    the battle of sluys (; ), also called battle of l'ecluse, was a sea battle fought on 24 june 1340 as one of the opening conflicts of the hundred years' war between england and france. the encounter was during the reigns of philip vi of france and edward iii of england, in front of the town of newmarket or sluis, (french Ãcluse), on the inlet between west flanders and zeeland. during the battle philip's navy was almost completely destroyed, giving the english fleet complete mastery over the channel. however by the end of edward's reign the french had rebuilt their fleet and were to become a threat again. ==background== thumb|right|upright|alt=early modern half-figure portrait of edward iii in royal garb.|edward iii as he was portrayed in the late 16th century. when france's charles iv the fair died in 1328 leaving only daughters, the nearest male relative was edward iii of england. the french establishment decided that they did not want the english king on the french throne, and chose edward's cousin, philip, count of valois, to be king of france instead. the english kings had become dukes of aquitaine after henry ii of england married eleanor of aquitaine in 1152, from which point the lands in aquitaine were held in vassalage to the french crown. edward iii did not see himself as subordinate
1340_in_France Battles_of_the_Hundred_Years\'_War Conflicts_in_1340 Naval_battles_of_the_Hundred_Years\'_War