France
End of the Capetian Dynasty
At Philip's death in 1314, it appeared that the run of outstanding French kings would continue. Royal authority was on solid ground, the royal treasury was again healthy, and Philip had produced three sons, each of whom were capable, well-trained, and ready to rule.
The Capetian house ruled far longer than any other European dynasty, by virtue of the fact that they produced sons every generation who lived long enough to inherit. Philip IV had to have felt confident in the continued success of his house. But, one after the other, each of his three sons ruled for a time and then succumbed to disease. It was, perhaps, a foreshadowing of the mortality that would stalk France throughout the next century.