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How did feudalism contribute to the Hundred Years War and its aftermath?

Hjalmar Arsnell

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Feudalism played a significant role in the Hundred Years War and its aftermath. There were feudal lords and nobles who were constantly striving for power and control over territories and resources. This quest for power fuelled the war and its devastating aftermath.

Feudalism, a social system in which wealth and power are concentrated among landowners who provide military service to a monarch in exchange for land, greatly contributed to the tensions between England and France that led to the Hundred Years War. The feudal system made it easy for monarchs to mobilize their lords to engage in war. Moreover, the feudal lords had the military capability to finance and support war efforts by providing soldiers, supplies, and other resources.

In the early 14th century, King Edward III of England laid claim to the French throne, igniting the war. It was a time of great political turmoil, with both nations vying for territory and resources. The feudal lords, on both sides, used their military might to wage war. The war raged on for 116 years, during which time the feudal lords and their armies became more entrenched in their positions of power.

The devastation wrought by the war left both nations weakened, divided and in disarray. The feudal system, which had been prevalent in both England and France, had suffered greatly. The lords who had been powerful were left to battle for scraps. The monarchs, who had relied heavily on feudal lords for support during the war, became more entrenched in their positions of power. It signaled the beginning of the end of feudalism as a social system in Europe.

After the war, the feudal lords of England and France became embroiled in a new power struggle. The rise of nation-states meant that monarchs began to consolidate their power. The lords, who had once been the most powerful members of society, were reduced to being nobles with little real power. The transition from feudalism to a new social order took time, but it signaled the end of the old order.

In conclusion, feudalism played a significant role in the Hundred Years War and its aftermath. The feudal lords and their armies were instrumental in the war, and the devastation it wrought left both nations weakened and vulnerable. The end of feudalism was a logical outcome of the war and the rise of nation-states. The transition from feudalism to a new social order was a complicated process, but it marked a pivotal moment in the history of Europe.

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