The Death of Charles IV and the …

Years: 1328 - 1328
February

The Death of Charles IV and the Rise of Philip VI: The End of the Direct Capetians (1328)

On February 1, 1328, King Charles IV of France, the last of the direct Capetian kings, died without a male heir at the age of thirty-four. His death triggered a succession crisis, as there was no clear precedent for whether the throne could pass through a female line.

The Succession Crisis: Edward III’s Claim Rejected

  • The strongest claim came from Edward III of England, whose mother, Isabella of France, was the daughter of Philip IV and sister of Charles IV.
  • However, the French magnates rejected Edward’s claim, arguing that the throne could not pass through a woman.
  • This decision was based on an evolving interpretation of succession laws, later referred to as the Salic Law, which excluded female succession and inheritance through the female line.

The Rise of Philip VI: The First Valois King

  • Instead of Edward III, the throne passed to Philip VI, the late king’s thirty-five-year-old cousin.
  • Philip had already inherited the counties of Valois, Anjou, and Maine from his father, Charles of Valois, in 1325.
  • As the nephew of Philip IV, Philip VI was the closest male heir in the Capetian line, making him the first king of France from the House of Valois.

Consequences of the Succession

  • While the French magnates considered the matter settled, Edward III of England did not forget the rejection of his claim.
  • In 1337, Edward revived his claim to the French throne, launching the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), one of the longest and most consequential conflicts in European history.
  • Philip VI’s accession marked the beginning of the Valois dynasty, which would rule France for over two centuries, through periods of war, territorial expansion, and internal strife.

The succession crisis of 1328 was a turning point in French history, as the rejection of Edward III’s claim laid the groundwork for Anglo-French hostilities that would shape Europe for the next century.

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West Europe (1328 - 1328)
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Atlantic West Europe (1328 - 1328)

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