Hundred Years War

Series of wars (1337-1453) - including famous encounters at Sluys, Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt, Orleans, Formigny, and Castillon - between England and France. Instigated by Edward III's claim to the French crown, they ended when France took control of Bordeaux, leaving Calais the only English possession in France. The war continued the Angevin-Capetian struggle and was largely prompted by French economic interests and English concerns over French intervention in Scotland ('The Auld Alliance').