Charles VII of France

Charles VII the Victorious, a.k.a the Well-Served (French: Charles VII le Victorieux, a.k.a. le Bien-Servi) (February 22, 1403 – July 22, 1461) was king of France from 1422 to 1461, a member of the Valois Dynasty.

Related Topics:
French - February 22 - 1403 - July 22 - 1461 - France - 1422 - Valois Dynasty

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Born in Paris, Charles was the eldest surviving son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau de Bavière. Three of his elder brothers were dauphins in their turn, but died without issue during the lifetime of their parents. Charles being the fourth dauphin, added to instability of the kingdom, which was under English attack. His survival was in doubt (apparently his own parents were not eager to protect him nor keep him as Heir), but he was taken in as a young man by his future mother-in-law Yolande of Aragon, Queen of the Four Kingdoms, and kept away from the royal court, and kept protected. On the death of his father in 1422, the French throne did not pass to Charles but to his infant nephew, King Henry VI of England in accordance with his father's Treaty of Troyes signed in 1420. The English right to the throne of France was part of the Treaty in an effort to put an end to the raging Hundred Years War. Under the Treaty, King Henry of England ruled Northern France through a regent in Normandy and southern France was ruled by the Dauphin Charles from his fortified castle at Chinon.

Related Topics:
Paris - Charles VI of France - Isabeau de Bavière - Yolande of Aragon - Henry VI of England - Treaty of Troyes - Hundred Years War - Normandy - Dauphin - Chinon

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Without any organized French army, the English strengthened their grip over France until March 8, 1429 when Joan of Arc, claiming divine inspiration, urged Charles to declare himself king and raise an army to liberate France from the English.

Related Topics:
March 8 - 1429 - Joan of Arc

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One of the important factors that aided in the ultimate success of Charles VII was the support from the powerful and wealthy family of his wife Marie d'Anjou (1404-1463), particularly the mother-in-law the Queen Yolande of Aragon. Despite whatever affection he had for his wife, the great love of Charles VII's life, was his mistress, Agnès Sorel.

Related Topics:
The powerful and wealthy family - Marie d'Anjou - Yolande of Aragon - Agnès Sorel

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After the French won the Battle of Patay, Charles was crowned king Charles VII of France on July 17, 1429, in Reims Cathedral. Over the following two decades, King Charles VII recaptured Paris from the English and eventually all of France with the exception of the northern port of Calais.

Related Topics:
Battle of Patay - July 17 - 1429 - Reims Cathedral - Calais

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While Charles VII's legacy is far overshadowed by the deeds and eventual martyrdom of Joan of Arc, he did something his predecessors had failed to do by creating a strong army and uniting most of the country under one French king. He established the University of Poitiers in 1432 and his policies brought some economic prosperity to the citizens. Although his leadership was sometimes marked by indecisiveness, hardly any other leader left a nation so much better improved than when he came on the scene.

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King Charles VII died on July 22, 1461 at Mehun-sur-Yèvre, but his latter years were marked by an open revolt by his son who succeeded him as Louis XI.

Related Topics:
July 22 - 1461 - Mehun-sur-Yèvre - Louis XI

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