While researching the Royal Arms of England, I have read that Edward III of England placed the fleur-de-lis in the 1st and 4th quarters as France was "superior in feudal standing" to England, and thus its symbol was higher placed than the English three lions. Where did other major polities in this period rank? I assume the Holy Roman Empire was first, being an empire, but what about the Kingdoms of Castile, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary etc? How commonly agreed was the list and what determined it? If it changed over time, I am most interested in the Hundred Years' War era.
The relationship between the King of England and the King of France was a special feudal relationship borne out of events of the 13th century. It was a not a 'list' or general hierarchy across Europe, or certainly not any that could withstand the various counter-claims borne of inter-marriage.
During the 12th and early 13th century, a vast swath of what we now know as west France was held by the Angevins, or the Kings of England. These were the lands down the Atlantic coast south of modern Brittany, often broadly referred to as Aquitaine. These lands were governed by Angevins (also known as Plantagents) who intermarried with French royalty, creating complex relationships between land, inheritance and feudal relations - the history of Eleanor of Aquitaine would be a good starting point for those interested in looking further into this.
After various conflicts over decades, King of England Henry III ceded much of these lands, and claims to others, to the King of France Louis IX in the treaty of 1259. In return, Henry kept the duchy of Gascony, or lower Aquitaine - a significant source of revenue and prestige. For example most of the English imported wines of Bordeaux came from Gascony at this time. Gascony was often viewed as 'the first province of England', a colony of sorts. But Henry only kept Gascony under feudal terms, recognizing the King of France as liege lord. This effectively made the King of England a vassal to the King of France: the King of France was overlord of the King of England.
The borders of Gascony became the frontiers of the 100 Years War in the next century.
