Coming to power in 1154, the Angevin kings of England soon controlled more territory in France than did the French monarchy. When the last Capetian, King Philip IV, died in 1316, a complicated series of events ensued. The king's daughter Joan was discredited as the child from her mother's adultery. His eldest son Louis X died in 1316, Philip IV the next eldest son was dead by 1322 and his daughters were set aside in favor of the last son, Charles IV.

In 1324, Charles IV of France and Edward II of England fought the short War of Saint-Sardos whose principal event was the cannon bombardment and capture of the English fort La Réole on the Garonne. England had now lost almost everything in France, even Normandy was taken back by the French. Only a few provinces in Gascony were under English control. (However, French remained the official language of England well into the latter half of the 14th century.) Gascony was very profitable because of wine exports. Gascony was held as a fief of the French crown, it was not English territory. The English nobility turned against Edward II who was assassinated in 1327. Charles IV died in 1328 leaving only two daughters. The Capetian line was extinguished, there was no male heir to take the throne and France was in crisis.

However, Charles IV's sister Isabella was married to the English King Edward II, and upon his death was in effective control of the English crown because Edward III was only a young boy. According to English interpretation, Edward III as a nephew of Philip IV's second son Charles IV was the last surviving male heir of the Capetian lineage and was therefore King of France. You can imagine how this was received on the streets of Paris particularly as Edward III was descended from a female Capetian which was a violation of Salic Law. But wait, there is more. In France, the last surviving male of the Capetian dynasty irregardless of exact parentage, was Philip of Valois who had become acting regent upon the death of Charles IV. France was at ease with this choice and he was crowned Philip VI in 1328. In England Edward III was facing trouble with his nobles and a likely war with Scotland and decided to formerly gave up claims to the French throne. Neither England nor France was at ease with this situation and war on a large scale looms just over the horizon.