100 Years War Essay Research Paper The

100 Years War Essay, Research Paper

The definition of the Golden Rule is that those with the gold make the rules. In

other words, those with the gold have the power as well as those with the power have the

gold. History books will discuss the general reasons for war such as freedom from

adversity or freedom from religion. But the real issue for any war is the thirst for power

and control; and the means to finance them are the economic issues.

Nations will endure years of fighting for power and control. France and England

fought each other for more than a hundred years to have control of the Channel trade

routes. 1 This century of warring was known as The Hundred Years’ War and is the

longest war in record history. It began in 1337 when King Edward III invaded Normandy

and ended in 1453 when France won the Battle of Bordeaux. However, it was not a

hundred years of constant battle; there were periods of truces in between. 2

One cause for the Hundred Years’ War was the claim to the French throne. The

conflict began when the direct line of succession died without a male heir and the nobles

decided to pass the crown to a cousin, Philip of Valois. But this left two other male

cousins equally deserving of the crown; Charles, King of Navarre and Edward III, King of

England. 3 Edward III claimed that he himself was deserving of the throne because his

mother was the sister of the late French king, while Philip VI was only a cousin. But

according to French law, no women could inherit the throne, nor could the crown be

inherited through a woman. 4

“Philip of Valois chances of becoming King of France had been remote and he had

not been brought up as the future lieutenant of God on Earth. Philip VI spent much of his

resources on entertainment and finery with gay abandon.” 5 This caused conflict with the

king’s subjects. Since the king was considered to be sacred and inviolable, neither cousin

would challenge Philip VI. However, they would exploit the situation and King Edward

III lost no time and invaded Normandy with an army of 10,000

men. 6

This leads to another cause for The Hundred Years’ War. The land along the

Channel and Atlantic coasts was England’s first line of defense against an invasion.

England held claim to this territory from the twelth century through the marriage of King

Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. King Edward III was determined to gain control of

the French coastline while providing himself with a bridgehead for future expeditions into

France. 7

But the major cause of The Hundred Years’ War was the economic interest – the

revenues to be gotten from this rich territory. Wine was Gasgony’s largest export product

and major source of income to the vassal. Wool was England’s largest export product and

the source of its wealth. English pastures produced fleeces that were the envy of Europe

which Flanders depended on for its wool and linen market. 8 English sheep growers sold

their long fine wool to weavers in Flanders, across the English Channel. Flemish weavers

as well as English sheep growers depended on this trade for their business. In 1336, Philip

VI arrested all the English merchants in Flanders and took away all the privileges of the

Flemish towns and the craft guilds. Resulting in the Flemings revolting against the French

control and making an alliance with England. 9 Consequently, the flourishing market of

the industrial cities of Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Ypres were naturally coveted by the

Kings of France and England.

Moreover, the Bordeaux harbor was within the borders of English Gascony and

was the center of the shipping and trading industry. Commodities such as grains, dairy

products, dyes and salt would be shipped into Bordeaux via the Dordogne and Garonne

Rivers and the merchants were charged a customs fee for these products. Also, Bordeaux

would receive duties on wine, whether shipped-in or grown on Gascon soil.

Consequently, the profits from the tolls and customs made Bordeaux the economic capital

of Gascony. Furthermore, control of neighboring areas such as Guyenne and Calais were

economically vital. Their union with Bordeaux would ensure England with a monopoly of

the shipping and trading industry from Spain, Portugal and Brittany. 10

France was the richest country in Europe and its army was much larger than

England’s. In addition, France’s army consisted of hired mercenaries. Therefore, France

should have quickly defeated England. But France’s army consisted of heavily armored

knights who were less mobile against the agile English swordsmen. The French military

leaders soon realized the archer was the only effective when fighting a pitched battle.

Consequently, France implemented a strategic plan which was to avoid active warfare and

to utilize the technique of diplomacy and concessions. England could win battles, but

France could avoid them. Pitched battles were accept

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