Hundred Years' War History Quiz
How well do you know the Hundred Years' War? From the Battle of Crecy to Joan of Arc, test your knowledge of the longest conflict in medieval European history.
Review questions and answers
Open after playing to review every question, the correct answers, and the historical explanations.
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The Hundred Years' War was fought primarily between which two kingdoms?
England and France
The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) was a series of conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France. It was rooted in English kings' claims to the French throne through inheritance and in disputes over English-held territories in France. The war reshaped both nations and marked the transition from medieval to early modern warfare.
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What was the primary cause of the Hundred Years' War?
English claims to the French throne and disputes over English-held lands in France
The war was triggered when the French Capetian dynasty died out in 1328 and King Edward III of England claimed the French throne through his mother Isabella, daughter of French King Philip IV. The French nobility chose Philip VI of Valois instead. Combined with long-standing disputes over English-held Aquitaine (Gascony), this succession crisis led to open war in 1337.
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The Battle of Crecy (1346) is famous for demonstrating the devastating effectiveness of which weapon?
The English longbow
At Crecy on August 26, 1346, English longbowmen decimated the French army, including waves of Genoese crossbowmen and mounted knights. The longbow could fire 10-12 arrows per minute at ranges up to 250 yards, far outpacing the crossbow's rate of fire. The battle demonstrated that disciplined infantry with ranged weapons could destroy heavy cavalry, fundamentally challenging the dominance of mounted knights.
Fun Fact: Some early cannons (called "ribaudequins") were also used at Crecy, making it one of the first major European battles to feature gunpowder weapons, though they had little impact on the outcome.
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Edward, the Black Prince, won a famous victory at which battle in 1356?
The Battle of Poitiers
Edward, Prince of Wales — known as the Black Prince — won a stunning victory at the Battle of Poitiers on September 19, 1356. His outnumbered English force defeated the French army and captured King John II of France. The king's capture was a catastrophic blow to French prestige and led to the Treaty of Bretigny in 1360, which granted England vast territories in France.
Fun Fact: The nickname "Black Prince" does not appear in any records from Edward's lifetime. It first appeared in the 16th century, possibly referring to the color of his armor or his fearsome reputation.
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The Treaty of Bretigny (1360) temporarily halted the war. What did England gain?
Full sovereignty over an expanded Aquitaine and a massive ransom for King John II
The Treaty of Bretigny granted England full sovereignty (rather than feudal vassalage) over a greatly expanded Aquitaine covering roughly a third of France, plus Calais and Ponthieu. France also agreed to pay a ransom of 3 million gold ecus for King John II's release. In exchange, Edward III renounced his claim to the French throne. However, the treaty's territorial provisions were never fully implemented, and war resumed in 1369.
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What devastating event weakened both England and France during the mid-14th century and contributed to a lull in fighting?
The Black Death (bubonic plague)
The Black Death ravaged Europe from 1347 to 1351, killing an estimated one-third to one-half of Europe's population. Both England and France were devastated, and the massive loss of life contributed to a period of reduced military activity. The plague's social and economic upheaval, including severe labor shortages and peasant revolts, reshaped both societies for generations.
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King Henry V of England won a legendary victory at which battle in 1415?
The Battle of Agincourt
Henry V defeated a much larger French army at the Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day). English longbowmen once again proved decisive, cutting down French knights who advanced through muddy, narrow terrain. The victory, which killed thousands of French nobles, revived English fortunes in the war and paved the way for the Treaty of Troyes in 1420.
Fun Fact: Shakespeare immortalized the battle in "Henry V," giving the king the famous "Band of Brothers" speech, though the real Henry's pre-battle words are unrecorded.
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The Treaty of Troyes (1420) made what extraordinary arrangement?
It recognized Henry V as heir to the French throne, disinheriting the Dauphin Charles
The Treaty of Troyes, signed on May 21, 1420, recognized King Henry V of England as regent of France and heir to the French throne, bypassing the Dauphin (the future Charles VII). Henry married the French princess Catherine of Valois to seal the deal. However, both Henry V and French King Charles VI died in 1422, leaving Henry's infant son Henry VI as nominal king of both realms and the disinherited Dauphin to fight for his claim.
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Joan of Arc first gained prominence by leading French forces to lift the siege of which city in 1429?
Orleans
Joan of Arc, a teenage peasant girl who claimed divine guidance, convinced the Dauphin Charles to send her to relieve the English siege of Orleans. She arrived on April 29, 1429, and within nine days the English had been driven from their siege positions. The relief of Orleans was a turning point that revitalized French morale and began a series of victories that transformed the war.
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After the victory at Orleans, Joan of Arc's next major achievement was escorting Charles VII to which city for his coronation?
Reims
Joan urged Charles to march to Reims, the traditional coronation city of French kings, to be formally crowned. The march through English-held territory succeeded, and Charles VII was crowned at Reims Cathedral on July 17, 1429. The coronation was of enormous symbolic importance, legitimizing Charles's claim and undermining English authority in France.
Fun Fact: Joan of Arc stood beside Charles during the coronation ceremony, holding her battle standard. She later said the standard had "borne the burden" and "was right that it should have the honor."
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How did Joan of Arc die?
She was burned at the stake in Rouen after being convicted of heresy
Joan of Arc was captured by Burgundian forces in May 1430 and sold to the English, who put her on trial for heresy in Rouen. After a months-long trial conducted by pro-English clergy, she was convicted and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, at the age of about 19. A retrial in 1456 overturned her conviction, and she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920.
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The Duchy of Burgundy played a crucial role in the Hundred Years' War. Which side did Burgundy support for most of the conflict?
Burgundy switched sides, initially allying with England before reconciling with France
The Duchy of Burgundy's alliance with England after 1419 was devastating for France. The alliance was triggered by the assassination of Duke John the Fearless by supporters of the Dauphin Charles during a peace meeting. Burgundy's defection gave the English control of much of northern France. The war turned decisively when Burgundy reconciled with France through the Treaty of Arras in 1435, depriving England of its most powerful continental ally.
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The Battle of Castillon in 1453 is considered the last major battle of the Hundred Years' War. What made it historically significant?
It was one of the first European battles where cannon fire was the decisive factor
The Battle of Castillon on July 17, 1453, is notable as one of the first battles in European history where field artillery played the decisive role. French cannons devastated the attacking English force led by John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, who was killed. The French victory at Castillon ended England's last military campaign in France and effectively concluded the Hundred Years' War, though no formal treaty was signed.
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After the Hundred Years' War, what was the only territory in France that England retained?
Calais
After the war ended in 1453, the only French territory remaining in English hands was the port city of Calais on the northern coast. England had held Calais since Edward III captured it in 1347 after a famous siege. It remained English for over two centuries until it was finally recaptured by France in 1558, an event that reportedly caused Queen Mary I to say, "When I am dead, you will find Calais engraved upon my heart."
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What was a major lasting consequence of the Hundred Years' War?
The strengthening of French national identity and the decline of English territorial ambitions in France
The Hundred Years' War forged a strong sense of French national identity, transforming France from a collection of feudal territories into a more unified kingdom. For England, the loss of continental possessions redirected focus toward the British Isles and eventually overseas expansion. The war also accelerated military innovations, including the use of gunpowder artillery, standing armies, and the decline of feudal knight-based warfare.