This has been my latest project, with the last of the figures in this photo just finished over the weekend just gone. It isn't my full English army by any means, but it is the "core" of the army.
From the time of William of Normandy's conquest of England in 1066, the kings of England maintained lands in what is today regarded as France, and through conquest and political marriage, they acquired even more territory.
In 1338 King Edward III decided to take things a step further, and pressed his claim to the title of King of France. The following year he led an army into France, beginning what became to be known as the 100 Years War. Probably the best known personality from this war for most "non-military" people is Joan of Arc, however she played only a very minor role 1428-1430. From a military stand-point, the power of the English longbow, which delivered decisive victories against great numerical odds to the English at Crecy (1346), Poitiers (1356) and Agincourt (1415), and the political feuding between the Burgundians and the Armagnac ruling family in France which broke out in 1417 were far more significant.
By 1435 the Burgundians had rejoined the French camp, and together they began to drive the English off the continent. By 1454, only Calais remained in English hands, and English attention turned to the "War of the Roses" btween the rival houses of Lancaster and York for the throne of England.
Pictured above is a typical English army, with longbow men in front, protected by stakes to deter enemy horses from approaching too close. Behind the longbow men are two units of men-at-arms, who provided the "muscle" when the enemy did get close enough to go toe-to-toe. At the rear are the mounted knights, waiting for their chance to counter-attack the weakened enemy after the foot soldiers have driven them off.
Over the next day or two I will post some closer up photos of each group, and also a video which I hope you will enjoy.
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