AH Challenge: British Re-conquest of France

So as we all know the Hundred Years' War pretty much ended British mainland ambitions, however untill the Napoleonic Wars kings of Britian continued to lay claim to the French throne. So is it possible with a possible with a post 1600 POD to have Britian regain some or all of its old mainland lands (Britanny,Pale of Calais, etc.) by war or otherwise, Comments and corrections appriciated!
 
I really don't think so. England was too much smaller than France to ever conquer it and hold for long. France was a stronger country until the 18th century. The reason England never could hold on to large parts of France for very long was it simply didn't have the resources. I think England could have held on to its Brétigny gains (planning to do a timeline about this in the near future) with the right luck, but thats about it. In my current timeline, a surviving Henry V is able to conquer France by exploiting division among the French princes and continuing the Burgundian alliance, but this is a unique event.

After the losses of Gascony and Normany in the 1450s, England did not hold any significant continental territory except Calais. Conquering France from Calais would be pretty much impossible, the French side of the pale was very well fortified. I think that the holding onto the French title was more ceremonial than an actual claim, especially past the 15th century. Plus, the English claim was always more a bargaining counter for territory than a serious claim, except when Henry V actually tried to enforce it.

Scipio
 
That is going to be a costy mess both in money and lives. And there is no way they would be able to hold the land.
 
Something would have to seriously mess up France and/or its population to make it digestable.

Or, the Brits could side with the Germans in something nasty that ends up with the British taking more than they said they would and keeping it once the Germans withdrew...?
 
In all likelyhood this would be really bad for England in the long run since their king is probably going to focus mainly on ruling France with little focus on England. In the end France is just a bigger deal than england is and any English dynasty on the French throne will probably end up moving to Paris to better rule their more important realm. In effect a Anglo-French union would very quickly have the french as the dominant partner.
 
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