Philip VI, born in 1293 and died in 1350, was the first French king of the Valois dynasty . His reign, from 1328 to 1350, coincided with the beginning of the Hundred Years' War against England. Philip VI was the cousin of the last direct Capetian kings and ascended to the throne after Charles IV's death. Despite efforts to centralize administration, Philip VI's reign was marked by military defeats, including the naval Battle of Sluys in 1340 and the land Battle of Crécy in 1346. He was forced to make concessions to the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie to raise funds for the war, which led to the development of the political power of these estates. His reign also saw territorial gains, such as the acquisition of Dauphiné and Montpellier, but France was left divided by war and plague upon his death.

When did Philip VI become king of France?

Philip VI became king of France in 1328. He was the first French king of the Valois dynasty . Philip VI ascended to the throne after the death of his cousin, Charles IV, the last Capetian king of the direct line. He was crowned at Reims in May 1328, following a period as regent. His reign marked the beginning of the Hundred Years' War against England.

Why did Philip VI become king instead of Edward III of England?

Philip VI became king of France instead of Edward III of England due to the application of the Salic Law . This law, which became a fundamental principle in France, excluded women and their descendants from the line of succession to the throne. When the last Capetian king, Charles IV, died without a male heir in 1328, Edward III, as Charles IV's nephew through his mother Isabella, had a claim. However, Philip VI, a cousin of Charles IV, was chosen by an assembly of magnates. Edward III initially protested but later withdrew his claim and paid homage to Philip VI. This succession dispute ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War .

What major war began during Philip VI's reign?

The major war that began during Philip VI's reign was the Hundred Years' War . This intermittent conflict between England and France officially started on May 24, 1337, when Philip VI confiscated the English-held duchy of Guyenne. While this event marked the conventional start date, there were earlier skirmishes over English feudal landholdings in France dating back to the 12th century. The war was fueled by disputes over English territories in France and the legitimate succession to the French throne, with Edward III of England claiming the French crown through his mother, Isabella, sister of the previous king, Charles IV. Philip VI, the first king of the Valois dynasty, was crowned in 1328 after the assembly of magnates decided in his favor over Edward III's claim.

How did the Hundred Years' War affect Philip VI's rule?

Philip VI's reign (1328–1350) was largely defined by the outbreak and early stages of the Hundred Years' War against England. The conflict began in 1337 when Philip confiscated the English-held duchy of Aquitaine, leading Edward III of England to claim the French throne. Despite initial successes, such as crushing a revolt in Flanders and securing Edward III's homage for Aquitaine, Philip's reign was marked by significant military defeats, including the naval Battle of Sluys (1340) and the land Battle of Crécy (1346). These failures, coupled with the devastating impact of the Black Death starting in 1347, strained France's resources and Philip's political support. To fund the war, Philip was forced to make concessions to the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie, which led to the development of the political power of these estates.

What challenges did Philip VI face as king of France?

Philip VI faced significant challenges during his reign as king of France, primarily stemming from the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War in 1337. Lacking the means to impose necessary measures for maintaining royal power, he was compelled to make concessions to the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie to raise taxes for the war effort. This led to the development of the political power of the estates. His reign also saw military setbacks, including a naval defeat at the Battle of Sluys in 1340 and a devastating loss to the English at the Battle of Crécy in 1346. Internally, resentment grew over the influence of royal favorites, and crises forced Philip to repeatedly reform his council and seek subsidies from the kingdom's estates. The spread of the Black Death further compounded the difficulties, leaving France divided by war and plague at the time of his death.

Philip VI

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Byname:: Philip Of Valois

French:: Philippe De Valois

Born:: 1293

Died:: Aug. 22, 1350, near Paris (aged 57)

Title / Office:: king (1328-1350), France

Philip VI

king of France

Also known as: Philip of Valois, Philippe de Valois

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Top Questions

Who was Philip VI?
Philip VI, born in 1293 and died in 1350, was the first French king of the Valois dynasty. His reign, from 1328 to 1350, coincided with the beginning of the Hundred Years' War against England. Philip VI was the cousin of the last direct Capetian kings and ascended to the throne after Charles IV's death.

Despite efforts to centralize administration, Philip VI's reign was marked by military defeats, including the naval Battle of Sluys in 1340 and the land Battle of Crécy in 1346. He was forced to make concessions to the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie to raise funds for the war, which led to the development of the political power of these estates. His reign also saw territorial gains, such as the acquisition of Dauphiné and Montpellier, but France was left divided by war and plague upon his death.
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When did Philip VI become king of France?
Philip VI became king of France in 1328. He was the first French king of the Valois dynasty. Philip VI ascended to the throne after the death of his cousin, Charles IV, the last Capetian king of the direct line. He was crowned at Reims in May 1328, following a period as regent. His reign marked the beginning of the Hundred Years' War against England.
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Why did Philip VI become king instead of Edward III of England?
Philip VI became king of France instead of Edward III of England due to the application of the Salic Law. This law, which became a fundamental principle in France, excluded women and their descendants from the line of succession to the throne. When the last Capetian king, Charles IV, died without a male heir in 1328, Edward III, as Charles IV's nephew through his mother Isabella, had a claim. However, Philip VI, a cousin of Charles IV, was chosen by an assembly of magnates. Edward III initially protested but later withdrew his claim and paid homage to Philip VI. This succession dispute ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War.
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What major war began during Philip VI's reign?
The major war that began during Philip VI's reign was the Hundred Years' War. This intermittent conflict between England and France officially started on May 24, 1337, when Philip VI confiscated the English-held duchy of Guyenne. While this event marked the conventional start date, there were earlier skirmishes over English feudal landholdings in France dating back to the 12th century. The war was fueled by disputes over English territories in France and the legitimate succession to the French throne, with Edward III of England claiming the French crown through his mother, Isabella, sister of the previous king, Charles IV. Philip VI, the first king of the Valois dynasty, was crowned in 1328 after the assembly of magnates decided in his favor over Edward III's claim.
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How did the Hundred Years' War affect Philip VI's rule?
Philip VI's reign (1328–1350) was largely defined by the outbreak and early stages of the Hundred Years' War against England. The conflict began in 1337 when Philip confiscated the English-held duchy of Aquitaine, leading Edward III of England to claim the French throne. Despite initial successes, such as crushing a revolt in Flanders and securing Edward III's homage for Aquitaine, Philip's reign was marked by significant military defeats, including the naval Battle of Sluys (1340) and the land Battle of Crécy (1346). These failures, coupled with the devastating impact of the Black Death starting in 1347, strained France's resources and Philip's political support. To fund the war, Philip was forced to make concessions to the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie, which led to the development of the political power of these estates.
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What challenges did Philip VI face as king of France?
Philip VI faced significant challenges during his reign as king of France, primarily stemming from the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War in 1337. Lacking the means to impose necessary measures for maintaining royal power, he was compelled to make concessions to the nobility, clergy, and bourgeoisie to raise taxes for the war effort. This led to the development of the political power of the estates.

His reign also saw military setbacks, including a naval defeat at the Battle of Sluys in 1340 and a devastating loss to the English at the Battle of Crécy in 1346. Internally, resentment grew over the influence of royal favorites, and crises forced Philip to repeatedly reform his council and seek subsidies from the kingdom's estates. The spread of the Black Death further compounded the difficulties, leaving France divided by war and plague at the time of his death.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Philip VI (born 1293—died Aug. 22, 1350, near Paris) was the first French king of the Valois dynasty. Reigning at the outbreak of the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), he had no means of imposing on his country the measures necessary for the maintenance of his monarchical power, though he continued the efforts of the 13th-century Capetians toward the centralization of the administration in Paris. To raise taxes for war, he was obliged to make concessions to the nobility, the clergy, and the bourgeoisie; hence his reign witnessed the important development of the political power of the estates. The bourgeoisie, profiting from the king’s power, proved grateful and loyal; among the clergy and nobility, however, a movement for reform of finances took root.

The elder son of Charles of Valois, Philip was first cousin to the brothers Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV, the last Capetian kings of the direct line. On the death of Charles IV in 1328, Philip, in the face of opposition from the partisans of the claim of Edward III of England, assumed the regency until the end of the pregnancy of Charles IV’s widow. When the widow produced a daughter, who therefore could not succeed to the throne, Philip became king and was crowned at Reims in May 1328.

After the outbreak of a revolt in Flanders in August of that year, the count of Flanders appealed to Philip, whose knights butchered thousands of rebellious Flemings at the Battle of Cassel. When shortly thereafter Robert of Artois, who had helped Philip to win the crown, claimed the countship of Artois against a member of the royal family, Philip was forced to institute judicial proceedings against Robert, who became his bitter enemy. In 1334 Robert went to England and began to foment trouble between Edward III and Philip, hastening the deterioration of Anglo-French relations, which in 1337 led to the outbreak of the Hundred Years’ War. Military operations were at first restricted. In 1340, however, France suffered a grave defeat in the naval Battle of Sluys. Meanwhile, the internal situation had worsened, as a result of resentment over the preponderant influence of the nominees of the powerful Duke of Burgundy in the king’s council. A serious crisis resulted in 1343 and forced Philip to summon to Paris the estates of the kingdom, which took some measures to appease public opinion and to relieve the burdens of administration. France’s devastating defeat by the English at Crécy (1346) gave rise to another crisis. To conciliate opponents, the government was obliged to entrust finances to three abbots. A new meeting of the estates in November 1347 again forced the King to recast his council. The spread of the Black Death in 1348 and 1349, however, overshadowed all political questions. When Philip died, he left France divided by war and plague, although by purchase he had made some important additions to the territory of the kingdom.