The War of Saint-Sardos was a short war fought between England and France in 1324. The war was a clear defeat for the English, and led indirectly to the overthrowing of Edward II of England. The war can also be seen as one of the precursors of the Hundred Years' War.

Background

During the reign of King Philip IV of France and his sons, France gradually moved away from feudalism into a more centralized state, as the power of the king grew at the cost of the nobles. One of the chief tools in this process the ]]. Here people could appeal the descisions of lower courts, meanwhile their possessions were under the direct protection of the Crown. This weakened on of the most privileges of the nobility, that of [jurisdiction]] over their own lands.

One of those who felt this encroachement the most was Edward II, King of England and Duke of Aquitaine. As Duke of Aquitaine, he ruled [[Gascony as a French vassal, the last remnant of the Angevin Empire. The French kings wanted this last English foothold gone too, and were very eager to settle disputes between the Duke and his subjects. Thus, unless he wanted a direct confrontation, Edward II could do little but watch the Duchy dwindle away as numerous small cases were pronounced in his disfavour.

Litigations and negotiations

One of these was the small village of Saint-Sardos. The village was within the jurisdiction of the Duke of Aquitaine, but it did also contain a Benedictine priory and the priory's motherhouse, the abbey of Sarlat, lay outside. In 1318, the Abbot petitioned Parlement to declare Saint-Sardos exempt from the King-Duke's jurisdiction. He also offered the king to build a bastide there. The case proceeded slowly, but in December 1322 Parlement pronounced in the Abbot's favour. In 15 October 1323 a royal sergeant arrived at Saint-Sardos and erected a stake bearing the Arms of the King of France.

Local landowners were not too pleased. They feared that the new bastide would attract settlers from their own estates and thus diminish their own incomes. The night after the sergeant's arrival Raymond-Bernard, lord of Montpezat , raided Saint-Sardos. He burned the village to the ground and hanged the sergeant at his own stake.

Edward II had more than enough problems at home, he did not need a diplomatic crisis with France. As soon as the news reached him, he sent letters offering his apologises and proclaiming his innocence. He was not believed. Ralph Basset, the Seneschal of Gascony and highest English offical in France, had met with Raymond-Bernard only two days before the raid. The French government accused him for authorizing the crime. He was probably guilty.

The English employed what means they could to drag things out without too big concessons too much. Basset was recalled in March 1334 and in April an embassy was sent to France with to, if possible, negotiate a peacefull settlement. This embassy was led by Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent and the Archbishop of Dublin. But time was quickly running out. King Charles IV of France had ordered his army to muster on the borders of Aquitaine in June.

The ambassadors recieved a chill welcome when they arrived at Paris and first promised that Montpezat would be surrendered. They then travelled to Bordeaux to see to the fulfilment of the agreement. There they learned the Charles IV's conduct of the affair had caused much indignation among the local nobility. The Earl of Kent therefore changed his mind and decieded to resist. The French officals were forced to return emptyhanded. New ambassadors were sent, but too late, before they could arrive Charles IV declared the duchy forfeit.

The War

In August 1334 Charles of Valois, the king's uncle, invaded Aquitaine.

Aftermath