SS Draft 5/28/10Despite having already conquered lands on the French mainland before the Hundred Years' War, England failed to conquer the French throne because it was outnumbered . they failed to establish a proper beachhead and were impressed by the heroic acts of Joan of Arc in Phase IV. The Hundred Years' War was unsuccessful because England failed to gain the throne of France. From 1328 to 1360 was the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. It all started with a bluff by the English king Edward III. Edward pretended that he wanted to rule France and France did not want to go to war, so they gave him the land that his family fought for for many years. In 1330 the war really began and England's first move was to send 4,000 to 7,000 soldiers to a piece of land they owned in France called Gascony. In the early stages England were losing. The French attacked first and did not pause to let England respond. It took a long time for a retaliation. The French were ready for an invasion in 1338–1339, so he placed 6,000 soldiers in the garrison of Hainault and waited for Edward until September 1339. In 1339 Edward became vicar-general. The witch gives him power over most of the armies of European countries. The English fleet captured the French Sluys on 24 June 1340. This was a complete disaster for the French, they lost 90% of their ships and perhaps as many as 18,000 men died. Disease was an important part of warfare because in crowded camps disease spread quickly and could wipe out armies. Philip VI died on 2 August 1350. The new king John II implemented military reforms in 1351. On 29 August 1350 Edward III defeated a Castilian fleet. His power was divided so on 8 May 1360 a treaty was made giving Edward full sovereignty in Calais, in the Po... middle of the paper... into two parts, the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, making it easier for the English to invade France. The Armagnacs were more favorable to the French. The Burgundians sided with England. In 1424 Joan of Arc began having visions. He was twelve years old. In his vision he said he saw angels and saints. On two or more occasions another person also saw angels. In 1422 he joined the French army. In 1429 Joan of Arc visited enemy territory. The British backed down. During one visit she was captured by the Burgundians and accused of being a witch and a transvestite. On the day of her execution she asked for a cross and then they burned her alive in 1431 at the age of 19. In 1909 she was declared a martyr and in 1920 she was given the title of saint. Works Cited http://www .militaryhistoryonline.com/medieval/articles/hundredyearswar.aspx