Despite being called the Hundred Years’ War, the bloody struggle was not a continuous war lasting a century. Rather, it consisted of different conflicts between England and France that continued on but were interspersed with small breaks throughout the Fourteenth-Century. Throughout most of the conflict, England dominated the battlefield, inflicting their first major defeat of France at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. 

After again being dominated at Poitiers in 1356, the French King John “the Good” was captured. France was further humiliated in 1360, after signing a treaty which made over a third of France pay feudal taxes to the English. 

However, Charles V of France slowly pushed back the English, eventually reducing their presence in France to only outposts around Bordeaux and Calais. The next French King, Charles “the Mad” lived up to his name by going insane, and reducing France to infighting and civil strife. The English took this opportunity to attack a weakened France, as the second phase of the war started in the early 15th-Century. 

Henry V of England decisively defeated the French at Agincourt with a smaller, but better equipped and trained army. After this loss and the Burgundians joining the war on the side of the English, the French were forced to capitulate again. French King Charles VI’s daughter was pressured to marry Henry V, ensuring that their children would be born into the English royal family and therefore inherit both the French and English throne. 

Both kings would die in 1422, leaving the crown of France and England to Henry’s infant son. The French were furious at this, especially Charles VII, who would have inherited the French throne if he hadn’t been disinherited. In order to reclaim his lost inheritance, Charles VII accepted help from French sympathizers including Joan of Arc, the heroine from the major battle at the Siege of Orleans. Swaying the momentum of the war towards the French, they won increased victories over the English. Eventually, Charles VII was declared the rightful King of France, but deceitfully abandoned Joan of Arc in order to appease the English. At the age of 19, Joan was burnt at the stake in 1431, and would go on to become a Saint of the Catholic Church in 1920. 

In the end, the Hundred Years’ War accomplished basically nothing, with the English failing to complete their goal of conquering France. At the end of the war in 1453 they had lost all of their holdings in France except for Calais, which they would lose in 1558.

St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most influential Catholic Saints of all time, founded an order of monastics known as the “Franciscans.” “The Little Flowers of St. Francis,” written shortly after his death in 1226 was composed of anecdotes and legendary stories about the life of the famous christian and the men who were closest to him. These Franciscans were regarded as very holy at the time, were even said to be the holiest men since the apostles of Christ. “The Little Flowers” was divergent in contrast to other stories of the time, like “the Song of Roland” which focused on military victories and glory, while “the Little Flowers” offered a pacifist worldview and presented many of the stories about humility and personal sacrifice. 

The book begins with a comparison between Jesus’ and Francis’ ministries, asserting that the essence of both was poverty. Miracles frequently happened to Francis’ followers and it was said that God used these divine experiences through the Saints’ merits. Never bothered by ridicule Francis was humble and said that supreme holiness was rejoicing in injustice and persecution. The book states that Christ personally met with the Little Flowers and that Francis could preach to birds. 

Explaining that the way to salvation was good works, Francis had a low view of himself and called himself evil, but he regarded his works with a high view. Some of his other miraculous feats included the ability to read minds and his conversion of the Sultan of Babylon to Christianity. Also having compassion, Francis rebuked a friar who chastised robbers who wanted food, and even converted the robbers after giving them bread and wine. 

In order to join the Franciscans one had to renounce wealth and accept mortification and penance. After submitting to these things, a Franciscan could talk to God like a friend. Despite the fact he did multitudes of great works, Francis wanted his brethren to speak ill of him and contrasted his own vileness with the righteous works he committed. Poverty was known as an evangelical grace by the Little Flowers, therefore they were the poorest of all monastic orders. Franciscans were uniquely holy and were all inspired by Francis, who had divine wisdom which few others in his time were able to obtain.