When Did England and France Stop Being Enemies? | SideQuest Animated History

Stop data brokers from exposing your personal information. Go to our sponsor Aura to get a 14-day free trial and see how much of yours is being sold: aura.com/sidequest
-------------------------------------------------------------------
We English and the French haven't always been on good terms. In fact, since Roman times we've had the habit of killing each other. We spent several centuries trying to conquer one another, culminating in the Hundred Years' War, before giving up and spending the next few centuries making each others' lives miserable. But after Napoleon's defeat, Britain and France never went to war again. Why? You can thank the Russians and the Germans!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
If you'd like to see more of these videos, consider supporting me on Patreon: / sidequest_channel
Have a fancy historical idea you'd like me to cover? Drop a comment and let me know!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A big THANK YOU to the selfless supporters of SideQuest for their limitless generosity:
Michael Casolary, dancingvulture, Adrien Maillet, semchapeu, Alex Newman, Titus Proctor, Clark Teeple, Stoeoef, Dominic Tarro, D Meredith, Petru Cotarcea, Quan Van, SerialConvert, Rhyan Thompson, Jamesie112, Santos, Oliver McKowen, Jonathan Horn, William DeLoach, Alex, Jackie, Efertone, JT96, Alex Schwyn, Diogo Freitas, Viddax, Jordan Camilletti, Monkey, Matty Manziel, AirToxic mist, Ethan Stine, James Chisnall, Matthew Kay
-------------------------------------------------------------------
0:00 - Intro
0:23 - All the wars
3:24 - Mr. SideQuest leads Wellington to Mount Doom
3:53 - How we became friends
6:36 - Those darn Prussians
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
“Best of Enemies: Anglo-French Relations Since the Norman Conquest” by Robert Gibson - www.google.com/books/edition/...

[@b-rse]

Engineering an alliance between Britain and France. Germans truly are the best engineers in the world.

[@NegusNegest]

Excellent joke, bravo

[@nuttygeezer708]

The Spanish and Russians did it before actually.

[@user-xq5og9lt8p]

Sie sind willkommen.

[@fabovondestory]

True, we even egineered a friendship between us and France

[@christineberrios6246]

Ja bitaschen

[@MrTroves]

In fairness, it's less 'England and France are friends' and more 'England and France stopped fighting each other militarily'. Politically speaking, there has always been conflict between them even after they allied.

[@SiPakRubah]

So they still follow their ancestors, but through lesser casualties 😊

[@TheClintonio]

Yeah there's animosity today but I'm glad nobody from Britain or France is dying in the name of that animosity.

[@jordan89124]

They went from a hostile rivalry to becoming friendly rivals.

[@ajs787]

In many ways, I see it like Sweden and Denmark. Historically those two have had more wars between each other than any other two countries, and they're basically brothers today. Brothers who roast each other relentlessly, but with a foundation of camaraderie.

[@mitchverr9330]

Yup, people forget that the main reason it took so long for the UK to join the EEC was France directly opposing it.

[@anachronisticon]

We're like siblings. We bicker constantly. But if anyone else picks on them, we suddenly get very protective.

[@truefact844]

I had a friend that was from Finland, he said France and England are the same people divided by a language.

[@Coys319]

@@truefact844As someone from England yes and no, we have more in common with the Dutch and Germans in my opinion

[@galwitprifor001]

​​@@truefact844Oscar Wilde said something similar: America and England are a people divided by a common language.

[@pigeonsareugly]

@@Coys319definitely the Dutch. I’d say more similar to France than Germany though

[@Angelcynn_2001]

No, we are not. The Germans are my Brothers

[@helenjohnston3178]

Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales & France have managed to formalise our war to an annual rugby tournament now. (Yes, we let Italy join, but it's mainly about the 5 siblings in the fight.)

[@craigduncan7010]

And Scotland have beaten England 4 times in a row. I am writing this now, as it surely won't last. Also, there is no reason to bring up the recent Scotland/Ireland results. So don't ask.

[@monaghangm]

​@@craigduncan7010 remind me what did happen in that game 😉

[@memofromessex]

Italy is the amuse bouche

[@Angelcynn_2001]

We are not siblings - from an Englishman. You will never have my brotherhood.

[@awesomehpt8938]

Julius Caesar never conquered Britain he landed his troops here twice but was forced to go back to Gaul both times. It wasn’t until the Emperor Claudius began the conquest of Britain in 43AD did it become a Roman Province.

[@jlvfr]

Was going to post this. Massive mistake in this video.

[@tonymeman9041]

Are you implying the video said that he did?

[@jlvfr]

@@tonymeman9041 go to 0:35, start listening from there; narrator says "in the aftermath of *_Caesar's conquest_* "

[@harmonyxiong4999]

​@@jlvfr in fairness he did say "aftermath" of Caesar's conquest.

[@Explicitly-CJ]

Also Commios was a big supporter of the Gauls against Caesar, so the first part of this were he claims that Britons and Gauls were raiding each other is not a complete picture.

[@TanKail]

England and France fighting for a millenia: Calm. When Russia and Prussia join the chat: Panik

[@drrubberduck5283]

Prussia had Beef with everyone and Made a Lot of strategic marriages for claims

[@robm6975]

I always maintain that England & France are like two brothers sat in the back of the car, hitting each other and permanently arguing. Until some other twit tries to make fun of one of them. No-one else is allowed to argue with France but us! Anyone with siblings will attest to this!

[@Angelcynn_2001]

As an Englishman, I don't call them my Brother

[@dylanwillmon5672]

​@@Angelcynn_2001 Fun fact: hes adopted

[@Angelcynn_2001]

He has the audacity to think I'd defend french soil.

[@thomasrinschler6783]

"It should have ended that day... but France was allowed to endure." That made me LOL...

[@TheNorthie]

Britain: wait you hate Germany?! France: yeah I hate Germany! Britain: did we just become best friends?! France: yep!

[@krum1703]

Also Russia, kida

[@jouhanneus]

Do you wanna go do karate in the garage??

[@TheZINGularity]

OH YEAH WE THE BEST O FRIENDS NOW

[@christopherlau3996]

That's actually perfect. Centuries of Britain touching France's drum set

[@robertforrester578]

Wee-Wee, Poo-Poo and all that sort of rot.

[@OmegaReconGaming]

I think a topic about the Ottoman Empire fall would be pretty cool. They aren’t really talked about in WW1 discussions. But that was the end of the empire and yet it’s a footnote.

[@t.rellis834]

Jazby made a really good video about it and other similar topics

[@teteeheeted]

Yah you don’t hear about the Turkish liberation war like, at all, in history class

[@teteeheeted]

Or at all

[@jackcarraway4707]

"There are no 'friends'; only interests." -Henry Kissinger

[@AYVYN]

All that quote teaches me is that his children despised him

[@Arbidarb]

I'd argue the US is friends with the UK. The US would do just about anything for the UK if needed, and for no personal gain.

[@girl1213]

LoTR reference, yet it actually worked for the better 😆

[@ivan55599]

Plot twist: hundred years war was never technically ended. They just signed a momentary ceasefire...

[@molybdaen11]

I think if no military actions are made for a year it counts as peace

[@vortex1603]

Because nobody called it "Hundred Years War" in Middle Age. It was not only a war between states but also a civil war ... The title "King of France" was the price, not direct lands control like in modern war.

[@oliversherman2414]

Napoleon wasn't actually that short, he was average height for the time. In fact, he was actually taller than Admiral Horatio Nelson

[@mitchellholland9331]

Dw, I feel alot of people know it's a myth nowadays. I think he only showed him as short as a joke.

[@oliversherman2414]

@@mitchellholland9331 I guess so

[@jaredjosephsongheng372]

"HEY! I'M AVERAGE HEIGHT FOR THE TIME YOU JERK!"

[@decker528]

It's still much funnier to imagine him being short

[@oliversherman2414]

@@decker528 true lol

[@ErzArt]

6:50 Small correction, the person represented here is Louis Bonaparte (in his king of Holland uniform), brother of Napoléon, and not Napoléon III, the nephew spoken of here who is called Louis Napoléon Bonaparte. Two Louis, but not totally the same! Anyway, beautiful work and love from France!

[@raznaak]

So, as of basically half of the "why [x]" in history and geopolitics: it's because of Napoleon. The other half is "because Britain LOVES drawing straight lines on maps".

[@awesomehpt8938]

We haven’t stopped being enemies

[@malegria9641]

Anglais ?

[@whyiseveryusrhandletaken]

💀

[@Anything_Slime]

So true

[@Durahan82]

In sports

[@Alex-pj8nz]

Waterloo Waterloo

[@flipgalaxy711]

Amazing Video, but a slight query. At 6:52 you depict Napoleon III in the outfit of his Father (i.e in the Guards' uniform of the Kingdom of Holland). I think this might have happened because they both shared the same name :) Anyways, can't wait for more great content

[@dyutimandas9772]

Yeah, I saw the same thing

[@fireaza]

Mon Dieu!

[@gamebawesome]

I posted about it as well, but it disappeared

[@cgt3704]

The lotr reference was so good. Bravo, SQ. Hats off

[@user-ml1rv1jk3w]

Dunkirk, we saw how brave the french were when they defended our evacuation

[@shadda]

You left out a fun part, at one point at the outset of WW2 britain and france entertained the idea of joining the two nations as one ("until the end of the war") and it almost happened.

[@poisonousbadge126]

Pure art. Such an underrated channel, glad its growing!

[@WDS820]

The advert was close enough to the end that I thought the actual video was over.

[@SrNixAlot]

This is the most underrated KZbin channel. Can't wait to see it explode. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@psycele2859]

Great watch, Mr! Keep it up! Love your content

[@savagepro9060]

Julius Caesar was a friend of the channel . . . The English Channel!🤣😂

[@dominicr1173]

That lord of the ring ref was amazing

[@ElusiveGentleman575]

Yay! I love all of SideQuests’s videos!

[@TheRaptorSh00T]

As a french I always love to remind our dear brittons who won the Hunderd Years War just as much as they like to remember us who ultimately defeated Napoleon, but in the end I believe we both have the deepest respect for the ones that died side by side in Verdun and the Sommes. Kiss from France my so loved and hated Rosbiff

[@TheJackiboy123]

Always a good day when there a new SideQuest video !

[@leedunning1825]

Brilliantly fun and educational as always.

[@mickypink6503]

Brilliant video mate

[@galatheumbreon6862]

so glad I found this channel and I liked the very subtle jabs at the French

[@Adi-bo5do]

It basically became expensive to fight france French geography is a double edged sword for it's enemies and allies and unless France is in a position to directly invaded you it's probably better to be allied with them

[@caleblebaron1179]

the videos are noticeably more smooth, i like it

[@TheSunderingSea]

A few ideas: Why the sun still doesn't set on the British Empire (an overview of British overseas territories) The many pre-1914 crises that *nearly* started WW1 Accidental firing/dropping of nuclear munitions during the Cold War. The Sino-Soviet split and the fighting between the Soviet and Chinese militaries.

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nicely done video

[@mooncake8254]

Finally a new video with that wonderful voice!

[@h.a.z.m.a.t5072]

I love how the video isn’t about how they became enemies, because that’s like asking why water is wet.

[@theswedishmelker]

he uploaded again! how nice!

[@michaelwu7678]

This Napoleon slander will not stand

[@pawcio2133]

Germans? Germans

[@zelot113]

Side quest!!! You guys rock😊

[@AironSmieciowy-di3qy]

Great video!

[@blitzkriegcapitalist6736]

New video Excellent

[@adamhooper2476]

It's amazing how you find bitter enemies turn into the best of friends.

[@ArisakaLestari]

Thank you for your (y'all's?) work as always 💌

[@charmyzard]

When someone to threaten their status-quo appeared. Nothing better to unite old rivals like it's an anime, right?

[@viralnetwork]

Sounds like descendants of vikings fighting descendants of vikings

[@Jay-ql4gp]

That was good, thank you!

[@malegria9641]

I mean, I’m French and my best friend is English so 😅

[@neres5795]

He's a spy.

[@Moroes11]

Mets lui ton chewing-gum dans les cheveux, fais le pour Jeanne !

[@ryuunosuk3]

You both are called Muhammed, it's hard to not be friends at this point.

[@malegria9641]

@@ryuunosuk3we’re both girls :|

[@malegria9641]

@@neres5795*she

[@carlsoll]

My GUY is *back* w/another ☝️🤘

[@redcouchsportscasts6566]

Holy crap, the Mount Doom cut scene 😂😂

[@giom3248]

0:39 Very much apreciated, as an italian, the correct naming of Roman provinces

[@davidernst7902]

Just a algo commant because this channel deserves 100x more views :)

[@jordan89124]

They went from a hostile rivalry to becoming friendly rivals.

[@midshipman8654]

fantastic recitation of anglo-french history!

[@Thekitty0706fan]

Shocking to see such foresight on the Duke of Wellington, in a day of shortsightedness imagine laying the foundations for an alliance that would only be beneficial about a hundred years later.

[@dilloncrowe1018]

You did miss 1 war, infact it was the last Franco-British War (so far), the unofficial naval war between the Royal Navy and the Vichy French Navy in WW2, not to mention the Syria and Lebanon Campaign, seeing as Vichy France was the official government of France after the French Republic's surrender, and theu only fought the British after the British attacked their fleet at Toulon, I see it as the true last war between Britian and France.

[@lakelandbuzz2252]

The relationship between England and France has all the hallmarks of a crappy "will they won't they?", right down to them dating the others enemies.

[@dshbvhjbfhvjb]

thank you for censoring fr*nce in the thumbnail

[@BurcasLurton]

Ye

[@anenglishmanplusamerican7107]

It’s like we’re two squabbling siblings, always bickering and teasing each other. But the moment a third party comes along to beef with either of us, suddenly we’re united as one. English or French, we may have our differences, but when push comes to shove, we stand together as allies. Here’s to sibling rivalry and solidarity!

[@Angelcynn_2001]

Speak for yourself, please

[@anenglishmanplusamerican7107]

@@Angelcynn_2001 that’s why I did fella, spoke for myself.

[@bolle9810]

6:52 I like how they drew Napoleon's brother rather then his nephew

[@SodaQuasar]

The wobbly viking ghost made me chuckled

[@Moroes11]

lil napoléon🥺 damn brits! you dared haha. It is very well made, I love the artwork sub!!

[@sivertwiid1781]

Could you do a video on the Anglo Boer War, or both.

[@ruturajshiralkar5566]

Finally, Mr SideQuest is Back...

[@TheJimStannum]

You teased it in your video about Spain becoming a democracy, but I would love to see you cover the Spanish Civil War!

[@michaelhowell2326]

I was a bit surprised Willy 2 didn't have a withered arm since ol' Boney was so short.

[@Variontt95]

Yaaay Sidequest!!!!

[@matthewdrummond1340]

3:52 Awesomesauce

[@jeff5534]

Like impetuous brothers we fought and bickered in our youth but as time passed and we both grew up, we realised that we’re family and that together we would stick through thick and thin, even if we may still bicker now and then we will always be there for each other 🇫🇷 🇬🇧

[@Masonjar94]

There was a blue dot beside sidequest today. It was a good day.

[@markmunroe-hz8rf]

Can you do episodes on the Punic Wars?

[@user-cu3xv1yz7g]

Would love more historical rivalries throughout Europe!

[@Galimeer5]

So, funny story. My girlfriend was born in London but moved to the States with her parents when she was a teenager. We met in college, etc... Well, after we'd gone on a few dates, she asked me over to her place because she needed to confess something. She was uneasy about it and hesitated. "I'm..." "French?" _"French?? How dare you!"_ I laughed, she laughed, the lightened mood helped her calm down and tell me what she needed to say. She was actually just coming out as bisexual (which I'd already suspected), but her reaction to being accused of being french was hilarious.

[@alfrig1363]

7:59 "ever since". Yeah. Until you guys left them with us. Their PTSD ridden, slightly abusive and recovering boyfriend Germany. I’m sure they are thankful for that. xD

[@maxr7527]

I find it crazy that nowadays we (France) are so horny for Germany, given our common past which is way worse than what we had with England. Especially since Germany made it so clear that they were only looking to be in a motor kooperation not in a couple.

[@timfarmer6396]

Love to hear about the '48ers

[@johnmatthewcrane4423]

I would love to see a video on the origins of the Romani people (AKA The gypsies).

[@K.ligraf]

Love you all. my english cousins ! Hope we can walk together in the right direction !

[@light_0137]

nice video

[@yahtyscids194]

Awesome

[@liamdonaghy604]

LOTR reference on point

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

Wow, the production values really shot up at one point in this episode! 😁😂

[@TacitusKilgore165]

Prefer to compete with Germany France Italy and Spain through football, less people get hurt that way 😌

[@Sakanero]

A video about John Paul Jones or the contributing factors that it took to win the American Revolution outside of the US would be pretty cool.

[@benbautista5508]

Basically England's relation ship France throughout history can be summarized as "Keep france weak enough so they don't threaten English Interests, but Keep France Strong Enough so other countries don't threaten English Interest.

[@RomLoneWolf23]

England and France are Shonen Protagonists who set aside their differences when the new Antagonists showed up.

[@Enigmashoot]

The outrageous rosbeef accent makes it better

[@Shutendoji]

Sweden and Denmark has actually fought more wars against each other than France and England

[@dukes1993724]

Yea but they were historically irrelevant

[@ExPraetorianGuard-dl1pz]

​@@dukes1993724 not really, at least not if you've learnt enough history.

[@RKNGL]

Depends on if you count the 100 years war as one event. Or the many seperate conflicts it actually was.

[@the-noob-plays]

​@@dukes1993724 please learn your history. Vikings, kalmar union, margaret 1st, swedish poland, getting to the americas before spain, Portugal and other colonizers.

[@the-noob-plays]

​@@dukes1993724if you are 100% technical and follows the patriarch line. The danish monarky today sits on the, danish, swedish, norwegian and english throne. Having been on the greek, some german states and french as well

[@alex29443]

We haven't stopped being rivals, the bloodshed is just on pause for a moment.

[@FakeBlocks]

The Greek Revolutionary War of 1821

[@hansolowe19]

The lotr bit was amusing. 🤭

[@AYVYN]

Something peculiar is that if you add all of their battles together, the victory rate is around 50/50, a coin-flip

[@ussr2948]

Can you guys do a video about the Rise 'n fall of Austria

[@wolfgang6517]

France and Britain almost went to war various times during the late XIX century however. Chief example was the Sudanese Crisis when France and Britain both “raced” to conquer modern day Sudan. The crisis escalated, especially after the French had been outmanoeuvre diplomatically by the British as the French public call for war but ultimately, fear of German intervention and a general indisposition for war by both sides political classes meant that the Crisis soon blew away as Italian and German interests began rivalling french ones in North Africa. Theres also Vichy France and Britain perceptive betrayal by the French Public opinion. After Dunkerke, the Bombing of the French Fleet and the failed attack on Dakar, the majority of French public opinion had turned on Britain and the possibility of France joining the war on the Axis side was seriously considered by the Vichy State. Yet again, unwillingness to fight a war with Britain coupled with the increasingly harsh demeanour of German occupation (culminating with Case Anton and the occupation of Vichy my the Axis) meant that french public opinion rallied to De Gaulle and, consequently, the allied side. The Cold War, more than anything, secured Franco-British relations. Both empires struggled with decolonisation and both found common ground in their attempts at revitalising their imperial spheres alongside the understanding that Soviet military threats was the existential threat to both of them.

[@christopher135]

Brilliant as always, but sad to see the myth of napoleon being a shorty perpetuated. He was of average height.

[@user-xyuser1488]

I would like to point out that Napoleon was largely defeated by Britain, Austria and Russia working together, and, later down the line, he was defeated by Russia when advancing to Moscow. Just weird to hear these facts not mentioned at all, honestly.

[@gumdeo]

And Prussians.

[@profdc9501]

And to think... the folly of building a tunnel between England and France. Now those wily Normans will emerge from the underground!

[@TitusConstantine]

How about a video detailing how it would feel being a citizen in Constantinople when it became Istanbul?