{"id":4873,"canonical_url":"https://www.kudos365.com/today-in-history/events/1337ce--4873","name":"1337 CE","year":1337,"era":"CE","month":null,"day":null,"url":"https://www.kudos365.com/today-in-history/events/1337ce--4873","iso-date":"1337","precision":"year","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Hundred Years' War - Historical Timeline\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Hundred Years’ War was a prolonged series of conflicts fought between the kingdoms of England and France from 1337 to 1453. Although interrupted by periods of truce and internal crises, the struggle centered on disputes over territorial control in France and competing claims to the French throne. The war transformed medieval warfare, strengthened national identities in both kingdoms, and contributed to the decline of feudalism in Western Europe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","additional_details":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground and Origins (1066–1337)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1066 – Norman Conquest of England\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWilliam, Duke of Normandy, conquered England and became King William I. English monarchs thereafter possessed extensive lands in France, creating centuries of political tension between the English and French crowns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e12th–13th Centuries – Growing Rivalry\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuccessive French kings gradually reduced English territories in France. By the early 1300s, England retained control primarily over the duchy of Gascony in southwestern France.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1259 - The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending a conflict between King Louis IX of France and King Henry III of England. The treaty forced the English king to become a French vassal for his remaining continental lands, sowing the seeds for friction and tension.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1328 – Succession Crisis in France\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing Charles IV of France died without a male heir. Edward III of England, grandson of the French king Philip IV through his mother Isabella, claimed the French throne.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe French nobility instead selected Philip VI of the House of Valois, rejecting inheritance through the female line.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1337 – Edward III Challenges French Authority\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhilip VI confiscated the Duchy of Gascony. In response, Edward III formally asserted his claim to the French crown, beginning the Hundred Years’ War.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Edwardian Phase (1337–1360\u003c/strong\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1340 – Naval Victory at Sluys - The English fleet defeated the French navy at the Battle of Sluys, giving England temporary control of the English Channel and improving the movement of troops and supplies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1346 – Battle of Crécy - Edward III invaded northern France and achieved a major victory at Crécy. English longbowmen devastated French cavalry attacks, demonstrating the growing importance of infantry and missile weapons in medieval warfare.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1347 – Capture of Calais - After a lengthy siege, England captured the port city of Calais, which became a vital English stronghold in France for more than two centuries.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1348–1350 – The Black Death - The plague devastated both England and France, killing millions and temporarily disrupting military campaigns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1356 – Battle of Poitiers - English forces led by Edward, the Black Prince, defeated the French army and captured King John II of France. The defeat plunged France into political and economic turmoil.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1360 – Treaty of Brétigny - France ceded large territories to England in exchange for the release of King John II. Edward III temporarily renounced his direct claim to the French throne.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrench Recovery and Renewed Conflict (1360–1413)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1364 – Charles V Becomes King of France - Charles V reorganized France and gradually recovered territory lost to England through careful military strategy and avoidance of large-scale battles.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1370s – French Reconquests - French commander Bertrand du Guesclin led successful campaigns against English-held territories. England steadily lost many of its gains.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1380s–1390s – Internal Problems in Both Kingdoms - England experienced political instability, while France suffered from factional rivalries and periods of mental illness affecting King Charles VI. The conflict entered a less active phase.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Lancastrian Phase and English Resurgence (1413–1429)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1413 – Henry V Becomes King of England - Henry V revived English ambitions in France and prepared for renewed war.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1415 – Battle of Agincourt - Henry V invaded France and achieved a dramatic victory at Agincourt despite being heavily outnumbered. English longbowmen again played a decisive role against French armored knights struggling in muddy terrain. Agincourt became one of the most famous English victories in military history.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1417–1419 – Norman Campaign - Henry V systematically conquered Normandy, strengthening English control in northern France.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1420 – Treaty of Troyes - The treaty recognized Henry V as heir to the French throne and arranged his marriage to Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI of France. The treaty disinherited the Dauphin Charles, the future Charles VII.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1422 – Deaths of Henry V and Charles VI - Both kings died within months of each other. Henry VI, the infant son of Henry V, was proclaimed king of both England and France by English supporters.The Dauphin Charles continued resistance from southern France.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoan of Arc and the French Revival (1429–1453)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1428 – Siege of Orléans - English forces besieged the strategic city of Orléans, threatening the survival of the French resistance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1429 – Joan of Arc Emerges - A young peasant woman named Joan of Arc claimed divine guidance and persuaded Charles VII to support her mission. Her arrival inspired French forces and dramatically raised morale.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMay 1429 – Relief of Orléans French forces successfully broke the siege of Orléans, marking a major turning point in the war.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJuly 1429 – Charles VII Crowned at Reims\u003cbr\u003eFollowing a series of victories, Joan escorted Charles VII to Reims Cathedral, where he was crowned king according to French tradition. The coronation strengthened Charles’s legitimacy.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1430 – Joan of Arc captured by Burgundian forces allied with England and later handed over to the English.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1431 – Execution of Joan of Arc - Joan of Arc, was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in Rouen. She later became one of the most celebrated figures in French history.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1435 – Treaty of Arras - The powerful Duchy of Burgundy abandoned its alliance with England and reconciled with Charles VII, significantly weakening the English position.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1440s – French Military Reforms - Charles VII reorganized the French army, expanded artillery forces, and created more permanent military institutions. French cannon increasingly dominated siege warfare.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1450 – Battle of Formigny - French forces defeated the English in Normandy, accelerating the collapse of English control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1453 – Battle of Castillon - French artillery played a decisive role in defeating the English army at Castillon. The battle is generally regarded as the final major engagement of the Hundred Years’ War. England lost nearly all its continental possessions except Calais.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Impact\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Hundred Years’ War transformed both England and France:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrance emerged more politically unified and centralized.\u003cbr\u003eEngland gradually shifted its focus away from continental ambitions.\u003cbr\u003eFeudal military systems weakened as professional armies and gunpowder weapons became increasingly important.\u003cbr\u003eThe longbow, artillery, and infantry tactics reshaped European warfare.\u003cbr\u003eNational identity strengthened in both kingdoms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe war also contributed indirectly to later events:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePolitical instability in England helped lead to the Wars of the Roses\u003cbr\u003eFrance evolved toward a stronger centralized monarchy\u003cbr\u003eMilitary technology accelerated the transition from medieval to early modern warfare\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eToday, the Hundred Years’ War remains one of the most influential conflicts in European history, remembered for dynastic rivalry, legendary battles, political transformation, and iconic figures such as Joan of Arc.\u003c/p\u003e","photo":"","created_at":"2026-05-23T20:15:37-07:00","updated_at":"2026-05-31T17:57:46-07:00","schema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.kudos365.com/today-in-history/events/1337ce--4873#eventK365","name":"1337 CE","headline":"The Hundred Years' War - Historical Timeline","description":"The Hundred Years' War - Historical TimelineThe Hundred Years’ War was a prolonged series of conflicts fought between the kingdoms of England and France from...","url":"https://www.kudos365.com/today-in-history/events/1337ce--4873","additionalType":"HistoricalEvent","inLanguage":"en","datePublished":"2026-05-23T20:15:37-07:00","dateModified":"2026-05-31T17:57:46-07:00","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.kudos365.com/#organizationK365"},"temporalCoverage":"1337"}}