Edward III – The start of The Hundred years War!

‘A victorious military monarch, his age but twenty!

Is there more to come? Yes, much more! Oh yes, plenty!’

King Edward III.

After his victory at Halidon Hill in that glorious summer of 1333, King Edward left Balliol in Scotland to quell any further Scottish resistance and travelled south in triumph. The king now turned his gaze across the sea to France, where Philip VI sat on the throne.

King Philip VI of France! – O Lucky Man!

King Philip VI of France was something of an accidental king and had never been expected to wear the French crown. He was the cousin of three brothers who had all been kings of France, but who had died young without leaving male issue. Because of this family connection, he was crowned king of France at Rheims in 1328.

King Philip VI of  France.

This was the sort of career opportunity that countless minor royals throughout European history could only wish for in their wildest dreams. But for Philip, the dream had become a reality.

‘Dear King Philip, you ascended the throne without having to lift a finger!

 In time, others felt this was a seat upon which you should not be allowed to linger!’

Philip’s reign would not be without its fair share of nightmares, the chief source of which was King Edward III of England.

The Hundred Years War.

Why did this conflict begin?

To begin with, the fifteen year old Edward had claimed that he was the rightful king of France when his uncle, Charles IV the king of France, died in 1328. Indeed, he had a point, as he was the late king’s closest living male relative.

So, our Eddie mark 3 is the prime candidate for the top job in France?

Well, not exactly! You see sexism rules!

What?

The French aristocracy decided against choosing Edward for the throne of France because he was related to the French royal family through his mother, Isabella, who was obviously a woman.

Queen Isabella.

Whereas, Philip drew his royal lineage from a male source, his grandfather king Philippe III.

King Philippe III of France.

‘Edward’s link to the throne of France is through his dearest mama!

But Philip’s claim is stronger, because it is through his dear old, grandpapa!’

Is this fair?

‘The barons chose Philip over Edward because they wanted a candidate coming from a male connection!

Why?

Because they felt that this offered the country stronger national protection!’

What was Edward’s response?

Edward was still a minor and under the control of his mother and Mortimer, so of course nothing came of it.

Edward III and Philip VI.

To begin with, the two monarchs appeared to get along quite well, and Edward paid homage to Philip for his duchy of Gascony which was part of Aquitaine. The profits from Gascony’s wine and other goods was the main source of Edward’s income, so the duchy was a very important jewel in the English crown.

But in May 1337, Philip announced that he was annexing the duchy. This was because Edward had agreed to shelter Philip’s former close adviser but now bitter enemy, Robert III of Artois. Edward had no intention of being deprived of his duchy and the wealth that it generated.

Oh, Scotland again!

King Philip had greatly annoyed Edward by granting the boy king of Scotland, David II the son of Robert Bruce, sanctuary in France in 1334.

David II being greeted by King Philip VI of France.

Philip was also giving strong and consistent aid to the Scots supporters of David who were rebelling against Edward’s ally, Edward Balliol, who also claimed to be the king of Scotland. This meant that Balliol was unable to maintain firm control of the country.

Edward claims to be the rightful king of France.

In October 1337 Edward III declared that he, not Philip VI, was the legitimate king of France. He based his claim on the fact that his mother had been the sister of the last king of France, Charles IV. The claim was quite absurd, because under French law, the crown could not be inherited through the female line of the family. Undeterred, Edward prepared to back his words with physical force.