Transcript William the Conqueror and the Hundred Years War

Did Ya Know…
• England was ruled by “French” kings
for 387 years?
–“French” = Norman
• How did THAT happen?
• 800s the island of Great Britain was
divided among several small kingdoms.
– Faced significant threats from Vikings in
North.
– Kingdoms made up of the Anglo-Saxons –
shared common language & culture
• 886 CE Anglo-Saxon leader , Alfred the
Great, able to unite kingdoms into one
nation, called Angleland.
– Later be changed to England.
• Created strong central government,
able to use strength to defeat
Vikings
• Sought to bring about cultural
reform in kingdom.
– Established schools,
– Had literary works translated into
the language of Anglo-Saxons
• Anglo-Saxon kings would rule
England for next 200 years
• 1066, Edward The
Confessor dies suddenly
–Last Anglo-Saxon king
of England
–No male heir
• After the death of King
Edward, three men laid
claim to the throne.
Harold
Godwinson
William of
Normandy
Harold
Hardraada
 English and his daughter, Edith, was
married to Edward the Confessor
 Earl of Wessex; member of one of the
most powerful families in England
 Edward named him king shortly before
he died; however, relations were
strained (exiled in 1051, but returned
in 1052)
 During exile, Harold promised William
of Normandy that he would help him
to become king of England when
Edward died.
 The descendant of Viking raiders, but was
French
 William was the grandson of Edward's
maternal uncle, Richard II, former Duke of
Normandy
 Visited England and Edward agreed to name
him as the new king when he died.
 Harold Godwinson pledged to help him
 Sent troops to help Edward before he died
and was well respected by the English people.
 King of Norway (Viking) felt he should
have been king of England too!
 His family had been kings of England
before Edward.
 Harald had support from the English
people in the north.
 There was no one to replace Edward so
Harald wanted the crown of England for
himself.
 Not related to Edward
• In Saxon times the crown was not
necessarily hereditary.
• A body of men called the Witan
played a role in choosing the next
king.
– Nobody could become king without
the Witan’s support.
• In January 1066, the Witan chose
Harold, Earl of Wessex, to be the
next king.
– Crowned King Harold II of England
on October 14, 1066
• Viking King Harald Hardraada
invades with a fleet of
approximately 10,000 men
– Handily defeated by Harold II’s
men at the Battle of Stamford
Bridge
• Although a great triumph for
Harold and the Saxons, their
strength was badly depleted by
the fight
• September 28, 1066, William landed in
England with approximately 7,000 troops and
cavalry.
• At the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold
was killed—shot in the eye with an arrow,
according to legend—and his forces were
destroyed.
• He was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
• After his victory at the Battle of Hastings, William
marched on London and received the city's submission.
• On Christmas Day, 1066, he was crowned the first
Norman king of England, in Westminster Abbey, and
the Anglo-Saxon phase of English history came to an
end.
• French became the language of the king's court and
gradually blended with the Anglo-Saxon tongue to
give birth to modern English.
• The term "Hundred Years War" was a
historical term used by historians to describe a
series of events in the 14th and 15th centuries.
• The conflict was between France and England
lasting 116 years, though there were long
periods of “game-off” between battles.
• It was fought primarily over claims by the
English kings to the French throne.
• The war gave motion to ideas of French and English
nationality.
• Introduction of new weapons and tactics, which
eroded the older systems of feudal armies dominated
by cavalry.
• The first standing armies in Western Europe since the
time of the Western Roman Empire were introduced
for the war, thus changing the role of the peasantry.
• Norman Conquest of England: French
king, William I, sits on England’s throne
–Controls lands in France.
–From here on out, it is English rulers’ goal to
control lands in both England and France.
• Also control of the English Channel
– Some English kings marry into the French nobility
to gain more lands
• Following the death of King Philip VI in 1314, the
French nobility selected Philip of Valois, a nephew of
the king through the male line to become the new
king.
– He was chosen over King Edward III of England, whose
mother was the daughter of the late king (grandson to
King Philip VI)
• In 1340, Edward III claimed the title “King of
France” and invades
King of France
Dead
King Philip VI
Charles of Valois
Daughter
Isabella of France
Edward II of England
Nephew
Grandson
Edward III
Philip of Valois
• France was NOT a
united country
before the war
began.
• The French king
only controlled
about half of the
country.
• One king after another on both sides continue
to fight
• England won most of battles, but French
wouldn’t surrender
• Things got interesting in 1429 when a French
peasant girl got involved…
• French Dauphin Charles VII vs.
English King Henry VI
– Dauphin = Heir to the French
throne
• French peasant girl hears voices
of Saints at age 12
• Believes that God telling her to
help save France
• Goes to Dauphin to offer her
help. He refused.
• She returned the next year and
with a small force, won several
battles (despite being shot
through the neck in one and the
leg in another!)
– Major victory at Orleans
– Captured by Burgundians (allied
with English) who put her on
trial to avoid creating a martyr:
• Put her on trial for heresy & witch
craft
• Then, burned her at the stake!
• Opps! Turns out she was
turned into a martyr after all.
– Inspired French to fight &
unite.
• By 1453, English were driven
from most of France, which
was now strong and united.
• Joan became a saint and
national heroine.
• Changed balance of power in England and France
– Power to kings and away from feudal lords
• New types of warfare
– From a few knights to many foot soldiers
– From hand-to-hand combat to longbow and cannons
– Nationalism—feeling of national identity and pride
• With no chance of another European empire…where
would these powerful nations look to expand their
power?