Inspired by this discussion, I started wondering: what if Philip V of France lived slightly longer.
In OTL, he started suffered from dysentery and malaria in the late summer of 1321 and died in the night of January 2nd to 3rd, 1322. Because he didn’t have any male descendants, his throne was inherited by his cousin Charles IV and after the latter’s death in 1328 it went to his cousin Philip VI. But starting from 1337 the throne was also claimed by Edward III of England, the son of Philip V’s and Charles IV’s sister, on the grounds of him being Philip V’s and Charles IV’s closest male heir. Along comes the Hundred Year’s War.
On November 10th, 1323 Philip V’s eldest daughter Joan gave birth to her first and only son Philip (“Philippe Monsieur”), by her husband Odo IV of Burgundy.
What if Philip V recovered, only do die, say, in 1324 or 1325? Does the throne go to Philip’s V brother Charles, thereby “inventing” or confirming Salic law, or does it go to his grandson Philippe Monsieur? Both cases would undermine the legal basis of Edward ‘s claim, and would probably change France’s internal dynamic as well as it’s relationship with the English throne.
In OTL, he started suffered from dysentery and malaria in the late summer of 1321 and died in the night of January 2nd to 3rd, 1322. Because he didn’t have any male descendants, his throne was inherited by his cousin Charles IV and after the latter’s death in 1328 it went to his cousin Philip VI. But starting from 1337 the throne was also claimed by Edward III of England, the son of Philip V’s and Charles IV’s sister, on the grounds of him being Philip V’s and Charles IV’s closest male heir. Along comes the Hundred Year’s War.
On November 10th, 1323 Philip V’s eldest daughter Joan gave birth to her first and only son Philip (“Philippe Monsieur”), by her husband Odo IV of Burgundy.
What if Philip V recovered, only do die, say, in 1324 or 1325? Does the throne go to Philip’s V brother Charles, thereby “inventing” or confirming Salic law, or does it go to his grandson Philippe Monsieur? Both cases would undermine the legal basis of Edward ‘s claim, and would probably change France’s internal dynamic as well as it’s relationship with the English throne.