English claims to the French throne: Encyclopedia II - English claims to the French throne - Hundred Years' War

English claims to the French throne - Hundred Years' War

This title was first adopted by King Edward III, who claimed the throne of France after the death of his uncle Charles IV of France, thereby precipitating the Hundred Years' War. Edward was Charles IV's nearest male relative. They were related, however, through Edward's mother and the French crown had always passed based on male-line relations (usually father to son or brother to brother). There was no precedent for someone succeeding to the French throne based on his maternal ancestry. Further, if women had succession rights, Charles IV and his two older brothers all left daughters who should have taken precendence over Edward and his mother. Later, French scholars would argue that Salic law required that the crown pass exclusively through the male line. Edward continued to use this title until the Treaty of Brétigny on May 8, 1360, when he abandoned his claims in return for substantial lands in France.

After the resumption of hostilities between the English and the French in 1369, however, Edward resumed his claim and the title of King of France. His successors also used the title until the Treaty of Troyes on May 21, 1420, in which the English recognised Charles VI as King of France, but with his new son-in-law King Henry V of England as his heir (disinheriting Charles VI's son, the Dauphin Charles). Henry V then adopted the title Heir of France instead.

Henry V and Charles VI both died within two months of each other in 1422, and Henry V's infant son (Charles VI's grandson) Henry VI became King of France. He was the only English king who was de facto King of France, rather than using the style as a mere title of pretence. However, by 1429 the Dauphin Charles, with the support of Joan of Arc, had proclaimed himself Charles VII, and the English were gradually driven out of France (with the exception of Calais, which was held until 1558).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Hundred Years' War", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki