen.
• 1450: An English attempt to help Caen was defeated at the Battle of Formigny. The French then took Cherbourg.
• 1451: The important cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne fell to French forces.
• 1453: John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury tried to retake Gascony, but he was defeated by Jean Bureau at the Battle of Castillon.

The Battle of Castillon is usually seen as the end of the Hundred Years' War. After this, King Henry VI of England became ill, and England was soon busy with its own civil war, the Wars of the Roses. This meant England could no longer fight in France. However, the city of Calais remained English until 1558. English kings also kept the title 'King of France' until 1801!

Images for kids

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  A timeline showing the Hundred Years' War

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  A map showing the areas involved in the Hundred Years' War