Charles VII of France

NAME Charles VII of France 

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Charles VII is best known for his role in turning the tide of the Hundred Years' War against the English, reclaiming much of France's territory, and stabilizing the country during his reign from 1422 to 1461. His collaboration with Joan of Arc and subsequent efforts to reform the kingdom established him as a key figure in French history.

BIRTH Charles VII was born on February 22, 1403, in Paris, France, as the fifth son of King Charles VI and Queen Isabeau of Bavaria.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Charles was born into the troubled French royal family during the Hundred Years' War. His father, Charles VI, suffered from mental illness, while his mother, Isabeau, was often accused of political intrigue. Charles's marriage to Marie of Anjou connected him to powerful French and European dynasties, including the House of Anjou and the royal claimants of Naples and Aragon.

CHILDHOOD Charles spent much of his childhood in a politically unstable environment due to the ongoing war with England and internal strife within the French nobility. As a child, he experienced the Burgundian capture of Paris in 1418 and fled to safety, leaving his betrothed, Marie of Anjou, behind.

EDUCATION Charles received a traditional education for a royal prince, including instruction in court etiquette, chivalry, and military training, alongside history, literature, governance and diplomacy. Despite the turbulent times, he was well-versed in the politics and strategies required to rule a fractured kingdom.

CAREER RECORD Charles ascended the throne in 1422 during one of the darkest periods of the Hundred Years' War. 

His early reign was characterized by uncertainty, but he achieved a major turning point with the support of Joan of Arc, leading to his coronation at Reims in 1429. 

Charles went on to reorganize the French army, establish a standing force, and reclaim lost territories.

APPEARANCE  Descriptions of Charles VII suggest he had a thin, elongated face, with features that were considered noble yet somewhat severe. He was of medium height and had a pale complexion, with dark hair that he kept neatly trimmed.

Charles VII of France 

FASHION Charles VII dressed in a manner befitting his royal status, which would have included rich fabrics and jewels.

Charles VII not only approved of his mistress Agnès Sorel's provocative fashion choices but actively encouraged them. When Jean Juvénal des Ursins, Archbishop of Reims, advised the king to correct such "indecent fashions," Charles merely laughed in response

CHARACTER Charles was often seen as cautious and reserved. His temperament was shaped by the challenging circumstances of his early reign, making him cautious and pragmatic in decision-making. While initially hesitant, he showed great determination once his resolve was set, particularly in his later efforts to reclaim France from English control.

Charles was known to be a private individual who would spend long periods sealed away

SENSE OF HUMOUR Charles VII's contemporaries noted that he could be sarcastic and cutting when challenged or in private conversations.

RELATIONSHIPS The wedding of Charles VII of France and his second cousin Marie of Anjou took place on December 18, 1422 in Bourges. Charles and Marie had been betrothed for several years before their actual wedding. Their betrothal agreement was first signed in 1413 when Charles was still Count of Ponthieu and Marie was only 9 years old.

The wedding occurred shortly after Charles had nominally succeeded to the throne following his father's death in October 1422. However, at this time, most of France was controlled by the English. Bourges, was one of the few areas still under Charles's control. He was often derisively called the "King of Bourges" during this period due to his limited authority

Marie's family, particularly her mother Yolande of Aragon, played a crucial role in her husband's victory in the Hundred Years War.

Queen Marie actively participated in the governance of France. She presided over the council of state several times during her husband's absence, acting as regent with the power of attorney and signing acts as "lieutenant of the king." She also undertook several religious pilgrimages, including to Puy with the king in 1424 and Mount St. Michel alone in 1447.

Marie of Anjou

Marie and Charles had fourteen children together. However, her husband's affections were primarily directed towards his mistress, Agnès Sorel, who was originally Marie's lady-in-waiting and became the official mistress to the king in 1444. Sorel's influence at court eclipsed the queen's until her death in 1450. 

Charles' relationship with his son Louis (the future Louis XI) was tumultuous, marked by distrust and open conflict.

MONEY AND FAME Charles struggled with financial difficulties early in his reign but managed to stabilize the economy through taxation reforms and economic policies. His fame grew after his successes in the latter part of the Hundred Years' War and the rehabilitation of Joan of Arc.

FOOD AND DRINK Charles VII’s court was known for its modest feasts in his early years as king compared to earlier royal courts. He preferred simpler fare, reflecting the economic difficulties of his early reign.

Later, Charles would have participated in elaborate feasts and banquets featuring high-quality meats, fish, and produce, accompanied by fine wines.

MUSIC AND ARTS Under Charles VII, there was a revival in cultural patronage, particularly in music. The court became known for its musicians and the use of music in courtly and religious ceremonies.

LITERATURE Charles VII's court encouraged the production of chronicles, poetry, and prose that recorded and celebrated his reign, particularly his role in the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War and the rehabilitation of Joan of Arc.

Charles had a personal library and was known to read historical and religious texts.

NATURE Charles  enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he had a deep appreciation for the natural world

PETS As a medieval monarch, Charles VII would kept hunting dogs. Also cats were kept in medieval castles to control rodents. 

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Charles VII's hobbies included hunting, fishing, and falconry. He was also interested in jousting and other medieval sports.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Charles reign saw advances in administrative and military organization.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Charles VII maintained a complex relationship with the Catholic Church. He sought to secure his authority against papal power through the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, which asserted the independence of the French Church from Rome.

Charles VII's actions indicate that he engaged with religion primarily in its institutional and political forms, rather than displaying overt personal piety. His actions suggest a pragmatic approach to the Church as an institution, balancing its authority against his own royal power.

POLITICS Charles VII's reign was marked by careful political maneuvering to restore royal authority, stabilize the country, and reclaim territories occupied by the English. His policies were aimed at strengthening the monarchy and establishing a more centralized state.

Imagine inheriting a kingdom that’s about as battered and bruised as a boxer after a ten-round match. That’s essentially what Charles VII found himself in when he took the French throne during the Hundred Years’ War. The English, along with their Burgundian buddies, had gobbled up huge chunks of France, including the capital, Paris, and the coronation city, Reims. To make matters worse, his own dad, Charles VI, had basically disowned him and declared the English king, Henry V, as the rightful heir to the French throne. And if that wasn’t enough, France was also tearing itself apart in a brutal civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians.

Charles was basically reduced to a king-in-exile, holed up in the city of Bourges. People were so quick to mock him that they gave him the nickname "King of Bourges," as if he were just a local ruler and not the king of an entire country. But things were about to take a dramatic turn.

Enter Joan of Arc, a young woman who claimed to have visions from God. She rallied the French troops and led them to a series of stunning victories, including the liberation of Orléans and the defeat of the English at Patay. With the English on the run, the people of Reims opened their gates, and Charles VII was finally crowned king in the grand Reims Cathedral.

Over the next few years, Charles continued to push back the English invaders, eventually signing a peace treaty with Burgundy and retaking Paris. He even managed to invent a new type of army, complete with fancy cannons, that helped him conquer Normandy. By the end of the war, the English were left with just a tiny sliver of land in France.

But Charles’s troubles weren’t over. His son, Louis XI, was a real handful, and the two of them were constantly at odds. It was almost as if the drama never ended in this royal family.

SCANDAL Charles's relationship with his mistress, Agnès Sorel, caused scandal at court, especially given her influence over political affairs. His strained relations with his son, Louis XI, and Louis's rebellious actions further fueled court intrigue and scandal.

MILITARY RECORD Charles VII is credited with revitalizing the French military by creating the first standing army since Roman times, which proved decisive in the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War. His military reforms, inspired by his collaboration with Joan of Arc, helped turn the tide against the English.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS In his later years, Charles VII suffered from a severe leg wound that failed to heal, likely due to complications from diabetes or another condition, which led to a prolonged period of illness before his death.

HOMES Charles VII lived primarily in Bourges during the early part of his reign, known as the "King of Bourges" for his limited control over France. Later, he ruled from various castles and palaces, including the Château de Vincennes, the Château de Chinon, and the Château de Loches.

Charles commissioned the construction of several grand buildings, including the Château de Chambord.

TRAVEL Charles traveled throughout France during his reign to consolidate his power, attend battles, and preside over various court and state functions. 

DEATH Charles VII died on July 22, 1461, at the Château de Mehun-sur-Yèvre, after a prolonged illness. His death followed years of declining health, during which his son Louis XI refused to visit him despite being summoned multiple times.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Charles VII has been depicted in various historical novels, plays, and films, often in the context of Joan of Arc’s story. His character appears in George Bernard Shaw's play Saint Joan and several cinematic adaptations of Joan's life.

ACHIEVEMENTS Charles VII successfully restored French sovereignty over its territories by the end of the Hundred Years' War, established France's first standing army, and secured the independence of the French Church from papal authority. He rehabilitated Joan of Arc's reputation by overturning her previous trial in 1456, and his economic policies laid the foundation for a stronger, more centralized French state.