Why was Edward I's war with France costly and inconclusive?

Edward I’s war with France (1294–1303) was both costly and inconclusive due to the nature of the conflict and the immense financial strain it placed on his kingdom. The war began after Philip IV of France decreed Gascony confiscated following disputes between French and English sailors and Edward’s failure to appear at the French court as a vassal.1

The conflict proved inconclusive as neither side could achieve a decisive victory, leading to a stalemate that resulted in a truce and a return to the status quo ante in 1303. The war was exceptionally costly, forcing Edward to rely on heavy taxation, large-scale recruitment, and the seizure of food and wool crops, which caused significant domestic unrest and a political crisis in 1297. Furthermore, the financial burden exhausted his resources; his primary bankers, the Riccardi, were bankrupted in 1294, and their successors were unable to provide the same level of financial support. These fiscal pressures, combined with simultaneous military commitments in Wales and Scotland, ultimately limited the king's ability to sustain a successful campaign in France.213