Tales of the Hundred Years War Quiz

Answer: Battle of Sluys

Although the war officially began in 1337, the first major battle did not take place until 1340 at the Battle of Sluys. While it may be surprising that the first major battle of the war was fought in Flanders, it must be remembered that Flanders was a contested area between the two countries at the time.

The area was dependent on English wool for their textile industry and the French, who were marginally in control of the area, had been trying to gain more power in the area for years. The English were happy to encourage uprisings in the area, and, in a show of power, the French were constructing battleships there.

The Battle of Sluys was a major victory for the English, as they were able to capture or destroy most of France's ships. The English victory in the Battle of Sluys insured that there would be no French invasion of England, however, raids in coastal areas and shipping lanes did continue.

Answer: Battle of Crecy

It was at the Battle of Crecy that the worth of longbowmen over mounted knights and crossbowmen was proven. While later historians have decided that arrows probably could not penetrate the body armor used at the time, this was not the case for armor that covered the limbs.

In addition, think of the horses, who had no protection and the shower of arrows that could be launched by an estimated 10,000 (numbers vary by sources) longbowmen who were said to have received 60-70 arrows each before the battle began. Yikes! The Battle of Crecy was a devastating loss of life for the French, and even though there were soldiers armed with crossbows, they simply did not have the same impact as longbowmen. Crossbows could not be loaded and shot as quickly, and a sudden rain shower before the battle stretched and damaged the strings on the weapons; the longbowmen simply removed their strings and kept them dry.

Answer: Calais

Calais is located in France across the English Channel from Dover, and, because it was the closest port to England, held a very strategic location during the Hundred Years War. The city, however, was highly defended with walls and a moat that were nearly impossible to penetrate - even with the use of 20 cannons. Finally, after the English were able to cut off supplies from the sea, their siege was successful and they won the city.

They used it as a base for future raids into France and maintained control of the city until 1558.

Answer: Battle of Poitiers

The Battle of Poitiers was another huge loss for France against the longbowmen of the English army. Edward, the Black Prince, who was the leader of the English army, reported to his father, Edward III, that only 40 men had been lost at the battle - opposed to the 2500 dead and wounded and 2000 members of the French army who were captured. Even though the French refused to pay the huge ransom demanded for the king, his release was eventually negotiated.

Answer: Battle of La Rochelle

At the Battle of La Rochelle (1372) a much smaller fleet, led by French ally Castille, either captured or destroyed most of the English fleet. Some historians believe that the defeat ended England's domination of the French coast during the Hundred Years War.

It did take a year for the English to rebuild the fleet that they had lost. In 1419 another Battle of Rochelle was fought; again, the navy of Castille defeated the English, this time using guns on their ships.

Answer: Battle of Agincourt

Another great victory for the longbowmen in the English army, it is said that at the Battle of Agincourt one thousand arrows were fired every second. While it was an overwhelming victory for England, King Henry V did not use the victory to his advantage.

Instead of pressing the French, he went back home to England to be hailed a hero. He was, however, able to force Charles VI to sign the Treaty of Troyes in 1420. The treaty made Henry V the heir of the French king and allowed him to marry Charles' daughter, Catherine. Both men died within two years, however, and fighting resumed when Charles VII, the son of Charles VI, tried to win back the throne.

Answer: Rouen

Considered to be one of Frances most fortified cities, Rouen fell to the English within eleven months. It was filled with so many starving people that it was said that even the English king felt sorry for the people and sent food for the poor on Christmas Day.

After taking Rouen, the English used the city as a base for their raids on Paris. In 1449 the French regained Rouen from the English at the Battle of Rouen.

Answer: Orleans

The location of Orleans on the Loire River made it an important site during the Hundred Years War. England already controlled northern and southern France. Orleans was considered to be the final barrier to an English invasion of central France. Considered to be a turning point in the war, the Siege of Orleans, also called the Battle of Orleans, ended a few weeks after the first meeting between The Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc, and the Dauphin.

When her letter did not convince the English commander to lift the siege, the French army successfully attacked English positions at Saint Loup and Les Tourelles.

While Joan of Arc never actively fought in battle, her presence was said to have been an inspiration to the French soldiers.

Answer: Battle of Patay

The French victory at the Battle of Patay was a huge deal; some historians say that victory at the Battle at Patay was for the French as victory at the Battle of Agincourt was for the English. Finally, the French army was able to overcome English archers, and it is estimated that about half (2000) of the English army was either killed or captured.

In comparison, French losses totaled about a hundred men. Another benefit of the victory was that the English lost many of their seasoned leaders - a loss from which they would never recover. Shortly after the victory, the Dauphin was able to make his way to Reims to be crowned Charles VII.

Answer: Battle of Castillon

Historians compare the Battle of Castillon to the Battle of Crecy in reverse. One source claimed that every French shot at the battle killed six men at one time. It was a rout, and in the end, the English lost one of their most important commanders, John Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury.

At the time, it appears that neither side realized that the war was over; Henry VI, however, suffered a total mental breakdown in 1453 and England became involved in the War of the Roses shortly after.