when the war started, france was stronger than england as it was wealthier. french knights and heavy cavalry also enjoyed a great military reputation in all of christendom. also, france had about 17 million people, but england had only about 4 million people. however, france was a decentralised feudal monarchy in the middle ages and so it was less unified than england. france had an alliance with scotland and bohemia, and england was supported by parts of the low countries and by some regions in france loyal to the plantagenet kings of england.