CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: B - The Hundred Years’ War started because the King of England was considered a vassal of the King of France. Dating back to the Norman conquest of England, the English monarch maintained possession of territory in France and was subject to pay homage to the French king. In 1337 King Edward III of England refused to pay homage to Phillip VI of France, arguing that he had a more rightful claim to the French throne anyway (which was an arguable but marginally legitimate claim). The war, which was actually 116 years long, began that year, but ultimately ended with Phillip VI’s House of Valois maintaining the throne.