Royal Moment in History: January 26

1340 - Edward III of England is declared King of France

Edward III

 
     Edward had previously asserted a claim to the French throne through his mother, Isabella - the daughter of Philip IV of France. When Isabella's father died, he was succeeded by his son Philip V, who died without a heir and was succeeded by his brother Charles IV, who also died without an heir. This left Edward as the closest living male relative of the dead king, but Salic law prohibited succession through the female line, so the French throne was passed on to Philip VI - Charles IV's cousin through his father's younger brother. Edward, who was Duke of Aquitaine and a holder of other French lands, owed feudal homage to the French king - just as his predecessors had done - but he refused to do the same for Philip on the grounds that he was not the rightful heir to the French throne. In retaliation, Philip confiscated Edward's French territories, which then prompted Edward to not only reclaim those territories, but to push his claim to be King of France.

Edward III modified his coat of arms by including the French fluer-de-lis with the English gold lions.

     The result was Edward's invasion of France in 1339, and a series of on-and-off conflicts known as the Hundred Years' War, during which Edward and his descendants attempted to seize the French throne.


Photo Credit: Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons cc