King Philip

Also known as: King Philip de Valois / Philip de Valois / Philip, King of France · Family: France · Role: king · First appears: Book 1, Chapter 19

In Book 1, Chapter 19, Lord Robert d’Artois was in England urging King Edward to make war on King Philip over his inheritance. At Mechlin in Chapter 20, the lords agreed to send challenges to Philip, though Duke of Brabant declined to sign, saying he would act at the proper time and place. In Chapter 21, Philip increased his forces and sent commanders to guard the frontiers; at Tierache, he accepted King Edward’s offer of battle and appointed the following Friday, but the armies remained without fighting. Letters from his cousin Robert, King of Sicily urged him not to meet Edward in battle in person.

In Chapters 24 and 26, Philip sent leading commanders to defend Tournay and summoned forces from across his kingdom and the empire. Many rulers and nobles came to serve under him, including King of Bohemia, Duke of Burgundy (early French campaign), King of Navarre, and King of Scotland. In Chapter 32, Sir Hervé de Léon delivered Edward’s defiance to him. In 1345, a garrison at Monsegur awaited French or Norman intervention; in 1346, after the English landed, Philip ordered Earl of Guignes and Earl of Tancarville (Caen campaign) to defend Caen.

In Chapter 48, Philip vowed that the English would not return without fighting him, and summoned allies, including John of Hainault, Duke of Lorraine, and Earl of Savoy. He marched with his growing army, but after Sir Godémar du Fay and his force were defeated, Philip turned back to Abbeville. At Crécy, King Edward resolved to defend his inheritance against Philip. Late after the battle, Sir John de Hainault led Philip away by force; before Philip left Amiens, he was angered with Godémar over the defence of Blanchetaque, but John of Hainault persuaded him to spare him.

In Chapter 60, Philip released Sir Walter Manny from prison, dined with him, and gave him gifts and jewels worth a thousand florins. When Manny later returned the jewels at Edward’s direction, Philip refused to take them back and gave them to Lord of Mansac. In Chapter 64, Philip consented to Earl Lewis of Flanders’s marriage to the Duke of Brabant’s daughter and received Lewis after his escape from the English. In Chapter 66, his cousin Cardinal Guy de Boulogne secured a two-year truce between the kings and their adherents. On 22 August 1350, Philip died at Nogent-le-Roi; his eldest son, John (son of King Philip), was crowned king.