King Phillip V of France

Philip V, known as the Tall, was born around 1291 in Lyon, France. He was the second son of King Philip IV of France and Queen Joan I of Navarre. Philip was granted the County of Poitiers as an appanage. He married Joan II, Countess of Burgundy, in 1307, and they had four daughters together.

Upon the death of his elder brother, Louis X, in 1316, Philip claimed the regency for the unborn child of Queen Clementia of Hungary. When the infant John I died after five days, Philip was crowned King of France and Navarre at Reims on 9 January 1317. His succession was contested by Louis X's daughter, Joan, but Philip successfully argued against her claim based on her youth and the Salic law, which excluded women from the French throne.

Philip's reign included domestic reforms aimed at improving the kingdom's management. He established an independent Court of Finances, standardized weights and measures, and introduced a single currency. He also worked to restore relations with the County of Flanders, which had been rebellious during his father's reign. His relations with Edward II of England deteriorated over issues of homage.

In 1320, a popular crusade emerged in Normandy, initially aimed at liberating the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. However, the movement turned violent, attacking castles, royal officials, and Jewish communities. Philip was forced to suppress the movement, which was condemned by Pope John XXII.

Philip engaged in negotiations to resolve the conflict with Flanders. He arranged for his daughter Margaret to marry the grandson of the Count of Flanders, strengthening French influence in the region. This political compromise helped stabilize the relationship between France and Flanders.

Philip's plans for a new crusade were hampered by the unstable situation in Flanders and disagreements with Pope John XXII over funding. Initial preparations did not materialize, and the focus shifted to managing the aftermath of the Shepherds' Crusade.

Philip V died on 3 January 1322 from dysentery at the Abbey of Longchamp, Bois de Boulogne, Paris, and was buried at Saint Denis Basilica. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Charles IV.