Definition

Proper noun A specific, prolonged series of military conflicts fought between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France, along with their respective allies, from 1337 to 1453.

Usage

This term is used as a singular, proper noun to refer to this specific historical period and conflict. It is typically preceded by the definite article "the." * The Hundred Years' War was a defining conflict in medieval European history. * Scholars study the political causes of the Hundred Years' War. * Joan of Arc became a famous figure during the later stages of the Hundred Years' War.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used metonymically to represent a very long, drawn-out struggle or dispute.
  • Their legal battle over the estate turned into a real Hundred Years' War.

Variants and Related Words

• Hundred Years War: A common variant spelling that omits the apostrophe.
• Anglo-French Wars: A broader, more general term that can encompass this and other conflicts between England and France.

Key Facts and Context

• Duration: Despite its name, the war lasted 116 years (1337-1453). It was not a single continuous war but a series of wars, truces, and periods of peace.
• Major Causes: Disputed succession to the French throne, English territorial possessions in France, and economic conflicts.
• Key Battles: Include the Battle of Crécy (1346), the Battle of Poitiers (1356), and the Battle of Agincourt (1415).
• Outcome: The war ended with French victory, the expulsion of the English from most of France (except Calais), and the solidification of a distinct French national identity.

Noun

1. the series of wars fought intermittently between France and England; 1337-1453