How did military innovations during the Hundred Years War change warfare?

Military innovations during the Hundred Years War revolutionised warfare, particularly through the introduction of longbows and gunpowder.

The Hundred Years War, a series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453, was a period of significant military innovation that fundamentally changed the nature of warfare. One of the most significant developments was the introduction and widespread use of the English longbow. This weapon had a range of up to 250 yards, far surpassing that of the crossbow, and could penetrate armour at impressive distances. The longbow was also quicker to reload than the crossbow, allowing English archers to maintain a steady barrage of arrows. This gave the English a significant advantage in several key battles, including Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, where their longbowmen decimated the French cavalry.

The use of the longbow also led to changes in military tactics. The traditional tactic of the time was for knights to charge the enemy lines. However, the longbow's range and power made this tactic suicidal. Instead, armies began to use formations of pikemen to protect the archers, creating a defensive wall against cavalry charges. This shift in tactics marked the beginning of the end for the era of knightly warfare and the rise of infantry-based armies.

Another significant innovation during the Hundred Years War was the introduction of gunpowder. While gunpowder had been used in China for centuries, it was during this war that it began to have a significant impact on European warfare. The French were the first to use cannon in battle, at the siege of Orléans in 1429. These early cannons were crude and unreliable, but they could breach walls that were impervious to traditional siege engines. Over time, the technology improved, and by the end of the war, artillery had become a common feature on the battlefield.

The use of gunpowder also led to changes in fortification design. Castles, which had previously been virtually impregnable, were now vulnerable to cannon fire. This led to the development of star forts, with angled walls designed to deflect cannonballs. These changes in weaponry and tactics during the Hundred Years War marked a significant shift in the nature of warfare, from a focus on individual knightly combat to a more collective, infantry-based approach.