Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE EIGHT

Late Middle Ages

1

Reign of Edward III (1327-77) - AGE OF CHIVALRY

Reforms:

•

English introduced as the official language of courts of law

•

1332 - division of Parliament into the House of Commons and House of Lords

•

1348 - Order of the Garter

THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR (1337 - 1453)

specificity

•

interrupted by peace treaties and internal developments in England

•

fought in France by English armies, French raiding the southern coast of England

•

victories of the English being constantly outnumbered

•

extensive use of the Welsh longbow

•

Scots helping the French (Auld Alliance)

causes

•

Edward III claims the French throne and supports anti-French rebellion in Flanders

•

Overall economic and trade competition - English protection of wooltrade

course of war

•

English invasion led by Edward III and Edward the Black Prince

•

English naval victory at Sluys 1340

•

1346 - the Battle of Crecy - huge English victory

•

1347 - Calais becomes English foothold in France until 1558

The war is interrupted by Black Death (1348) – bubonic plague, the greatest demographic
disaster in European history. About one third of the population of Europe dies out, nearly one
half of English population.

•

Battle of Poitiers (1356) - French King John II taken prisoner

•

1360 Treaty of Bretigny - Edward III abandons his claim to the French throne for
sovereignty over Aquitaine and Calais

The French regain initiative and lands -

the Treaty of Paris 1396 - Calais and Gascony remain

English – war formally ceases until 1415

Great Peasants' Revolt in Kent - 1381

John Wycliffe (1320s – 1384)

- Oxford church reformer, "the morning star of the

Reformation"

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE EIGHT

Late Middle Ages

2

•

the Scriptures over the papacy and church officials

•

the Pope is the antichrist

•

first translation of the Bible into English (completed in 1384)

Wycliffe’s banished from Oxford but not executed – dies in 1384
Wycliffe’s followers: The Lollards (lollaer - Dutch - 'to mumble prayers') preach the Bible in
English - influence John Huss of Bohemia and later Reformation activists.

House of Lancaster (1399-1461)

Henry IV (1399-1413)

much of his reign defending himself against plots, rebellions, and

assassination attempts.

Rebellion of Owen Glendower in Wales (1400-1415)

- the Last War of Independence -

creates the concept of the Welsh as a nation, and national identity - national hero and
symbol of resistance against English oppression.

Henry V (1413-1422)

- vigorous ruler and successful military leader

Reviving the claim of Edward III to the French throne - in

1415 Hundred Years' War is

resumed

•

1415 - Battle of Agincourt – great English victory at war

•

1420 - by Treaty of Troyes:

-

north of France (Paris included) submits

-

Henry V to becomes the king of France but dies in 1422 leaving Henry VI as heir
at war with France.

The English advance south and stop at Orleans laying siege

1428-29 Siege of Orleans - the war's turning point - Joan d'Arc - leads the popular revolt

The war goes on until 1453 and the English gradually lose all possessions except Calais
(English until 1558).

Consequences for England

-

failure and huge costs - economic exhaustion

-

strengthening of English consciousness and English language

-

English culture and nationality become distinct from the French

-

Numbers of unemployed veterans return to England

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE EIGHT

Late Middle Ages

3

WARS OF THE ROSES (1455-1485)

Between 1453 and 1455 Henry VI becomes imbecile and the country thrown into rivalry of
his advisors (two branches of the Plantagenet tree):

1.

York: WHITE ROSE

2.

Lancaster: RED ROSE

specificity of the conflict:

-

bloody, senseless civil war over the throne

-

a series of battles and skirmishes with victory often changing sides

-

weakened Parliament and government completely disorganized

-

the war waged by rich barons who purchase Hundred Years' War veterans

course of war

1455 – First Battle of St Albans – York victory against Henry VI
1461 – Battle of Towton – Edward, Duke of York becomes Edward IV after capturing
London and the new dynasty starts

Edward IV (1461-83)

Richard III (1483-85)

After Edward IV's death his younger brother Richard of Gloucester usurps the throne in
1483 having murdered in Edward's two teenage sons Edward V and Richard, Duke of York

1485 Battle of Bosworth

Lancastrians land in Wales under Henry Tudor. At Bosworth Richard III is killed. Henry
marries Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV uniting both Houses. Henry Tudor becomes
HENRY VII and founds the strong,

House of Tudor

Dr Tomasz Skirecki, IFA, UAM

History of Britain and the USA – 1 BA, 2011-12

LECTURE EIGHT

Late Middle Ages

4

1485 – symbolic turning point - the beginning of English Renaissance

English society and economy of the 15

th

century

-

end of feudalism - land becomes rented

-

yeomen - rich peasants buy off land from the poor - stratification.

-

enormous wool trade

-

gentry appears after wiping out old aristocracy - economically oriented

-

development of ports and sea trade, merchants and trade (livery) companies

-

1476 - William Caxton sets the first printing office in England - 1477 Canterbury
Tales by Chaucer are printed as the first book in English