1323–1324: Saint‑Sardos, Seizure of Gascony, and Campaign

At the beginning of the 14th century, the king of England is also a duke in France: he owes homage to the king of France for Gascony. This feudal situation is explosive, as it pits two sovereigns against each other.

Under Charles IV, a crisis erupts in 1323 around Saint‑Sardos (in the Agenais): the affair serves as a trigger for a short war, but one that is highly revealing.

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🏰 A Conflict of Sovereignty in Feudal Form

In the language of documents, it is a matter of homage, justice, and seigneurial rights. But politically, the stakes are deeper: who can impose their law in these territories?

The incident stems from a complex situation: Saint‑Sardos, located on lands of the Duchy of Gascony, also depends on a prior relevant to the king of France. When a Gascon lord, the lord of Montpezat, establishes a bastide there, the Parlement of Paris determines that the operation affects the Kingdom of France. The Gascons respond by expelling the French installed there, and officers of the king are hanged.

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🔥 A Limited War, a Political Message

Charles IV demands reparation and summons Edward II to render homage. Edward disavows Montpezat and agrees to negotiate, without resolving the matter. The king of France then has the Parlement pronounce the seizure of the Duchy of Gascony (July 1, 1324), which triggers the conflict.

The campaign is rapid: a French expedition, commanded by Charles of Valois, encounters little resistance. The key moment is the siege of La Réole, held by Edmund of Woodstock. Unable to resist, he capitulates on September 22, 1324 and signs a truce.

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🧠 Key Points to Remember

• Gascony is an enduring knot of Franco-English tension.
• 1323–1324: Saint-Sardos triggers a seizure, then a rapid campaign.
• The war is limited, but it hardens mistrust and prepares what comes next.