Hundred Years' War Ends: France Recaptures Bordeaux
French forces recaptured Bordeaux on October 19, 1453, ending the Hundred Years' War. The conflict had actually lasted 116 years, from 1337 to 1453, and included long truces during which neither side fought. England had controlled Bordeaux for 300 years, far longer than the war itself. The city's wine trade depended almost entirely on English buyers. The final battle at Castillon three months earlier killed English commander John Talbot and proved that artillery now dominated medieval warfare. England retained only Calais on French soil, which it lost in 1558. The war created distinct English and French national identities where previously the ruling classes had shared language, culture, and territory. Joan of Arc, burned in 1431, became the enduring symbol of French resistance.
October 19, 1453
573 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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