Siege of Antwerp
Edward III crosses to Antwerp & invades France beginning the Hundred Years war
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Edward III Biography and Timeline — Page 4
Follow Edward III through 260 dated historical records for England.
Edward III, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
260Distinct records
4 of 7Page
1337–1344Years on this page
1337
1338
Declaration of War
Cancels the truce with France after the attack on Portsmouth & the Isle of Wight
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Alliance Edward III and German Allies
Sails from Orwell to Antwerp then marches to Koblenz to join the German Allies
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Alliance with Louis IV
Secures support from the Holy Roman Emperor during the opening war phase
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Imperial Vicar Appointed
Receives imperial vicariate authority in the Low Countries
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Succession
Proclaims himself King of England & France
Role range: 1327-1377
Alliance France and Flanders
Gains the support of the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV in his claim to the French throne. Flemish weavers support Edward's claim to the French throne after a commercial Treaty
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Ghent Alliance with Flemish Towns
Edward III strengthens ties with Flemish towns whose textile economy depends heavily on English wool.
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Treaty of Flanders
Flemish weavers support Edward's claim to the French throne after a commercial Treaty
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
1339
Cambrai Campaign
Invades northern France with allied forces during the Cambrai campaign
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Invasion of France
Invades France for the 1st time, without success
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1312-1377
1340
Succession
Claims the French throne from his mother who is heiress of her brother Charles IV. Assumes the title of King of France
Role range: 1327-1377
Alliance Edward III and Flemish towns
Edward III allies himself with the Flemish towns
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
King of France Title
Publicly assumes the title King of France
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Rule of France
Edward III declares himself as King of France
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Succession
Claims the French throne from his mother who is heiress of her brother Charles IV. Assumes the title of King of France
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Battle of Sluys
Wins a major naval victory over the French fleet
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Battle of Sluys
Wins a naval victory over the French fleet to transport his forces across to France
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Sluys Victory Secures Flanders Approach
Edward III's naval victory at Sluys protects communications with allies in Flanders.
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Siege of Tournai
Besieges Tournai during the Low Countries campaign
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Truce of Esplechin
Agrees a truce with Philip VI after the Tournai campaign
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Invasion of France
Edward returns to England
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Peace
Returns to England after agreeing a truce with France
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1312-1377
Ministerial Purge
Edward III returned unexpectedly to England late in 1340 and dismissed several royal ministers whom he blamed for administrative failures and wartime finance problems.
Role range: 1327-1377
Budget
Florentine bankers agree to finance Edward III
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Flemish Alliance
Edward III uses Flemish alliances to support his war against France.
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Flemish Support for English Campaign Renewed
Edward III relies on Flemish political and commercial support during the opening phase of the Hundred Years War.
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Invasion of England
French raid gains ground at St Helens before being repulsed
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Invasion of Loire
Philip VI invades the English fiefs South of the Loire
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Invasion of Picardy
Edward led his army on a destructive chevauchee through Picardy, destroying hundreds of villages all the while shadowed by the French. Battle was given by neither side and Edward withdrew, bringing the campaign to an abrupt end
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Treaty of Esplechin
The cost of the war leads Edward III to sign a truce with Philip VI
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
1341
Brittany Succession Supported
Supports John de Montfort in the Breton succession dispute
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Conflict with Archbishop Stratford
Edward III's dispute with Archbishop John Stratford produced a major political crisis over ministerial responsibility and the limits of royal action against leading officials.
Role range: 1327-1377
Capture of Newcastle
The Scots capture Newcastle
Role range: 1327-1377
Rule of Brittany
The Duke of Brittany dies leading to a war of succession. Edward III supports John de Montfort, Philip VI supports Charles de Blois
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
1342
Brest Expedition
Sails to Brittany to support the Montfort cause
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
1343
Truce of Malestroit
Accepts a truce in the French and Breton wars
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
Prince of Wales Created
Edward III created his eldest son Edward of Woodstock Prince of Wales, giving the heir a formal title that had not been held by Edward III himself.
Role range: 1327-1377
Alliance Edward III and Charles of Blois, Edward supports de Montfort
Philip supports Charles of Blois, Edward supports de Montfort
Role range: 1337-1453 – 1327-1377
1344
Round Table Project
Edward III promoted a chivalric Round Table project at Windsor, an initiative that anticipated the courtly culture later associated with the Order of the Garter.
Role range: 1327-1377
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.