Philip VI of France

Philip VI of France (1293–1350), called the Fortunate, was the first Valois king. In 1328, when the last Capetian, Charles IV, died, the nobility preferred Charles's paternal cousin Philip to his nephew through his sister, Edward III of England. Philip opened with victory at Cassel the same year, restoring the Count of Flanders.

Relations with Edward soured over Aquitaine, and in 1337 Philip declared Aquitaine forfeit. Edward answered by claiming the French crown: the Hundred Years' War had begun. His fleet was destroyed at Sluys in 1340; at Crécy in 1346 he ordered a general attack as evening fell, and barely escaped as his army was annihilated. Calais fell in 1347.

The Black Death then killed Queen Joan and a third of the population. Philip bought the Dauphiné in 1349 and died on 22 August 1350, leaving a divided kingdom to his son John II.