Q&A · 3:15:04-3:16:19

Q&A: naval warfare in the Hundred Years' War

Naval actions in the Hundred Years' War usually appear inside broader campaign histories because ships fought as platforms for archery and boarding combat.

Question

Are there good books focused on the naval side of the Hundred Years' War, or is it better covered in broader campaign histories?

Short answer

Broader campaign histories are often the best route because the naval actions were boarding battles closely tied to the land war.

Notes

Broader histories of particular phases are often the best place to find these naval actions because they were closely integrated with land campaigns. Fighting often resembled an army battle conducted across ships, with longbowmen preparing the way for boarding. Heavy armour became especially dangerous when defeated men fell into the water and drowned. This explains why the subject is dispersed across general histories and why its casualties could be severe.