# Battle of Sluys (1340)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1340-battle-of-sluys
Location: Off Flanders
Categories: battle

England destroyed much of the French fleet and gained naval freedom in the Channel. Within the broader Late Medieval France period, The Valois kingdom endured the Hundred Years’ War, plague, civil conflict and English occupation before recovering under Charles VII and Louis XI. Military and fiscal reforms strengthened the crown by the late fifteenth century. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Philip VI (King of France). Battle of Sluys mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Battle of Sluys mattered because it changed the military or territorial balance and influenced the political choices that followed.

Ruler at the time: [Philip VI](https://history-france.com/rulers/philip-vi)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Battle of Sluys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Battle+of+Sluys&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Battle of Sluys](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Battle+of+Sluys)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of French history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_French_history)