Question one continued,

After a series of conflicts in the 1200s, almost all of the English holdings on the French mainland were gone, leaving only a small region near Spain, known as Gascony. In the decades before the war began, many of the English nobility remembered their grandparents owning many fruitful regions of France. This, combined with a good amount of the English aristocracy being of French ancestry, was a large motivation for retaking of portions of mainland France, especially Normandy.

The constant intertwining of England and France, made lines of succession quite confusing. In 1314, Phillip IV of France died. Phillip had four children: Louis X, Phillip V, Charles IV, and Isabella, who was married to Edward II of England. Isabella's and Edward's child, Edward of Windsor, was a possible heir to both the English and French throne. Louis X, first son of Phillip IV, died two years later, letting Phillip V attempt to claim the throne, something opposed by many of the French nobility. Phillip V became king anyway, and also stated that the French throne was a title that could be only held by a man. Phillip V died in 1322, leaving the throne to Charles IV, third son of the late Phillip IV.

In 1324, King Charles IV of France, fought a brief war with his brother-in-law, King Edward II of England. England was devastated in the war, losing even more of their remaining land in the French region of Gascony.

Recovery of land lost in this conflict became a focus in French-English relations, and also drove the support of Edward II into the ground. In 1327, Edward II was deposed, and replaced by Edward of Windsor (now King Edward III). A year after Edward III ascended to the English throne, Charles IV of France died, leaving only one female child. Edward III was nephew to the late French King, and by feudal law, rightful heir to the French throne.

The French nobility were obviously against the idea of being ruled by an English king. Edward's mother, Isabella, was already held in low regard for her behaviour, so the French searched for another solution. The fourth son of Phillip III of France was Charles of Valois, who had died in 1325. His son, Phillip of Valois, was sworn in as King Phillip VI of France.

The next post will involve the declaration of war in 1337.