Alliance Edward III and Flemish towns
Edward III allies himself with the Flemish towns
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1340 in England
Explore 23 historical events and records for England in 1340.
Historical records for England in 1340
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 23 of 23 unique records.
23Unique records
1 of 1Page
19Named events on this page
4Named people on this page
11Places on this page
January
King of France Title
Publicly assumes the title King of France
Rule of France
Edward III declares himself as King of France
Succession
Claims the French throne from his mother who is heiress of her brother Charles IV. Assumes the title of King of France
Succession
Claims the French throne from his mother who is heiress of her brother Charles IV. Assumes the title of King of France
March
Birth of John of Gaunt
Birth of John of Gaunt, 3rd surviving son of King Edward III and younger brother of Edward, Prince of Wales (Edward, the Black Prince)
Birth of John of Gaunt
Gives birth to John of Gaunt
June
Battle of Sluys
Present at the English victory in the Battle of Sluys
Battle of Sluys
Wins a major naval victory over the French fleet
Battle of Sluys
Wins a naval victory over the French fleet to transport his forces across to France
Sluys Victory Secures Flanders Approach
Edward III's naval victory at Sluys protects communications with allies in Flanders.
July
Siege of Tournai
Besieges Tournai during the Low Countries campaign
September
Truce of Esplechin
Agrees a truce with Philip VI after the Tournai campaign
November
Invasion of France
Edward returns to England
Peace
Returns to England after agreeing a truce with France
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.
Other events (month unknown)
Budget
Florentine bankers agree to finance Edward III
Flemish Alliance
Edward III uses Flemish alliances to support his war against France.
Flemish Support for English Campaign Renewed
Edward III relies on Flemish political and commercial support during the opening phase of the Hundred Years War.
Invasion of England
French raid gains ground at St Helens before being repulsed
Invasion of Loire
Philip VI invades the English fiefs South of the Loire
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
Treaty of Esplechin
The cost of the war leads Edward III to sign a truce with Philip VI
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.