After the French king died without a successor, the French nobility selected Philip of Valois. He...
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Transcript of After the French king died without a successor, the French nobility selected Philip of Valois. He...
After the French king died without a successor, the French nobility selected Philip of Valois.He was chosen over King Edward III of England, grandson of the dead king.
In 1340, Edward claimed the title “King of France.”
1. Controversy Over Succession
1. Controversy Over Succession
2. Fr. Land Belonging to Br. Kings
2. Fr. Land Belonging to Br. Kings
A longer standing issue was the status of lands within France that belonged to English kings.
Edward was actually a vassal of Philip’s, holding territory as fiefs from the king of France [it went back to the Norman conquest].
3. A Struggle for National Identity
3. 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 Hundred Years WarThe Hundred Years WarThe War was fought off and on for over a hundred years.The British dominated the early part of the war and by the early 1400’s controlled about half of France.
The English used the longbow. The longbow was six feet long and could pierce an armored knight from 100 yards away.Its arrows had more penetrating power than a crossbow.A longbow could be fired more rapidly.
The LongbowThe Longbow
Early British VictoriesEarly British VictoriesThe British won early victories at Crecy (1346), Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415).British longbowman devastated direct frontal assaults by French mounted knights.
End of Mounted KnightsEnd of Mounted KnightsThe longbow spelled the beginning of the end for chivalry and mounted knightsY Matchlock firearms which used gunpowder
finished them off
Early English VictoriesEarly English Victories
Height of English Dominance
Height of English Dominance
Joan of Arc (1412-1432)Joan of Arc (1412-1432)
Her “voices” told her to go to the king and assist him in driving out the English.She dressed like a man and was the King’s most charismatic and feared military leader.
Joan’s VictoriesJoan’s VictoriesShe is most famous for defeating the English at the Battle of Orleans.Shortly afterward, the French heir to the throne, Charles VII was crowned king.
Y She instantly became a symbol of French resistance.
Cannons Used at Orleans
Cannons Used at Orleans
Joan Announces the Capture of Orleans to
the King
Joan Announces the Capture of Orleans to
the King
Joan of Arc (1412-1432)Joan of Arc (1412-1432)She inspired the French and provided a sense of national pride.She was captured during an attack on Paris and fell into English hands.Y Because of her “unnatural dress” and claim
to divine guidance, she was condemned and burned as a heretic in 1432.
Results of the WarResults of the War
Knights become obsolete, feudalism weakenedFrench kings consolidate powerFrance develops into a nation-stateEnglish lose power in France and become politically weakened at home
France Becomes Unified!France Becomes Unified!
France in 1337
France in 1453
