Philippe VI (1293 - 22 August 1350) was the first king of the French dynasty of Valois (1328 - 1350).

Philip VI (1328-1350), Count of Anjou, King of France, founder of the dynasty of Valois. Philip VI's father was Charles, Count of Valois (1285, Count of Valois, 1290, Count of Aragon and Mann), the third son of Philip III, King of the Capetian dynasty. He was the younger brother of Philip IV and the uncle of Philip V, Louis X, and Charles IV. When Charles IV died in 1328 without leaving a male heir, three people made claims to the throne. One was the unborn baby in the womb of Queen Jeanne IV, the other was Philip, Count of Valois (cousin of Charles IV), and finally Edward III of England. His mother, Isabella, was the sister of Charles IV. However, according to the Franks' "Salick Law", it was forbidden for women or female heirs to inherit the throne, so Edward III's claim to the throne was rejected. Then the former queen unfortunately gave birth to a daughter, so Philip of Valois became the only legal heir. He was crowned King of France at Lens Cathedral on May 27, 1328, and the French royal family was transferred to the Valois branch. Historically known as the Valois Dynasty. During the reign of Philip VI, France was rife with crisis. After the consolidation of his position, King Edward III of England once again raised his claim to the French throne. In 1337, Edward III proclaimed himself King of France and invaded France, provoking the Hundred Years' War between England and France that lasted 116 years. Philip VI suffered devastating defeats on both land and sea at the Battle of Sluse in 1340 and at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Calais surrendered to Edward III in 1347, out of ammunition, and the gates of northern France were completely opened to the British. In 1348, the Black Death that swept across Europe invaded France, devouring a third of its population. After Philip VI's death, France was once again in a state of disintegration and social unrest.

Philip VI was the son of Charles of Valois and inherited his father's title of Earl of Anjou in 1325. After the death of Charles IV, the last male member of the Capetian Dynasty in France, two main contenders claimed to succeed to the throne: Philip, Earl of Anjou, grandson of Philip III of France and cousin of Charles IV; and Edward III, King of England, nephew of Charles IV. Since in France, which strictly abided by the Salic Code, women and their descendants had no right to inherit all titles, Philip, Count of Anjou, eventually won the throne. However, Edward III remained resentful of this; his personal conflict with Philip VI and their insatiable pursuit of territory became the trigger of the Hundred Years War that would later be the cause of the Hundred Years War.

Beginning with Philip VI, France entered an era ruled by the Valois dynasty.

Philip VI was by and large not a successful king. Like all generations of the Capetian dynasty, he tried to reclaim all the feudal domains owned by the British royal family in France; but his aggressive policies brought great disaster to France.

In 1328, Philip VI decisively sent troops to support the French-friendly Count Louis of Flanders in suppressing a civil uprising in Flanders. In fact, he was afraid that a strong political force would emerge in Flanders to secede from France and ensure the French royal control of the richest region at the time. In fact, Edward III of England had been trying to get his hands on Flanders.

Philip VI's struggles with the English soon became the main theme of his political life. He pursued a policy of attacking English merchants in Flanders and other places, and proceeded to dangerously confiscate all the fiefs of the English royal family in France; these adventurous moves aroused strong hostility from King Edward III of England. In 1337, Edward III attacked France and the Hundred Years' War broke out. In several major battles, Philip VI showed incompetence in command and employment. For example, in 1346, Philip VI's French army was fiercely defeated at the Battle of Crecy.

His personal grievances led to the outbreak of the famous Hundred Years' War in history. As a king is an unsuccessful king.