Indirectly, this trade between England and Flanders helped to bring on
a war of such duration that it received the name of the Hundred Years'
War.
Flanders was at that time a dependency of France (see map facing
p. 128), but its great commercial towns were rapidly rising in power,
and were restive and rebellious under the exactions and extortion of
their feudal master, Count Louis. Their business interests bound them
strongly to England; and they were anxious to form an alliance with
Edward against Philip VI of France, who was determined to bring the
Flemish cities into absolute subjection.
Philip was by no means unwilling to begin hostilities with England.
He had long looked with a greedy eye on the tract of country south of
the Loire,[2] which remained in possession of the English kings, and
only wanted a pretext for annexing. Through his alliance with
Scotland, he threatened to attack Edward's kingdom on the north.
Again, Philip's war vessels had been seizing English ships laden with
wool, so that intercourse with Flanders was maintained with difficulty
and peril.
[2] Names Aquitaine (with the exception of Poitou). At a later period
the province got the name of Guienne, which was a part of it. (See
map facing p. 128.)
Edward remonstrated in vain against these outrages. At length, having
concluded an alliance with Ghent, the chief Flemish city, he boldly
claimed the crown of France as his lawful right,[1] and followed the
demand with a declaration of war. Edward based his claim on the fact
that through his mother Isabelle he was nephew to the late French
King, Charles IV, whereas the reigning monarch was only cousin of that
monarch. To this the French replied that since their law excluded
women from the throne, Edward's claim was worthless, because he could
not inherit the crown of France from one who could not herself have
worn it.
[1] Claim of Edward III to the French Crown
Philip III (of France)*
(1270-1285)
H
=============H------------------
H |
Philip IV Charles, Count of
(1285-1314) Valois, d. 1325
H H
==========================------ Philip VI
H H H | (of Valois)
Louis X Philip V Charles IV Isabelle (1328-1350)
(1314-1316) (1316-1322) (1322-1328) m. Edward II H
H of England H
John I | John II
(15 No.-19 Nov. 1316) Edward III (1350-1364)
of England, 1327
*The heavy lines indicate the direct succession.