Capetian-Plantagenet rivalry

The conflict between the dynasties of the Capetians and Plantagenets covers a period of one hundredyears (1159-1259), during which the Kingdom of France fights against the Angevin Empire.

This conflict is also called by some historians, the "First Hundred Years War."

The conflict is primarily French, since both dynasties are French, the nobles that make up the English army are essentially of French origin, and the foot soldiers of the English king are local recruits in France (Anjou, Guyenne, Normandy, Brittany etc.).

In this period, the English king's continental possessions are considered more important than his island possessions, and significantly greater than even those of the French sovereign, even if the latter is the overlord of the former for most of the possessions he holds on the continent, and the official language of the two belligerents is the French of this time.

French also remains the official language of England until 1361.

Such is the origin of the expressions that can still be found today on the shields and coat of arms of the English monarchy Honi soit qui mal y pense and Dieu et mon droit.

The English kings, who are of French origin, take wives from France from the eleventh to the fifteenth century.

Very rare are those who marry a woman of another country, including the cadet branches.

Hence the Plantagenet monarchs are ethnically French.

The war begins in 1159 when the armies of the Angevin Henry II of England enter Périgueux.

The King of England has decided to further expand his possessions in the southwest by annexing the county of Toulouse, which includes, among others, Quercy.

The war sees the gradual conquest by the Capetians of their kingdom.

Indeed, the real royal power of the King of France is still not extensive, even as the suzerainty of his dynasty extends far beyond the small domain of Île-de-France.

It covers almost the entire territory of France, to the marches of the Holy Roman Empire, (Seine/Morvan/Rhone Valley) to the east.

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