Dual soveriegnty of the kings of england as a cause of the hundred years war.

Essay by stephenjamessmithUniversity, Bachelor'sC+, June 2003

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In 1259, Henry II of England and Louis IX signed a peace treaty in Paris bringing to end a state of warfare that had existed between the two countries since 1180. In doing so they had laid a cornerstone to a further 250 years of dynastic and feudal conflict between the two countries and the Hundred Years War. By including within its writing's the demand for liege homage to be paid by the King/Duke of England to the King of France, it ordered a pre-determined hierarchy of kings, a situation which was untenable to a sovereign lord in their own right. Yet was this feudal issue the only factor one must consider when analysing this period?

One finds it a unique question to answer. When in the process of writing any other essay that focuses on one particular factor, a plethora of other reasons are readily available for consideration, however there is no doubt that the question of vassalage as an unacceptable situation for the Kings of England was an overwhelming factor in the break out of hostilities.

The only other event that seems to merit consideration is the death of King Charles IV in 1328 and Edward III claim to the throne of France due to being the fruits of the union of Charles sister, Isabella, and his father Edward II. However I believe there is another factor which must also be taken into consideration related to both the above, that by holding the King of England as a vassal, this effectively curtailed any attempts to destabilise French interests, such as pursuing the traditional ties in Flanders. On the reverse, the position of territories in direct contact with a powerful rival lending the ability to strike out yet retain your own sovereign lands intact must have seemed appealing to...