Charles VII of France, also known as Charles the Victorious, was born on February 22, 1403, in Paris, and died on July 22, 1461, in Mehun-sur-Yèvre. He was the King of France from 1422 to 1461, a period marked by significant events in French history, including the Hundred Years' War.
Charles VII was the son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. His early life was fraught with political turmoil due to his father's mental instability, known as madness of Charles VI, which led to the power struggles within the French court between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians. This conflict was part of the broader Hundred Years' War with England.
Charles's rise to power was not straightforward. After his father's death in 1422, the English, along with their Burgundian allies, crowned Henry VI of England as King of France, effectively disinheriting Charles. This led to a period where Charles was known as the "King of Bourges," ruling over the southern part of France that remained loyal to him.
Charles VII's reign was pivotal in reclaiming French territory from English control. Here are some key points:
Charles VII is remembered for:
His reign also saw the end of the Hundred Years' War in 1453, with the English finally expelled from France, except for Calais.
Charles married Marie of Anjou, and their marriage produced several children, including the future Louis XI of France. His later years were marked by health issues, and he died at the age of 58 from what is believed to be an illness related to his lifestyle, possibly exacerbated by gout or dropsy.