[2] Names Aquitaine (with the exception of Poitou). At a later period
the province got the name of Guienne, which was a part of it. (See
map facing p. 128.)

Edward remonstrated in vain against these outrages. At length, having
concluded an alliance with Ghent, the chief Flemish city, he boldly
claimed the crown of France as his lawful right,[1] and followed the
demand with a declaration of war. Edward based his claim on the fact
that through his mother Isabelle he was nephew to the late French
King, Charles IV, whereas the reigning monarch was only cousin of that
monarch. To this the French replied that since their law excluded
women from the throne, Edward's claim was worthless, because he could
not inherit the crown of France from one who could not herself have
worn it.

[1] Claim of Edward III to the French Crown

Philip III (of France)*
(1270-1285)
H
=============H------------------
H |
Philip IV Charles, Count of
(1285-1314) Valois, d. 1325
H H
==========================------ Philip VI
H H H | (of Valois)
Louis X Philip V Charles IV Isabelle (1328-1350)
(1314-1316) (1316-1322) (1322-1328) m. Edward II H
H of England H
John I | John II
(15 No.-19 Nov. 1316) Edward III (1350-1364)
of England, 1327

*The heavy lines indicate the direct succession.

238. Battle of Cr'ecy; the "Black Prince," 1346.

For the next eight years, fighting between the two countries was going
on pretty constantly on both land and sea, but without decisive
results. Edward was pressed for money and had to resort to all sorts
of expedients to get it, even to pawning his own and the Queen's
crown, to raise enough to pay his troops. At last he succeeded in
equipping a strong force, and with his son, Prince Edward, a lad of
fifteen, invaded Normandy.

His plan seems to have been to attack the French army in the south of
France; but after landing he changed his mind, and determined to
ravage Normandy, and then marc