Question 1

The Hundred Years' War was fought primarily between which two kingdoms?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What was the primary cause of the Hundred Years' War?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

The Battle of Crecy (1346) is famous for demonstrating the devastating effectiveness of which weapon?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Edward, the Black Prince, won a famous victory at which battle in 1356?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

The Treaty of Bretigny (1360) temporarily halted the war. What did England gain?

Accepted Answer

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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