War between the England and France was a constant affair for hundred of year. Even as late as the early 19th Cent, the French—then under Napoleon Borneparte—attempted to conquer England, and peace of sorts between them came only after Napoleon had been soundly defeated. The reasons for such enmity between them, however, had varied over the centuries. We confine ourselves here only to the time of the Reformation.
One main reason has to do with the fact that most of the English nobilities had French roots, coming as they were from the fact of the Norman Conquest of William I (the Conqueror) in 1066. The Normans came from the Frence province of Normandy (remember the Beaches of Normandy on D-Day of WWII?), and the Tower of London was built by William as a symbol of his intimidation of the English. And for centuries after that the 'English' nobility consisted entirely of Frenchmen, spoke French, married French princesses, and many of them continued to hold land and titles in France. Only as late as the early 15th Cent did King Henry V (r.1399-1413) speak English as his first language and made it official language of court. Quarrels—and, therefore, wars—between these 'English' nobilities and their Frence relatives over inheritance and entitlements were, therefore, a natural part of life between the two countries. In fact, in 1337, one such long series of wars broke out between the two nations over just such a claim and it lasted until 1453, when England lost the Battle of Castillon (1453) and all but just the tiny enclave of Calais; it became known as the Hundred Years' Wars (in which also is set the tragic story of Joan of Arc).
At the beginning of the 16th Cent, three reasons provided cause for more conflict, even without what was perceived as legitimate reasons for violence arising out of the Reformation; they are Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, and Charles I of the Holy Roman Empire. They were young, powerful, one of them very rich, and all full of pride and testosterone and raving to show off to the world what they can do for themselves, country and God (though this is probably not the order they would themselves thought was appropriate). And what they did would not be confined only to England and France but embrace most of Europe in its sweep.
©ALBERITH
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