French Monarch. Born the son of Charles I de France, Comte de Valois, the younger brother of King Phillipe IV, and Marguerite d'Anjou. When his cousin, Charles IV, died without a male heir he became one claimant to the throne, the other being Edward III of England, who was related to the French king on the matrilineal side. The assembly of French barons, however, found that as Philippe was the eldest direct male line descendant of Philippe III, he was the rightful king. He was crowned in May 1328. In 1334 he welcomed the fugitive king of Scotland, David II, to his court, angering Edward III. In 1337, Edward returned the slight by granting refuge to Robert of Artois, making him Earl of Richmond. He was a former friend and adviser to Philippe who had committed fraud and forgery in order to cheat the crown. Philippe's fury led him to declare Edward in forfeit of his territories in Aquitaine for rebellion and disobedience. Edward, in turn, renewed his claim on the French crown, the relatively petty tit for tat igniting The Hundred Years War.

French Monarch. Born the son of Charles I de France, Comte de Valois, the younger brother of King Phillipe IV, and Marguerite d'Anjou. When his cousin, Charles IV, died without a male heir he became one claimant to the throne, the other being Edward III of England, who was related to the French king on the matrilineal side. The assembly of French barons, however, found that as Philippe was the eldest direct male line descendant of Philippe III, he was the rightful king. He was crowned in May 1328. In 1334 he welcomed the fugitive king of Scotland, David II, to his court, angering Edward III. In 1337, Edward returned the slight by granting refuge to Robert of Artois, making him Earl of Richmond. He was a former friend and adviser to Philippe who had committed fraud and forgery in order to cheat the crown. Philippe's fury led him to declare Edward in forfeit of his territories in Aquitaine for rebellion and disobedience. Edward, in turn, renewed his claim on the French crown, the relatively petty tit for tat igniting The Hundred Years War.

Bio by: Iola