Divert of the French with Crécy (1346)
National library of France
Edouard III invades France and inflicts to Philippe VI a serious defeat with Crécy. The French knights, much more than their adversaries, are decimated by the English archers following a bold load.
England, smaller than France, is managed better, and the active participation of high level specialists makes it possible to the sovereigns to join together considerable means. The conquest of Wales and the wars of Scotland, moreover, allowed the modernization of the army. The mobilization of the means in England
From 1336, the devices of war intensify. Edouard III benefits from the power struggles within the French nobility and accommodates Robert d' Artois in London. Philippe VI confiscates Guyenne. But the military operations, too often intersected with truces, are dedicated to the failure. The two adversaries miss means. Edouard III can finance the diplomatic offensive only it launched in the direction of the Empire and from the Netherlands.
However, in 1340, its alliance with the Flemings enables him to gain the victory of the Lock, which ensures the English the control of the sea for long years; Edouard III supports Jean de Montfort, claiming with the throne of Brittany, against the French Charles of Blois. At the cost of important political concessions, it succeeds in gaining the confidence of the English aristocracy and exerts since 1345 a strong military pressure in Brittany and Guyenne whereas, in France, Philippe VI causes a growing mistrust.
Crécy and Calais
The English carry the war to France. Carrying out in 1346 through Normandy a “ride”, forwarding intended to plunder the crossed countries, Edouard III are hung at the time of its retirement: the English army inflicts in Crécy a bloody defeat with the French. After a long seat, Edouard III takes Calais, from now on main door of the English in France.
At the same moment, its adversaries, David Bruce (king d' Ecosse) and Charles of Blois (claiming with the throne of Brittany), fall between its hands. From 1347 to 1349, the epidemic of Black Death which devastates Europe keep silent nearly the third to the population and limit the frequency of the engagements.
Poitiers and the crisis of French monarchy
Jean the Good, which succeeds Philippe VI, runs up against a new adversary, Charles the Bad one, count d' Evreux and king de Navarre, son of Philippe d' Evreux and Jeanne de Navarre. He makes it stop in 1356. In 1355 and 1356, Edouard (son of Edouard III), known as Prince Noir, carries out two forwardings starting from Guyenne. In 1356, the English gain a first victory over the French. King Jean is made prisoner. The defeat, charged to the cowardice of noble, starts disorders in France, where the tax requirements of monarchy, presented into 1356 to the general states, are disputed.
Various resistance movements will be organized: the jacquerie in Ile-de-France and the seizure of power in Paris by Étienne Marcel, the provost of the merchants. In 1358, the Charles dolphin, which controls in the absence of his father, escapes Étienne Marcel, who is assassinated. It is Charles the Bad one who crushes the Jacques. In 1360, Edouard III and Charles sign the treaty of Brétigny. The king of England receives Poitou, the Limousin, Périgord, Quercy, Rouergue, but must give up the crown of France. The royal ransom is fixed at three million ecus. But the commitments entered into by the two kings will never be respected.
The French re-establishment
In Guyenne, the question of sovereignty arises. However, after Brétigny, the French situation is reinforced. In 1364, the death of Charles of Blois to the battle of Auray ensures in Brittany the power Jean IV of Montfort. In 1364, of Guesclin crushes the troops of Charles the Bad one in Cocherel and involves towards Spain, in 1367, the Large Companies which devastate the country. But Edouard III, too old, and Prince Noir, sick, cannot continue the effort of war.
In 1369, the war begins again on order of king de France and at the request of two Gascon lords, the count of Armagnac and the lord d' Albret. The troops of of Guesclin and Charles V advance unrelentingly. They exhaust the English rides while devastating very in front of them and besiege one after the other the English garrisons. In 1380, it remains with the English only Calais and, in Guyenne, the areas of Bordeaux and Bayonne.