The Hundred Years' War

The Hundred Years' War was fought between England and France. It lasted from 1337 to 1453. That is more than 100 years! The kings of both countries wanted to rule France. The war had many battles and times of peace in between.

A War Over a Crown

The war began when the king of England said he should be king of France too. English soldiers sailed across the sea to fight. They used a weapon called the longbow, which was very strong. English archers won big battles like Crecy and Agincourt. For a long time, England was winning.

Joan of Arc and the End

A young French girl named Joan of Arc said God told her to help France. She led French soldiers and helped them win many battles. She gave the French hope. Slowly, France pushed England out of their land. By 1453, the war was finally over and France had won.

Fun Facts

• Joan of Arc was only 17 when she led soldiers into battle.
• The war was not 100 years long, it was really 116 years.
• The English longbow could shoot an arrow over 200 yards.

Did You Know?

The Black Death hit both England and France during this war, and many soldiers got sick.