By Popular Demand: The Hundred Years’ War — The Birth of Nations
Over the past two months, I have had the pleasure of teaching a six-part course on Chivalry for Medievalists.net. What started as an exploration of knighthood ideals evolved into a much broader discussion about how those ideals were tested, bent, and often broken by the realities of medieval warfare. The students were highly engaged, asking sharp questions about how the loose code of chivalry (more of a guideline) struggled to survive in the brutal crucible of fourteenth and fifteenth-century conflict.
After the fifth discussion section ended, several students asked the same question: Will there be a dedicated course on the Hundred Years’ War? I checked with Terri and Peter, who manage the course catalog for Medievalists.net. They had someone scheduled to teach it, but that person decided not to do it after all. I saw a chance.
While I may write mostly about the Vikings today, my fascination with the medieval period started with knights and chivalry, including the Hundred Years’ War. In fact, I have an entire series planned on the life of Geoffroy de Charny, famous for his last stand at Poitiers in 1356, once I finish Hasting’s saga.
So, I asked if I could teach the course. Terri and Peter agreed, and therefore I created: The Hundred Years’ War and the Birth of Modern Europe.
In this new series, we’ll follow the conflict from its tangled origins in feudal politics to its sweeping end in 1453, when France and England emerged forever changed. We’ll explore how this century-long struggle sparked the idea of national identity, led to the development of new technologies and tactics that transformed warfare, and caused social and economic upheavals that reshaped society.
You can find all the details, along with my current and upcoming offerings, on the newly launched Courses Page. There, you’ll also get a glimpse of what’s coming in 2026, including my Viking history courses and a series of writing courses and workshops designed to help aspiring authors bring the past to life on the page.
Teaching has been one of the most fulfilling extensions of my work as a writer and historian. It’s where I can turn my research, ideas, and what-ifs into shared exploration. And your feedback shows that the desire for deeper, story-driven history remains strong.
If you joined me for Chivalry, thank you for helping make that course a success. And if you’re new here, welcome. The journey through history continues to the battlefields of France and England, where modern nations were born.
I will definitely be joining for this part two!!