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Philip VI arrested all English merchants in Flanders and took away the privileges of the Flemish towns and the craft guilds. The Flemings revolted against French control and made an alliance with England.
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Edward the III invades France. Edward III refused to acknowledge his fealty to Philip VI of France, who responded by confiscating the duchy of Aquitaine in 1337.
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At the Battle of Crecy English were outnumbered four to one. Philips disorderly host of mounted French men were no match for the English longbows even though they were outnumbered.
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For almost ten years after that the fighting lagged. This was caused in part by a great pestilence called the Black Death, which swept over Europe and killed more than a third of the population. (1347-1356)
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French King John II lost his advantage of superior numbers by ordering his knights, weighted down with their armor, to dismount and advance on foot against the hail of English arrows. Once again the English victory was the result of the new weapon the longbow.
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A treaty with England was finally concluded at Bretigny in 1360, by which King John was to pay a large money ransom and Edward III was to have full control of Guienne, Crécy, and Calais.
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In 1369 the new king of France, Charles V found an excuse for breaking the treaty and renewing the war. Charles organized an army of professional soldiers instead of knights and by cautious maneuvering he conquered one place after another.
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The next engagement took place at Agincourt near Crécy, where a small English force was once more confronted by a large French army. Once again the French followed their old tactics and were destroyed by the English longbows.
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France’s Joan of Arc relieved siege at Orleans and with that victory followed victory in rapid succession. Even after Joan’s capture and execution her spirit seemed to inspire the French and little by little they drove the English back.
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Finally the war ended in 1453 with only Calais remaining in English hands.