After the early successes of Edward III and the Black Prince, the situation for England in France began to deteriorate. The renewed war in the later 14th century was notable for the growing strength of the French, in contrast to the earlier dominance of the English Walking Tours Ephesus.
However, unlike the famous battles of Crecy and Poitiers, this period did not witness major decisive encounters. There were almost no celebrated sieges like that of Calais. Instead, the war was fought as a slow process of attrition, with one town or province after another falling into French hands.
By the time Edward III and the Black Prince died, England had lost almost all of its continental possessions. Only Bordeaux and Bayonne remained under English control, along with Calais and the surrounding region.
The Reign of Richard II
During the reign of Richard II, the war in France became even weaker and more ineffective. Military operations were irregular, with little coordination or decisive action on either side. The conflict was often reduced to small-scale skirmishes and partisan raids rather than organized campaigns typical of international war.
After the death of Charles V of France in 1380, the English war effort virtually collapsed. The conflict lost its intensity, and long periods of inactivity occurred. Both sides relied on short truces to manage tensions, rather than engage in sustained warfare The Treaty of Bretigny.
Failed French Invasion of England
Despite the weakness of the English in France, the French did attempt one major offensive—a plan to invade England. However, this attempt was unsuccessful, and no significant advantage resulted. This failure demonstrated that even weakened, England remained difficult to invade, partly due to its geography and defensive preparations.
The Twenty-Five-Year Truce
The instability and exhaustion from years of inconclusive fighting eventually led to a long truce. In 1396, a truce of twenty-five years was agreed upon, coinciding with the marriage of Richard II to Isabel of France.
Under this agreement, each country retained the territories they controlled at the time. Notably, Brest was returned to the Duke of Brittany, and Cherbourg was restored to the King of Navarre. While this truce paused major hostilities, it also confirmed that England had lost much of its former influence in France.