2. English Victories

Edward III’s strategy to attack France was divided into two parts. First, He got closer to the French nobles who were in disagreements with Philip in order to make new allies. Then, He led armed raids on France to demolish the lands and cause the Valois king economic loses as a result they would terrorize the French.

These invasions were historically known as chevauchées. As a reaction to the English acts, the French invasions on the British coast were unsuccessful and the English victoriously won at Sluys. England won two famous battles at Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), in the second battle they captured the Valois French King John. The English military victories gave them an upper hand on the French who felt helpless. After Edward III death his son “the black Prince” continued his father’s path.

Kingless France was collapsing, with large parts in rebellion and the rest beset by mercenary armies, Edward wanted to take control of Paris and Rheims, where royal coronation takes place. He took neither but obliged the "Dauphin"—the name for the French heir to the throne - to sing the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360 to drop his claim to the throne. Edward won a large and independent Aquitaine in addition to other lands and money “but” according to Wide “complications in the text of this agreement allowed both sides to renew their claims later on”.