Ancient history

England vs. France! Let's take a look at the background of the Hundred Years War

King of England Henry II Acquired a vast territory through his marriage and battle, but as the acquired territory was replaced, many lands were reclaimed to the Kingdom of France.

Because there were many skirmishes over this territory between Britain and France, " Hundred Years War Is a territorial issue It's an extension of, but it wasn't the only thing.

The main focus of this battle is "French succession to the throne" It has become.

This time

  • How could the King of England claim legitimacy?
  • Why did the King of England come to claim the French throne?
  • Why did England and France become so terrible?

I will summarize the questions one by one.

Actually, "What kind of person was active?" And "What kind of battle was there?" Will be summarized in another article.

What is the relationship between King England and King France?

Hundred Years War It was King of England Edward III who struck the challenge that started the game. is.

Edward III His mother is King of France Philip IV He had a very close relationship with the Capetian dynasty of the French dynasty (see Medieval English History and Medieval French history Capetian dynasty).

From Edward III (wikipedia)

So he was in a position where he could claim the French throne. With that major premise in mind, let's check the situation in Britain and France at that time.

What was the situation in France at that time?

To tell the truth, Edward III More than 10 years before the coronation. .. .. Philip IV in 1314 Since his death and his son's replacement, the king has died many times, even if he was crowned king.

Philip IV Louis X who first took the throne after Less than two years later, his son Jean To the throne at the same time as his birth (born after the death of his father), but died shortly thereafter. Louis' younger brothers who succeeded him Philip V , Charles IV He also took his throne, but he also died.

Each of them had a boy, but they are all dead and no one will succeed to the throne.

Louis X Daughter to the throne. .. .. It's not that there wasn't a story, but

  • Louis X Philip IV including his wife Was a daughter born around the time when an affair scandal by the wives of their sons came to light.
  • Plantagenet House I wanted to avoid interference from other families such as (← England Royal Family)

The Salic Code that has been used since the time of reigning the Frankish Kingdom. Was expanded and interpreted as "prohibiting the succession of the queen and the throne of the female line", so there are no human resources who can succeed the French dynasty.

Thus Charles IV French dynasty ( Capetian ) Has been cut off.

Therefore, Philip IV was named as the next candidate for the throne. Philip VI , the son of Charles, Count of Valois, who was at the height of his work .. Valois Dynasty with his succession to the throne Was born.

What was the situation of Edward III when the Capetian dynasty was cut off? ??

Valois Dynasty Edward III when he was born His mother and his mistress were in control of him, so it was difficult to claim the legitimacy of his succession to the throne.

Therefore, Philip VI It seems that he had to accept the coronation of.

Conflict between parents of Edward III

Edward III Was in control of his mother Isabel Is her father Edward II It goes back to the time when I got married.

By the time she got married, she had already loved Gaviston, whose father had been a playmate since childhood, and confronted her husband, feeling that "she had just been put in and was despised." It all started with that.

The princes decapitated Gaviston, who gave him the title of Earl of Cornwall, who was supposed to be a human close to the throne, and treated him too much, and accepted it. Taking this opportunity, the addiction target of the father will move to the dispenser father and son.

Gascony when this dispenser father and son emerged and led national affairs The War of Saint-Sardo, which is also a precursor to the Hundred Years War, broke out between Britain and France.

Her territory of Isabelle is confiscated because "the battle with France" means that "French troops may come through the territory (of Isabelle)".

The already cold marital relationship and the confrontation between the dispenser father and son, who were in the position of leading the national affairs, and Isabel were decisive.

Mother Isabel's coup

Edward II when he traveled to France to maintain Aquitaine as part of the post-war process of the War of Saint-Sardo. He sends Isabel as her name, not himself.

During this trip to France, Isabel became a mistress with a nobleman who had been expelled from England by his father and son Dispenser, and she couped with them.

This coup is the event of 1326. The following year, his father was deposed and 14-year-old Edward III Has been officially enthroned by Congress. The Valois Dynasty mentioned above The birth of is the event of the year after his coronation.

So, Edward III It seems that he was not the time to take control even though he was King of England. He also lived in a place other than France Philip VI It was a boost to the coronation.

But Edward III Will leave the statement that "I am closer to the Capetian relationship."

What is the background to the deterioration of British-French relations during the time of Edward III?

So far, we've focused on relationships, but in this chapter we'll also look at international affairs.

Hundred Years War The reason why the war between Britain and France began to occur many times before the start of the war was that the social environment at that time created new problems.

Such a new problem was a trouble in both Britain and France, including the "Flandre problem". The problem is that the King of England Edward III Grandfather Edward I And the King of France Philip IV It has surfaced in the age of.

What is the territorial issue "Flandre issue" with France?

In France at that time, commerce became active due to the Crusades expedition. Flanders Has grown to become one of the prosperous centers of the European economy in a region of active commerce.

Speaking of the core industry of Flanders woolen fabric .. Speaking of woolen materials, wool is.

* It is said that cooling began in the 14th century, so the demand for making warm clothing was increasing.

England is a major producer of wool .. In the Flanders region, which is located across the Strait of Dover, which is the shortest distance between Britain and France, woolen fabrics have become popular due to the fact that there is no shortage of wool purchases. Anyway, it was an inseparable relationship with England.

The land was very rich economically, so King of France Philip IV Is Flanders Begin aiming for complete control of. At that time, Flanders League of Cities England In some cases, it developed into a war because it was tied up and opposed.

Even so, Flanders Managed to maintain independence, but Edward III The count of Flanders, a pro-French sect, was born three years before his coronation.

A twisted structure was born in which the top of Flanders was pro-France and the citizens of the city were pro-England.

Problems with Scotland

Meanwhile, Edward II Edward III reopened the policy of invading Scotland (Edward II also attacked, but lost in 1314 and Scotland remained independent), which had once been invaded by the British. ..

It was Scotland that was impatient for the resumption of this unification movement. At this time, he was driven into exile in France.

It's easy to see from the map that makes up the United Kingdom, but Scotland on the north side. , England to the south , Further south across the sea France ... Scotland because of the positional relationship Is France By connecting with England I was able to put pressure on.

For England

"Hand over the King of Scotland!"

However, on the contrary, for France,

"If you form an alliance with Scotland, you can pinch and shoot England, but can you hand it over?"

Philip VI who was the King of France Continued to hide the King of Scotland. This has decisively worsened the relationship between the two countries.

Philip VI Attempts to mediate the Pope with England, but Edward III Plantagenet House Did not break the confrontation stance.

Guyenne France was Edward III because of the vassal relationship through Decided to confiscate the territory, but of course Britain refused.

Rather Edward III Declared that he was the King of France, saying, "I am more suitable for the King of France", Valois Dynasty I will hit the challenge letter against.

Philip VI At first, he seemed to think lightly, but the great defeat in the early naval battles made him a reality Hundred Years War . Will get stuck in the swamp.