The Hundred Years’ War Contributions Research Assignment

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THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR CONTRIBUTions
Introduction
Nationalism is the identification with an individual’s own nation, the unique identity associated with an individual due to his or her country of origin. The individual has the obligation to protect their nation’s interest, especially during wars. Nationalism is viewed as a way of advancing a nations desire to govern its citizens. The aim of nationalism is to bring people sharing similar characteristics together. These characteristics can be similar history, language, religion, politics and many others. Nationalism defines people’s identity. Centralization of political power on the hand is the concentration of political power in the hands of a few to manage a nation. Nationalism and centralization of political power in both France and England were promoted by the hundred years’ war.
The development and maturity of civilizations has not come without massive losses and bloodshed. The development of the European continent offers a good example. The continent has been the venue of some of the bloodiest battles in the history of mankind. These are wars that would later shape the future of the continent, and steer it towards even greater prosperity. One of the longest of them all however, was the seemingly unending war between France and England. The war later came to be known as the Hundred Years War, even though quite literally, it didn’t last that long but rather entailed a persistent and consistent isolated attacks between these two ,over a number of years.
The “Hundred Years of War” between France and England was a sporadic struggle between the two nations in the 14th-15th century (Trueman). The actual year of beginning and end of the war was 1337 and 1453, respectively. The basis of the war was a series of conflicts; the major dispute was who was to be the legal successor of the French thrown after the death of Charles IV of France, in the year 1328 (Trueman). . During the time of Charles IV, England was ruled by French; this was according to medieval legal agreements where a king could be a vassal to another king if the former acquired titles in the latter's kingdom.
The definition of England’s titles in France was altered by the marriage alliances and war between the two countries. After the death of Charles IV, Edward III of England who was a duke of Guyenne claimed that he was the legal successor to the French throne. His argument was based on the fact that his mother was Charles IV sister and that Charles IV had no sons to inherit the throne (Keen). Edward III was opposed by Count of Valois, France, who was the son of Philip III. Through the French assembly, Count was chosen over Edward III, and Count became Philip VI. The decision was accepted by Edward III, and things became peaceful.
The war started in 1337 when Philip VI out of fear of having another king in his kingdom decided to confiscate the land of Guyenne (Wilde). This was the residence of Edward III. The action angered Edward III, and he decided to once more attempt to claim the throne. Edward III brought an army to Flanders to show his desire to fight for the thrown. After bringing the army, the war started.
The war was mostly pitched battles, and clear decisions could be made after each war. The war was based on laying siege around fortified cities; this was costly for the kingdom. The England armies fought to expand the territory of England but at the same time trying as much as possible not to harm Philip VI and his family. In 1356, Edwards III's son captured John II at Poitiers, where they had a triumphant victory. After the victory and capturing of John II, French agreed and signed a peace treaty, Calais treaty of 1360. Edward III was at that time allowed to reign over the land he was holding as a vassal to Philip VI. This treaty was later dishonored by Charles V; this opened another conflict between the two nations until Charles V died in 1380 (Sumption 43).
In 1380, the two countries were both preoccupied with the power struggle. The main struggle was to have Flanders in their territories. During this time Henry IV and Charles VI reigned over England and France (Sumption 45). The power struggle continued for a long time; various England leaders including Henry V and others continued fighting for the thrown until 1422. The war changed when England raised a siege on Orleans with the help of a relief force organized by Joan of Arc (Thery). She was later captured by the Burgundians and sold to England, where she was tried and executed for heresy. The war was settled in 1453 after Paris was brought into the French territory. England only managed to acquire Calais which they later relinquished in 1458.
The “Hundred Years of War” has been considered by historians as a step in the development of national consciousness between the two countries, England and French. The English monarchs after witnessing success mixed with frustrations in the war turned to solve the problems of internal developments. After having an intensified struggle by the house of Valois to secure French crown, the French decided that France could not be divided amongst princes in France.
How the "Hundred Years of War” Contributed to Nationalism
England
The war was not a national interest. It was a power succession war between the monarchs of England and France. It was Edward III that convinced the English people that the war was not a fight between two kings but a national war (Faculty of History, University of Oxford). He expected to get support from the larger population of England in the war. Since then the government of England persuaded its people that the war was national. The government used the parliament to explain why they needed military services and tax grants to win the war. The communication from the parliaments was then passed to the locals through MPs and sheriffs, in the markets and center of local governments. Newsletters of the war were circulated, and negative stereotyping of France was dominant in English songs.
In England, the church was a good platform for passing information. The churches were in every parish in the kingdom, and the government was sure of reaching many people through the churches (Faculty of History, University of Oxford). The church leaders, mostly the bishops, sent words to the local priests to hold prayers and processions for the war. All these religious activities were meant t...