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How did the feudal relationship between the English kings and French kings cause conflict?
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Hundred Yearsâ War
Image depicting the Battle of Crécy, during the Hundred Years' War, in which Edward III of England defeated Philip VI of France on August 26, 1346.
The conflict between England and France was rooted in a complex feudal paradox: English kings were sovereign rulers in their own realm but served as vassals to the French crown for their continental fiefs, such as the duchy of Guyenne.21
This relationship caused persistent friction for several reasons:
- Jurisdictional Interference: French kings used their status as suzerains to intervene in the administration of English-held lands. French officials encouraged local malcontents to bypass their English duke and appeal directly to the Parlement of Paris, undermining English authority.1
- Homage Disputes: The requirement for English kings to perform homage to the French king was a frequent source of tension. English monarchs often performed the ceremony grudgingly or delayed it, which French kings used as a pretext to declare the duchies forfeit.1
- Confiscation: Because the English held these lands as vassals, French kings could legally claim the territory if the English failed to meet their feudal obligations. This led to repeated military seizures of Guyenne, notably in 1294 and 1324, serving as a primary catalyst for the Hundred Yearsâ War.21