Philip VI., OF VALOIS

Philip VI., OF VALOIS, king of France, was the son of Charles of Valois, younger brother of Philip IV., and succeeded to the regency of France on the death of Charles IV. The proclamation of a king was deferred on account of the pregnancy of Charles IV.'s widow; but on her giving birth to a daughter Philip caused himself to be crowned king at Rheims (May 29, 1328). His right to the throne was denied by Edward III. of England, the grandson of Philip IV., who declared that females, though excluded by the Salic law, could transmit their rights to their children, and therefore insisted upon the superiority of his own claims. Philip, however, was not only already crowned king, but he had the support of the people. His reign commenced gloriously; for, marching into Flanders to support the count against his rebellious subjects, he wiped out the disgrace of Courtrai by vanquishing the Flemings at Cassel (August 23, 1328). He was obliged to give up Navarre (q.v.), as the Salic law of succession did not apply to it, but he retained Champagne and Brie, paying for them a considerable annual stipend. The hundred years' war with England began in 1337 both in Guienne and in Flanders, but was carried on languidly for several years, the only prominent incident being the destruction of the French fleet off Sluys (June 24, 1340). Philip was a bad and faithless man, and his grasping extortion well-nigh exhausted the wealth of the country. Yet money for his pleasures and for new wars had constantly to be provided by some new tax or fresh confiscation. In 1346 Edward III. landed in Normandy, ravaged the whole country to the environs of Paris, and totally defeated Philip at Crécy. A truce was then concluded, but the devoted kingdom had no sooner been released from war than destruction threatened in the yet more terrible form of the 'Black Death.' Philip received Dauphiné in gift in 1349, purchased Majorca from its unfortunate king, and died August 22, 1350, neither loved nor respected.