French Monarch. Born the second son of Jeanne I, Queen of Navarre and Philippe IV of France. In 1307 he married Jeanne II, Countess of Burgundy, they would have at least five children, only his daughters survived to adulthood. When his brother, Louis X, died in June 1316, he left a pregnant widow, and Philippe won appointment as regent for the unborn child. When the infant, Jean I 'the Posthumous,' was born in November 1316, he survived only five days. Philippe then declared himself king and quickly arranged an assembly of barons and prelates who recognized his claim over that of his niece, who as a female, they insisted, could not succeed to the throne, establishing a precedent maintained for the remainder of the French monarchy. Under his reign, there was an effort to standardize weights and measures. He established a system of local militias responsible to the crown, checked the abuses of local officials, and created the Court of Auditors in 1320, which still exists. He also revoked many of the policies of his predecessor, restoring goods and honor to many of his father's court who had been out of favor under Louis X. In August 1321, he was engaged in a Royal Progress in the south of France when he fell ill. He died at Longchamp in Paris. His viscera were buried at the Grand Couvent des Jacobins (demolished) and his body interred in Saint Denis Basilica. Due to the precedent he had set, none of his daughters could inherit, and so the throne passed to his younger brother. He was also known as Philippe the Tall.

French Monarch. Born the second son of Jeanne I, Queen of Navarre and Philippe IV of France. In 1307 he married Jeanne II, Countess of Burgundy, they would have at least five children, only his daughters survived to adulthood. When his brother, Louis X, died in June 1316, he left a pregnant widow, and Philippe won appointment as regent for the unborn child. When the infant, Jean I 'the Posthumous,' was born in November 1316, he survived only five days. Philippe then declared himself king and quickly arranged an assembly of barons and prelates who recognized his claim over that of his niece, who as a female, they insisted, could not succeed to the throne, establishing a precedent maintained for the remainder of the French monarchy. Under his reign, there was an effort to standardize weights and measures. He established a system of local militias responsible to the crown, checked the abuses of local officials, and created the Court of Auditors in 1320, which still exists. He also revoked many of the policies of his predecessor, restoring goods and honor to many of his father's court who had been out of favor under Louis X. In August 1321, he was engaged in a Royal Progress in the south of France when he fell ill. He died at Longchamp in Paris. His viscera were buried at the Grand Couvent des Jacobins (demolished) and his body interred in Saint Denis Basilica. Due to the precedent he had set, none of his daughters could inherit, and so the throne passed to his younger brother. He was also known as Philippe the Tall.

Bio by: Iola