The 100 Years War was fought because the English Kings had a firm claim to large parts of France. The English had a number of spectacular victories but this preoccupation with France held England back from greater opportunity. – Very Highly Recommended
NAME: England France and Aquitaine, From Victory To Defeat In The Hundred Years War FILE: R3309 AUTHOR: Richard Ballard PUBLISHER: Pen and Sword BINDING: hard back PRICE: £25.00 GENRE: Non Fiction SUBJECT: Bordeaux, Gascony, Henry V, Henry VI, Charles VI, Charles VII, French, English, feudal, feudalism, growth of nations, courtly intrigue, dynastic intrigue, civil wars, rights of succession ISBN: 1-52676-859-3 PAGES: 273, 6 page b&w photo plate section IMAGE: B3309.jpg BUYNOW: tinyurl.com/yxwkvwc5 LINKS: DESCRIPTION: The 100 Years War was fought because the English Kings had a firm claim to large parts of France. The English had a number of spectacular victories but this preoccupation with France held England back from greater opportunity. – Very Highly Recommended
The wars lasted so long that both sides lost sight of what the objectives should be. Over a 100 year period the fortunes of France and England fluctuated. The warfare did not end with the Treaty of Picquigny in 1476 but smouldered on until Queen Mary Tudor lost Calais in the following century. That marked the point at which England marched forward as a sea-based Empire and outstripped France as a world power.
The author has provided an entertaining and informative review of the conflict and the factors leading up to the loss of Gascony and Bordeaux. There is an extensive bibliography, appendix and notes that add to the story. A modest b&w photo plate section includes maps.
The story is particularly interesting today because it can compare with a half century of recent preoccupation with Europe that has once more held Britain back. With its ending, Britain is once more unencumbered in going out into the world again and seeking new and exciting opportunity.