Historically Thinking Bloody Crowns: Michael Livingston on Two Hundred Years of War, Power, and Transformation
Oct 29, 2025
Michael Livingston, a distinguished professor at The Citadel and expert in medieval military history, reveals fascinating insights from his book on the Hundred Years' War. He discusses the origin of the conflict, tracing it from 1292 to 1492, and explores how it reshaped Europe through a multitude of political and social upheavals. Key topics include the impact of the Black Death, the significance of the longbow, and the rise of figures like Henry V and Joan of Arc. Livingston also debates the myth of decisive battles and how prolonged warfare transformed military practices.
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A 200-Year War Begins With One Murder
- Livingston redefines the conflict as a linked 200-year war from 1292 to 1492 rather than the traditional 1337–1453 frame.
- He argues a 1292 murder set off reprisals that created the domino effect reshaping Western European borders by 1492.
A Continental Vortex, Not Just Two Kings
- The war pulled in nearly every European polity and became a continental vortex rather than just England vs. France.
- Livingston shows trade, finance, and proxy zones bound the conflict across regions like Italy and the Low Countries.
Scotland Shaped English Warfare
- Scotland acted as an enduring second front that forced England to fight on multiple fronts and innovate militarily.
- Livingston links English tactical developments in Scotland to later successes at Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt.
