Philip V of France

Philip V of France, known as Philip the Tall, was born in 1293 as the second son of King Philip IV and Queen Joan I of Navarre. He was granted the County of Poitiers, while his elder brother, Louis X, ascended to the thrones of France and Navarre. Following Louis's death in 1316, Philip claimed the regency, navigating a complex political landscape that included a pregnant widow, Clementia of Hungary, and a newborn nephew, John I, who tragically lived only four days.

Upon his nephew's death, Philip swiftly crowned himself at Reims, facing challenges to his legitimacy from the faction supporting his niece, Joan. His successful defense against her claims was bolstered by the Estates General's ruling that women were excluded from the line of succession, establishing the Salic law that would shape French royal succession for generations.

During his reign from 1316 to 1322, Philip implemented significant domestic reforms aimed at enhancing the kingdom's governance. These included the establishment of an independent Court of Finances, the standardization of weights and measures, and the introduction of a single currency. His efforts also extended to restoring relations with the County of Flanders, which had rebelled during his father's reign, although tensions with his brother-in-law, Edward II of England, escalated.

In 1307, Philip married Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, and together they had four daughters, though they produced no male heirs. His reign was marked by a spontaneous popular crusade in 1320, which, rather than targeting the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula, resulted in violence against local officials and marginalized groups. Philip's life came to an end in 1322 due to dysentery, leading to his succession by his younger brother, Charles IV.