Chapt. 12 – The Middle Ages Agenda: Collect Maps / Reading Quiz ( Read “Jan Hus” (back of packet) silently – 4th hour) Hundred Years War / Great Schism notes / discussion Finish Black Death docs HW: outline: The Life of the People (p. 395 – 405)

The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)

Causes of the 100 Years' War

1. Controversy Over Succession When the last son of Philip the Fair died, the next heir to the throne was Isabella (a female, which was a no-no).The French nobility selected Philip of Valois, a nephew of the last king through the male line. He founded a new French dynasty that ruled through the 16c. He was chosen in preference to King Edward III of England, whose mother (Isabella) was the daughter of the late king, Philip IV. In 1340, Edward claimed the title “King of France.”

(Philip the Fair) Last of French Capetian family English heirs To French throne Chosen to be French king

2. French Land Belonging to English Kings A longer standing issue was the status of lands within France that belonged to English kings, specifically Aquitaine (Gascony). The French controlled it as a duchy and Philip IV wanted to absorb it into the French kingdom. In 1337, Philip took full control which gave French vassals of the time an excuse to argue their loyalties to the true heir to the French throne – the king of England.

3. Conflict Over Flanders Wool industry – Flemish manufacturers dependent upon English wool . Flanders wants its independence from French control. Flemish merchants ask England for help.

4. A Struggle for National Identity France was NOT a united country before the war began. The French king only controlled about half of the country.

The War Itself

Characteristics of war and the time The War was a series of short raids and expeditions punctuated by a few major battles, marked off by truces or ineffective treaties. One of the earliest known uses of propaganda techniques (poems and clerical sermons written to promote war, etc) In the aftermath of the Black Death there was inevitable social upheaval. Parliament attempted to legislate on the problem by introducing the Statute of Laborers in 1351, which attempted to fix prices and wages.

French Advantages Population of about 16,000,000. Far richer and more populous than England. At one point, the French fielded an army of over 50,000  at most, Britain mustered only 32,000.

British Advantages Weapons Technologies. In almost every engagement, the English were outnumbered. Britain’s most successful strategies: Avoid pitched battles. Engage in quick, profitable raids Steal what you can. Destroy everything else. Capture enemy knights to hold for ransom.

The Longbow as a Weapon The use of the English defensive position was the use of the longbow. Its arrows had more penetrating power than a bolt from a crossbow. Could pierce an inch of wood or the armor of a knight at 200 yards! A longbow could be fired more rapidly. 6 arrows per minute.

The British Longbow: The Battle of Poitiers, 1356

Early English Victories

The Effective Use of the Cannon at Poitiers, 1356

French Confusion Edward’s son, also named Edward but more commonly known as The Black Prince, and his English army captured the French king, John II [r.1350-1364]. France was now ruled by the Estates General A representative council of townspeople and nobles. Created in 1355. Purpose  to secure funds for the war.

The Jacquerie, 1358 In the confusion and unrest following the French disaster at Poitiers, this rural movement began. It was a response to the longstanding economic and political grievances in the countryside worsened by disease and warfare. The rebels were defeated by aristocratic armies.

Trouble in England Peasant Revolt in 1381 was put down by King Richard II [r. 1377-1399]. King Richard exiled his cousin, Henry, after the murder of his uncle. Henry retaliated and staged a coup, and after charges of tyranny, Richard II was forced to abdicate in 1399. Parliament elected Henry IV [r. 1399-1413], the first ruler from the House of Lancaster. Henry avoided war taxes. He was careful not to alienate the nobility. He was able to secure a temporary truce ending French and British hostilities [for the time being, at least].

King Henry V (r. 1412-1422) Renewed his family’s claim to the French throne. In 1415, Henry led his exhausted English army against the might of the French chivalry at Agincourt. An estimated 5,000-6,000 English troops opposed a massive French army of 50,000-60,000. With the aid of the dukes of Burgundy, Henry gained control over Normandy, Paris, and much of northern France Side note: It was said among the English archers that the French intended to cut off the first and second right hand fingers of every captured archer to prevent him from again being able to use a bow. The English archers raised those two fingers to the advancing French as a gesture of defiance.

A Burgundian Presence

Treaty of Troyes (1420) Agreement was finally reached in 1420 by the Treaty of Troyes. By its terms the mentally ill (he is believed to have suffered from schizophrenia) King Charles VI of France recognised Henry as his heir, disinheriting his own son, the Dauphin. The English King married Charles' youngest daughter, Catherine of Valois on 2nd June 1420. A final English victory seemed assured, but both Charles VI and Henry V died in 1422. This left Henry’s infant son, Henry VI [r. 1422-1461], to inherit BOTH thrones.

Height of English Dominance

The French “Reconquest” The two kings’ deaths ushered in the final stage of the 100 Years’ War [1422-1453]. Even though in 1428 the military and political power seemed firmly in British hands, the French reversed the situation. In 1429, with the aid of the mysterious Joan of Arc, the French king, Charles VII, was able to raise the English siege of Orleans. This began the reconquest of the north of France.

Joan of Arc (1412-1432) The daughter of prosperous peasants from an area of Burgundy that had suffered under the English. Like many medieval mystics, she reported regular visions of divine revelation. Her “voices” told her to go to the king and assist him in driving out the English. She is said to have persuaded him of the divine character of her commission by discovering him though disguised in the crowd of his courtiers, and by reassuring him regarding his secret doubts as to his legitimacy. And Charles was impressed by her knowledge of a secret prayer, which could only be known to God and himself. 

Cathedral at Reims

Cannons Used at Orleons

Joan Announces the Capture of Orleans to the King

Joan of Arc (1412-1432) She brought inspiration and a sense of national identity and self-confidence. With her aid, the king was crowned at Reims [ending the “disinheritance”]. She was captured during an attack on Paris and fell into English hands. Because of her “unnatural dress” and claim to divine guidance, she was condemned and burned as a heretic in 1432. She instantly became a symbol of French resistance.

The End of the War Despite Joan’s capture, the French advance continued. By 1450 the English had lost all their major centers except Calais. In 1453 the French armies captured an English-held fortress. This was the last battle of the war. There was not treaty, only a cessation of hostilities.

France Becomes Unified France in 1453 France in 1337

Just Because… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bol117Vce_A

The Great Schism

Babylonian Captivity Babylonian Captivity- Papacy moved in 1309 to Avignon (Philip the Fair wanted Pope Clement V to settle there; this damaged Papal prestige; popes were cut off from tradition of Rome)   Avignon was just outside French territory and on the Rhone river. The Italian papal states became almost helpless without the influence of the pope so they became unstable. 1377- Pope Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome. He died shortly after and the Italians wanted an Italian pope. They elect Urban VI. A group of French cardinals elect Clement VII to live in Avignon.

A Split France, Sicily, Scotland, Castile, Aragon, and Portugal supported the Avignon pope. (Clement VII)   HRE, England, Flanders, Poland, Hungary, and Germany supported the Roman pope. (Urban VI) There was constant rivalry between them. Because of this, some people were clueless of which to support while others took advantage to build alliances. Papal offices finally lost authority because of the vicious acts of biased supporters.

Impact Council of Pisa (1409) - both popes were deposed and one new pope was elected (Alexander V). Popes refused to step down. Council of Constance (1414 – 1418) – Goals were to: 1) end the schism, 2) Reform the church, 3) Wipe out heresy *Election of Martin V as new Pope (in Rome) Many reforms to church- Some wanted division between religion and government some thought religious leaders were more interested in luxury and money rather than religion, and others pointed out scandals by Clergy members. Marsiglio of Padua – Church is subordinate to the state John Wycliffe - The Bible was the ultimate authority, not the Church. John Hus – Bohemian reformer (pre-Luther), was tried as a heretic at the council of Constance and burned at the stake.  

Jan Hus Czech reformer, influenced by John Wyclif, led an austere life criticized the “overendowed church,” attracted peasant followers Went to council of Contance, supposed to be protected, but was arrested and Burned at the stake. 16th century reformers saw him as a forefather of the reformation; 18th century enlightenment thinkers saw him as a defender of freedom Of expression. Later in the 19th and 20th centuries, his name evoked rebellion against Tyrannical monarchs and government systems.