| 1347 | | The Black Death |
| | | Kipchak Mongols besieging a Genoese trading centre on the Crimean coast catapulted their own dead into the city. The cause of death was a mysterious disease. The Genoese escaped by sea taking the 'Black Death' with them. They landed at Messina in Sicily. Bubonic plague, which the Black Death was, was spread by the rat flea. The name Black Death came from the colour of the swelling in the groin, armpit or neck. The person suffering went into a coma and dies soon after. In Europe an estimated 25 million people died. The plague reached Britain in 1348 and again in 1360 and the population may have been reduced by a half. |
| 1348 | Jun | The Plague reaches England |
| | | The plague reached the shores of England first at Melcombe Regis in Dorset. By winter of the year, the plague had reached London. |
| 1349 | | Meaux Abbey hit by epidemic |
| | | From the Chronicles of Meaux Abbey came the report saying 'Meaux Abbey suffered so severely that thirty-two monks, and seven conversi died, the majority being taken in the month of August.' |
| Summer | The Plague is at its peak |
| | | The peak of the plague was reached in the summer of 1349. Estimates of a third of the population dying from the infection have been made but being accurate is very difficult. |
| 1340 | Jan 25 | Edward declares himself King |
| | | In Ghent (Flanders) Edward declared himself as the true King of France. When he left Flanders for England Philippa remained as assurance that money Edward owed would be paid. |
| Mar 29 | Edward raises taxes |
| | | Parliament agreed to raise taxes so that Edward could fund an army to invade France. |
| Jun 24 | Battle of Sluys |
| | | A naval battle between the English and French. The French tried to prevent the English ships landing at Flanders. The French were defeated by Edward's forces. Edward did not follow up with the advantage. |
| Sep 25 | Treaty of Esplechin |
| | | A peace treaty between Edward III and Philippe VI of France. Edward had large debts and further campaigning was not possible so he accepted that the truce between the two kings was the best course of action. This treaty marks the end of the first section of the Hundred Years War. |
| 1341 | Spring | Edward raises funds |
| | | To raise funds for further French expeditions Edward had to confront Parliament. Parliament insisted that Edward reconfirmed various ancient charters. |
| 1342 | Oct | Edward and Brittany |
| | | Edward sailed to Brittany to assist English troops already there. They were supporting Jean de Montfort's claim to be the Duke of Brittany. Philippe, king of France, disputed this claim and supported his own contender to the title. Edward left his eldest son in charge of England while he was away. |
| Dec | Siege of Vannes |
| | | Edward had to control Vannes if he was to hold Brittany and he laid siege to the city. The city did not fall to the English. |
| 1343 | Jan | Treaty of Malstroit |
| | | After a hard winter without any new gains in France Edward signed a new peace treaty with the French and returned to England. |
| 1346 | Jan 1 | Edward III orders an invasion fleet |
| | | Edward III gave the order that an invasion fleet should be assembled at Portsmouth harbour. |
| Jul 5 | Edward departs Portsmouth |
| | | Edward III's invasion fleet finally left harbour, delayed by bad weather earlier in the year. Estimates of the number of men Edward took with him vary but could have been around 20,000. This would have required hundreds of ships to transport them all. |
| Jul 12 | Edward III lands in Normandy |
| | | Edward's invasion fleet landed on the north west coast of Normandy at Saint-Vaast de la Hougue on the Cotentin Peninsula (also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula). Edward stayed there for several days while the large army came ashore. |
| Jul 17 | Devastation of Normandy |
| | | Edward III's army began their march east across Normandy attacking and destroying French towns as they went. Those towns that did not surrender were shown no mercy and when they fell to the English many of the inhabitants were killed. Other towns surrendered to avoid bloodshed. Many hostages were taken and shipped back to England so that ransom money could be demanded. The English fleet sailed along the coast at the same time destroying French ships and attacking ports os they went. |
| Aug | Edward III crosses the Seine |
| | | Philippe VI had ordered bridges across the Seine to be destroyed so that Edward could not cross the river. Edward marched south towards Paris but at Poissy his engineers managed to repair the bridge. His army crossed the river and turned north. |
| Aug 26 | Battle of Crecy |
| | | Under Edward III, the English forces defeated a superior French army at Crecy. Estimates give the English numbers at around 12,000 and a French contingent at 36,000. The English longbow made its mark in the battle against the armour of the French knights. |
| Sep 4 | Siege of Calais |
| | | Edward III began the siege of Calais that would last for almost a year. The governor of the town was man called Jean de Vienne. Edward demanded that the town should surrender but de Vienne refused, hoping that the town walls would hold the English out until Philippe VI could come to their rescue. The English set up camp around the town and arranged for supplies to be brought from England. Wooden houses were also built to house the soldiers while they waited. Philippa, the Queen even joined her husband at the camp. |
| 1347 | Aug | Calais captured by the English |
| | | Philippe VI finally arrived at Calais and challenged Edward III to a fight. Edward agreed but instead Philippe withdrew abandoning the town to the English. The governor, Jean de Vienne, had no other option other than to surrender the town to Edward. The town's leaders should have been executed according to siege rules because they refused to surrender when first asked, but Edward spared their lives and they were taken as hostages. The town of Calais was emptied of all its citizens and all their property was confiscated. Edward then made Calais English territory and sent word to England that anyone who wanted to live in Calais was welcome as long as they could get there quickly. |
| Sep | Edward accepts truce |
| | | Edward III accepted a truce with France as the efforts abroad had been exhausting and he returned to England. Edward's popularity was high. He had beaten the French at Crecy and in his absence the Scots had been defeated at Neville's Cross. |
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