Homage and appeals turned French lordship into English conflict

By 1337 Edward III's French possessions were much smaller than the territories held by Henry II, but disputes over their extent and the obligations they created persisted. English kings held these lands from the French crown, even when their continental power exceeded that of their overlord. Homage could create military obligations that conflicted with English alliances, while appeals from local nobles allowed the French king to intervene in the vassal's administration. King John paid 20,000 marks to secure recognition of his holdings, yet a later refusal to answer an appeal led to confiscation and war. As royal administration developed, disputes over appeals, taxation, and officials' authority grew harder to resolve.