Causes of the Hundred Years' War
The root cause of the Hundred Years' War was a power struggle between France and England. As the English Kings had for years controlled part of France and had in fact been officials in France they always seemed to play a big brother roll. This ended when, in 1259, King Henry III relinquished his control of the French territories. For years to come French officials would interfere in the matters of English vassals still in the territories. This caused some discontent.
Later after the final son of King Philip IV, king of France, died without a male successor in 1328 France fell into a kind of state of panic. During which they knew the closest relative and therefore the rightful heir to the French throne was King Edward III of England. This was an obvious problem because they couldn't allow an English kind to rule France. Instead they turned to another relative, a cousin, Philip, the Duke of Valois, and named him King Philip VI (1328-1350) (Spielvogel).
While both of these mini power battles between France and England created friction between the two nations the spark that ignited the fire took place in 1337 when the English King Edward III refused to pay the French King Philip VI for the French territories England had used for so many years, Gascony.
Later after the final son of King Philip IV, king of France, died without a male successor in 1328 France fell into a kind of state of panic. During which they knew the closest relative and therefore the rightful heir to the French throne was King Edward III of England. This was an obvious problem because they couldn't allow an English kind to rule France. Instead they turned to another relative, a cousin, Philip, the Duke of Valois, and named him King Philip VI (1328-1350) (Spielvogel).
While both of these mini power battles between France and England created friction between the two nations the spark that ignited the fire took place in 1337 when the English King Edward III refused to pay the French King Philip VI for the French territories England had used for so many years, Gascony.