Philip VI of France

Long ago, Philip became the king of France.

He was the first king of his family.

But some people did not agree. A king from England wanted the crown too. This led to a very long war.

At first, the French lands were doing well. Then, the war became much harder. Many battles took place on land and sea.

A sad sickness also came to the land. It made things even more difficult for the people.

Philip worked to make his land bigger. He bought new lands for his grandson.

He was a leader during a very busy time.

Philip VI was the first king of the Valois family.

He became king of France in 1328. A king before him died without a son. This caused a big fight over who should rule. Edward III of England also wanted the crown.

Edward was the nephew of the old king. But French leaders chose Philip instead. This disagreement started the Hundred Years' War in 1337.

At first, France was strong and rich. Philip had some early wins in battle.

But things changed quickly. The English navy won a big fight at sea. Later, the English won a major battle at Crécy. A sad sickness called the Black Death also hit France. This made life very hard for the people. Philip did work to grow his lands. He bought a place called the Dauphiné. He gave this land to his grandson. Philip died in 1350. His son, John II, became the next king.

Philip VI was a very important king in French history. He was the first ruler from the House of Valois. This was a new family of kings in France.

He ruled from the year 1328 until he died in 1350. His time as king was filled with many big changes. Some of these changes were good, but many were very hard. He had to deal with wars and even a great sickness.

His reign showed how much a single leader can affect a whole country.

Becoming king was not a simple job for Philip. Before him, King Charles IV died without having a son. This created a big argument about who should rule France.

Edward III of England was the nephew of the old king. However, French leaders used a rule called Salic law. This rule said that women could not pass the throne to their sons. Because of this, the leaders chose Philip instead of Edward. Philip was crowned at the Cathedral in Reims on May 29, 1328.

Soon, the disagreements between France and England turned into a long war. This conflict is known as the Hundred Years' War. It began in 1337 after many years of tension.

At first, France seemed very strong and rich. Philip even had some early wins, like at the Battle of Cassel in 1328.

But things changed when the English navy won at the Battle of Sluys in 1340. This meant the fighting would now happen mostly on land.

Life became even more difficult for the French people during this time. In 1346, the English won a very large battle at Crécy.

This battle was a huge loss for Philip's army. Around this same time, a terrible sickness called the Black Death arrived. This sickness made the country very unstable and caused much suffering. Even with these hard times, Philip tried to grow his lands. In 1349, he bought a place called the Dauphiné of Viennois. He gave this new land to his grandson, Prince Charles.

Philip VI's life was a mix of growing power and great struggle. He started as a leader of a new royal house. He ended his life after years of fighting difficult wars. He died on August 22, 1350. His son, John II, became the next king of France. The stories of his reign help us understand the Middle Ages. We can see how laws, wars, and sickness changed the world. His era helped shape the future of the French nation.

Philip VI was the first king of France from the House of Valois. He ruled from 1328 until his death in 1350. His reign was a turning point for the French monarchy. It marked the beginning of a new royal dynasty. However, his time on the throne was defined by intense conflict. He had to navigate a major succession dispute and a long war.

Becoming king was a complex legal process. When King Charles IV died in 1328, he had no male heir. This left two main people claiming the throne. Edward III of England was the nephew of Charles IV. He was the son of Charles's sister, Isabella. Philip of Valois was the paternal cousin of the late king. The French nobility and the University of Paris had to decide who should rule. They used a legal principle known as Salic law. This law stated that women could not inherit the throne. It also meant they could not pass a claim through their children. Because of this, Philip was chosen as the rightful king.

Philip was officially crowned on May 29, 1328. He was crowned at the Cathedral in Reims. Before he was king, he had served as regent. This means he ruled temporarily while the queen was pregnant. Once the queen gave birth to a daughter, Philip was proclaimed king. His rise to power changed the map of Europe. It also changed how land was inherited in France. For example, the crown of Navarre did not follow Salic law. Because of this, Philip did not inherit Navarre. It passed to Joan II of Navarre instead. Philip had to make deals to keep other important lands like Champagne.

Conflict with England grew steadily after Philip took the throne. The two kings had many disagreements over territory. One major issue was the Duchy of Aquitaine. This was a large area that the English king held. In 1337, Philip declared that Edward III had lost his rights to Aquitaine. This happened because Edward sheltered Robert of Artois. Robert was a man Philip considered a mortal enemy. This declaration triggered the Hundred Years' War. The war would last for many years and change history.

At the start of the war, France held a position of strength. The country was rich and had a large population. Philip's forces even saw early success at the Battle of Cassel in 1328. The French also used a strategy called Fabian strategy. This meant they avoided large, risky battles to wear down the enemy. This worked well while Edward III struggled with money. However, the situation changed at sea. In June 1340, the English won the Battle of Sluys. They destroyed the French navy at the port. This meant the war would now be fought mostly on land.

The tide turned against France in the mid-1340s. In 1346, Edward III invaded Normandy. He marched toward the Somme river. Philip's army met the English at the Battle of Crécy. The French army was disorganized and crowded by local peasants. Philip ordered a general attack as evening fell. The battle was a disaster for the French. The English won a decisive victory. Philip's army was almost entirely destroyed. He barely escaped being captured during the chaos. This loss gave the English a major advantage in the war.

While fighting the war, Philip also dealt with the Black Death. This was a terrible plague that struck France. It caused great instability across the entire country. Despite these crises, Philip did expand French influence. In 1349, he bought the Dauphiné of Viennois. This was done through the treaty of Romans with Humbert II. This land was located in the Kingdom of Burgundy. Philip gave this province to his grandson, Prince Charles. This helped extend French power beyond the river Rhône.

Philip VI died on August 22, 1350. He was succeeded by his son, John II. His reign was a period of massive transition. He established the Valois dynasty during a time of great chaos. The wars and the plague shaped the future of France. The legal decisions made during his accession also set long-lasting precedents. His life shows how leadership is tested by both law and war. The struggles of his era helped build the foundation of the French nation.