Editing House of Valois (section)

==Unexpected inheritance==
The [[Capetian dynasty]] seemed secure in the rule of the [[Kingdom of France]] both during and after the reign of King [[Philip IV of France|Philip IV]] (Philip the Fair, {{reign | 1285 | 1313}}). Philip left three surviving sons ([[Louis X of France|Louis]], [[Philip V of France|Philip]] and [[Charles IV of France|Charles]]) and a daughter ([[Isabella of France|Isabella]]). Each son became [[List of French monarchs|king]] in turn, but each died young without surviving male heirs, leaving only daughters who could not inherit the throne. When Charles IV died in 1328 the French succession became more problematic.

In 1328 three candidates had a plausible claim to the French throne:

# [[Philip VI of France|Philip, Count of Valois]], son of [[Charles of Valois]], who was the closest heir in male line and a grandson of [[Philip III of France|Philip III]] ({{reign | 1270 | 1285}}). Because his father was the brother of the late Philip IV, the Count of Valois was therefore a nephew of Philip IV and the cousin of Louis X, Philip V and Charles IV. Further, Charles IV had chosen him as the regent before his death.
# [[Joan II of Navarre|Joan of Navarre]], daughter of Louis X. Although Philip V had used his position relative to his niece to take the throne in 1316, Joan nevertheless had a strong claim as the heir-general of Philip IV, and her maternal family had initially supported her claim after the death of Louis X. She ultimately received the [[Kingdom of Navarre]], which could be passed to female heirs.
# [[Edward III of England]], son of [[Isabella of France]], the daughter and only surviving child of Philip IV. Edward claimed the French throne as a grandson of Philip IV.

In England, [[Isabella of France]] claimed the throne on behalf of her 15-year-old son. In contrast to France it was unclear whether a woman could inherit the English crown<ref>[[Empress Matilda]] had claimed the English throne in the early 12th century. However, [[Stephen of Blois]] contested her claim, occasioning [[The Anarchy|a lengthy civil war]].</ref> but English precedent allowed succession through the female line (as exemplified by [[Henry II of England]], son of [[Empress Matilda|Matilda]]). The French rejected Isabella's claim, arguing that since she herself, as a woman, could not succeed, then she could not transmit any such right to her son. Thus the French magnates chose as their new monarch Philip of Valois (Philip VI).

Because diplomacy and negotiation had failed, Edward III would have to back his claims with force to obtain the French throne. For a few years, England and France maintained an uneasy peace. Eventually, an escalation of conflict between the two kings led to King Philip VI confiscating the [[Duchy of Aquitaine]] (1337). Instead of paying homage for Aquitaine to the French king, as his ancestors had done, Edward claimed that he himself was the rightful King of France. These events helped launch the [[Hundred Years' War]] (1337–1453) between England and France. Though England ultimately failed to win that prolonged conflict, English and British monarchs until 1801 continued to maintain, at least formally, a [[English claims to the French throne|claim to the French throne]].<ref>
{{cite book
 | last1 = Weir
 | first1 = Alison
 | author-link1 = Alison Weir
 | year = 1989
 | chapter = The House of Hanover
 | title = Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7nZ90l1_IzAC
 | publisher = Random House
 | publication-date = 2011
 | page = 286
 | isbn = 9781446449110
 | quote = On 1 January 1801, [King George III] relinquished for ever the title 'King of France', held by English kings since Edward III laid claim to the French crown in 1340.
}}
</ref>