HUNDRED YEARS' WAR, THE. The name of the long series of ennlests waged by the English kings, between 1337 and 1153, to gain the French crown and French territory. It was by no means an uninterrupted war, but rather a succession of battles, truces, and peaees, The first great period of the war extends from 1337 to 1380. Philip VI. (135S-50), of the Douse of \"alois, hail succeeded Charles IN., the last of the direct descendants Of Hugh Capet, since, in accordance n tilt the static law (9.v.), the (Town of Franey could be transmitted through the male lino only, though Edward 111. of Eliglawl was a nearer relation to the late King, his mother, 1 -:thel la, being a sister of Charles. Edward's claim, home\ er, was weak in this, that if fe males equal(' transmit claims to Ili,' crown. then there nen. others w110 had even elaiuts titan the English King. dune 0, 13:11), and May 30, 1331. Edward by letters patent. recog nized Philip's elainis, and had the Leiter been it more capable man. war might not have re sulted. The French King interfered in the aliairs of the Flemish cities, with which England had intimate commercial relations. :1Ioreover, Ed uard was influenced by the exiled Hobert of Artois, who had Lein unable to obtain his in 11,-1-it:nice front Philip VI. Edward declared war in 1337, and gradually made alliances with the Emperor Louis IV. and John of Brittany. who was opposed hy t'liarles of Blois, cousin of Philip VI., in his attempts to secure Ids inheritance. It is this war in Brittany which the great citron (q.v.) has especially (hi the other hand, l'hilip established that close alliance of l'rance and Sentland which was to (maitre for centuries. 'Flier,. were many small skirmishes during the first years of the war, but neither side gained decisive victories. and on danuary 9, 1313, a truce was concluded for throe years. each side retaining its possessions. llos tilitii.s, however. were resumed in 1:315. At this juncture the alliance of the Flemish cities was lost to Faigland by the death of Jakob van Arte vehle (q.v.). the leader Of the perished in a popular tumult. on August 2G,
13t0. the English, under the leadership of Ed ward himself, won their first great vielory at Crr.ey (q.v.). which showed that the French knights eoubl nut stand against the well-41kei plined yeoman archers of England. The victors took possession of Calais.
'Meanwhile France Nvas already experiencing the evils of War: the distress of the peasants was great : financial troubles set, in, made worse by the tampering with the coin and the ever•inereas ing taxes. The second great defeat of the French took place at Poitiers (q.v.) , in 1356, where the famous Black Prince led the English, and where King John. the successor of Philip V1., was taken prisoner. The States-tlrateral now for a time had control of the .\41ministration. Their loaders were Etknite Al:arced, provost of the Merchants. Robert he Coq. Bishop of Latm, and Charles the (tad of Navarre; but the revolt of the peasants key .1 AtIll-Entri
137; en used the more conservative el:asses In rally to the aid of the Dauphin Charles, who had been appointed regent by the States (general (luring King Joint's captivity. A brief breatliing-spell was brnuold about in 1300 by the Peace of Bre t il.my ((vv.). .Tohn flied in 1361, and his son Charles V. (q.v.l, who was to be known as the "Wise.' succeeded him. Himself an unwarlil