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When did Edward III first declare himself king of France?
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Edward III
Edward III, watercolour, 15th century; in the British Library (Cotton MS. Julius E. IV).
Edward III first made his claim to the French throne in 1328, following the death of Charles IV, though he initially withdrew it after the French assembly chose Philip VI. He later revived this claim in 1337 and formally declared that the kingdom of France was rightfully his in October of that year. Subsequently, in January 1340, Edward officially assumed the title of king of France.12