Editing Charente-Maritime (section)

==== Hundred Years' War ====
[[File:Traité de Bretigny.svg|thumb|upright|France in [[1365]]. {{Legend|#EA8B9D|Territories controlled by Edward III}} {{Legend|#FDDCFB|Territories ceded by France to England under the [[Treaty of Brétigny]]}} {{Legend|#FFFFFF|Territory of the Duchy of Brittany, allied with the English}}]]
The [[Hundred Years' War]] began when [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] claimed the French throne in 1337, sparking the “Saintonge Wars.”<ref name=":55">{{Harvtxt|Combes|2001|p=195-196}}</ref> In 1345, [[Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster|Henry of Lancaster]] raided Saintonge, capturing key towns.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Massiou|1846b|p=52-59}}</ref> The [[Black Death]] (1347) paused fighting, but in 1351, [[John II of France|John II]] retook Saint-Jean-d’Angély.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Massiou|1846b|p=64}}</ref> The [[Treaty of Brétigny]] (1360) ceded Saintonge and Aunis to [[Edward the Black Prince|Edward of Woodstock]], but [[Charles V of France|Charles V]]’s forces, led by [[Bertrand du Guesclin|Du Guesclin]], reversed this. The [[Battle of La Rochelle]] (1372) and subsequent sieges secured French control by 1374.<ref>{{Harvtxt|Favier|1980|p=335-338}}</ref> After truces, [[Charles VII of France|Charles VII]]’s reconquest ended with the siege of [[Montguyon]] (1451) and the [[Battle of Castillon]] (1453), leaving the region devastated.<ref name=":10">{{Harvtxt|Boutinet|2001|p=30}}</ref>