The Hundred Years' War began not just over crowns, but over wool and wine.
The Edwardian War, the first phase of the Hundred Years' War, was sparked by a dynastic dispute between Edward III and Philip VI. Yet, beneath the royal claims lay a complex web of economic interests, including the lucrative Gascon wine trade and the vital English wool supply to Flanders.
The conflict originated in 1337 when Edward III, claiming the French throne through his mother Isabella, defied Philip VI. This dynastic friction was exacerbated by Philip's interference in Gascony, a region crucial to England for its profitable claret production. Tensions peaked when Philip supported Scotland, Edward's enemy, and demanded the extradition of the French fugitive Robert III of Artois. When Edward refused, Philip confiscated the Duchy of Aquitaine, effectively triggering the war.
Financing this massive undertaking proved nearly as difficult as the military campaigns themselves. Edward relied on heavy borrowing from Italian banking houses like the Bardi and Peruzzi, and later, innovative schemes from merchant William de la Pole, who leveraged England's wool stock to secure loans. These financial pressures, combined with the logistical challenges of naval warfare and the devastating impact of the Black Death, forced frequent pauses in hostilities, including the Truce of Espléchin in 1340 and the Truce of Malestroit in 1343.
The war was characterized by shifting alliances and brutal realities on the ground. While Edward achieved notable victories at Crécy and Poitiers, the conflict also saw the rise of 'routier' companies—unemployed soldiers who turned to looting and extortion during truces. The phase concluded with the 1360 Treaty of Brétigny, prompted by a freak hailstorm known as Black Monday that crippled the English army. Edward secured sovereignty over Aquitaine but ultimately renounced his claim to the French throne, setting the stage for decades of future instability.
Source: Hundred Years' War, 1337–1360
