Valois
Valois, House of, , the ruling dynasty of France, 1328–1589. The family name was derived from an ancient county of northern France. The first Valois ruler was Philip VI (reigned 1328–50), who came to the throne upon the death of Charles IV of the House of Capet. Philip's father, the Count of Valois, was Charles's uncle. The English king, Edward III, also claimed the French crown, and his rivalry led to the series of conflicts known as the Hundred Years' War.
Among the Valois kings was Charles VII, who was crowned through the efforts of Joan of Arc. Charles VIII (reigned 1483–98) died without a male heir, and the crown passed to Louis, duke of Orléans and a descendant of Philip VI. As Louis XII (reigned 1498–1515), he became the first of the Valois-Orléans kings. The last of the line was Henry III (reigned 1574–89), who was succeeded by Henry IV of the House of Bourbon.