Charles V of France facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charles V |
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Statue of Charles V at 27 years old, in the Basilica of Saint-Denis
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| King of France (more...) | |
| Reign | 8 April 1364 – 16 September 1380 |
| Coronation | 19 May 1364 |
| Predecessor | John II |
| Successor | Charles VI |
| Born | 21 January 1338 Vincennes, France |
| Died | 16 September 1380 (aged 42) Beauté-sur-Marne, France |
| Burial | 26 September 1380 Saint Denis Basilica |
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| Issue more... |
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| House | Valois |
| Father | John II of France |
| Mother | Bonne of Bohemia |
Charles V (born January 21, 1338 – died September 16, 1380), also known as Charles the Wise, was the King of France from 1364 until his death. His time as king was a strong period for France during the Hundred Years' War. His armies won back much of the land held by the English. He successfully turned around the military losses of the kings before him.
Charles became the regent (a ruler who governs for a king who is too young or absent) of France in 1356. This happened after his father, King John II, was captured by the English. To pay for the kingdom's defense, Charles had to raise taxes. This caused problems with the nobles and the bourgeoisie (middle class). He also faced a peasant revolt called the Jacquerie. Charles managed to overcome these challenges. However, to free his father, he had to sign the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360. This treaty gave large parts of southwestern France to Edward III of England. France also had to pay a huge ransom.
Charles became king in 1364. With the help of smart advisors, he managed the kingdom well. He rebuilt the royal treasury and brought back respect to the Valois royal family. He created France's first permanent army, paid with regular wages. This army helped protect the people from groups of soldiers who often robbed the country. Led by Bertrand du Guesclin, the French Army began to win the Hundred Years' War. By the end of Charles's reign, they had taken back almost all the lands given to the English in 1360. The French fleet, led by Jean de Vienne, also attacked the English coast. This was the first time since the war began.
Charles V died in 1380. His son, Charles VI, became king after him. Charles VI's difficult reign allowed the English to regain control of many parts of France.
Contents
Biography of Charles V
Early Life and Education
Charles was born at the Château de Vincennes, near Paris. His parents were Prince John and Princess Bonne of France. He grew up at court with other young nobles. These friends stayed close to him throughout his life. They included his uncle Philip, Duke of Orléans and his three brothers.
Charles was very intelligent but not physically strong. He had pale skin and a thin body. This was very different from his father, who was tall and strong.
Becoming the First Dauphin
Humbert II of Viennois, who was the ruler of the Dauphiné region, was in financial trouble. He had no children, so he decided to sell his land. Charles's grandfather, King Philip VI of France, bought the Dauphiné.
Under a special agreement, the Dauphiné was to be held by a son of the future king, John II of France. So, Charles, as John's oldest son, became the first "Dauphin." This title meant he was the heir to the French throne. At age twelve, he took power in Grenoble. He promised to respect the local laws and freedoms.
On April 8, 1350, the Dauphin married his cousin Joanna of Bourbon. They were both 12 years old. The wedding was small because of the Black Death plague. Charles himself had been very sick before the wedding.
Controlling the Dauphiné was important for France. It was located in the Rhône Valley, a key trade route. This area also connected France to Avignon, where the Pope lived. Even at a young age, Charles gained valuable experience by governing this region.
Challenges in Normandy
When his grandfather Philip VI died, Charles returned to Paris. His father, John the Good, became king. But many people did not fully support John's rule. The previous king had lost trust due to military defeats and the plague.
One major challenge came from Charles II of Navarre, known as "Charles the Bad." He was a powerful noble who wanted the French crown. He gathered many unhappy nobles and merchants around him. Charles the Bad was a good speaker. He wanted to reform the government, which he felt was too strict. Unlike his father, Charles V believed a king should listen to his people. This helped him connect with the Norman nobles and reformers.
Charles the Bad even murdered a rival of the king. He then forced the king to give him land and power. He also made a secret deal with the English to divide France. King John asked the Dauphin Charles to organize the defense of Normandy. This was hard because Charles the Bad had a lot of influence there. The Dauphin managed to make peace between Navarre and the king. This stopped an English invasion planned for 1355.
Regency and Paris Uprising
Many people thought King John was a reckless ruler. In 1355, the Hundred Years' War with England started again. Edward the Black Prince led an English army through southwestern France. King John led his army to fight the Prince near Poitiers. At the Battle of Poitiers in September 1356, the English defeated the French. King John was captured. Charles led a part of the French army that left the battle early. It is not clear if his father ordered this or if Charles decided it himself.
After the battle, many people blamed the nobles for the defeat. Charles and his brothers were not blamed. Charles returned to Paris as a hero. As regent, he called a meeting of the Estates-General (a kind of parliament) to ask for money. But the people were angry about the poor leadership. They formed a group led by Étienne Marcel, the Mayor of Paris. Marcel demanded that royal ministers be fired. He also wanted a council of 28 people to advise the king. Charles refused and left Paris.
Charles tried to raise money by changing the value of money. Marcel organized strikes, forcing Charles to cancel his plans. The Estates-General met again in 1357. They presented Charles with a "Grand Ordinance." This document would have given the Estates-General power over taxes and allowed them to meet on their own. Charles signed it, but his father, King John, who was imprisoned, later rejected it.
Charles traveled through the country, gaining support. Marcel, meanwhile, allied with Charles the Bad. Marcel's actions became more extreme. He led a mob that murdered two of Charles's marshals in front of him. Charles was horrified and left Paris. Marcel's actions lost him support from the nobles. His support for a peasant revolt also hurt his standing in the towns. Marcel was murdered in July 1358. Charles was able to return to Paris and offered forgiveness to most people.
The Treaty of Brétigny
King John's capture gave England an advantage in peace talks. The English forced John to sign the Treaty of London (1359). This treaty gave most of western France to England. It also demanded a huge ransom of 4 million écus (French coins). Charles and his advisors rejected this treaty. So, the English King Edward invaded France again.
Edward reached Reims and Paris. But Charles ordered his soldiers not to fight the English directly. He relied on the strong defenses of Paris. He also built a new wall and a fortress called the Bastille. Edward raided the countryside but could not force a major battle. So, he agreed to less harsh terms. This strategy of avoiding direct battles helped France greatly during Charles's reign.
The Treaty of Brétigny, signed in May 1360, was still difficult for France. It gave a third of western France to the English. The King's ransom was lowered to 3 million écus. King John was released in October. His son, Louis of Anjou, took his place as a hostage.
Charles faced personal sadness around this time. His young daughters, Joan and Bonne, died within two months of each other. Charles himself was very ill, losing his hair and nails. Some believe he might have been poisoned.
King John was not a good ruler after his return. When Louis of Anjou escaped from English custody, John felt he had to return to captivity himself. He died in London in April 1364.
King of France
Becoming King and First Actions
Charles became King of France in 1364. He was crowned at the Cathedral of Reims. The new king was very smart but quiet and private. He had sharp eyes and a serious manner. He suffered from gout in his right hand and an abscess (a painful swelling) in his left arm. Doctors treated the wound but warned him that if it ever healed completely, he would die soon after. He was very devoted to his wife, Joan of Bourbon, and openly showed his sadness when she or his children died.
His reign was focused on the war with England. He wanted to get back the lands lost in the Treaty of Brétigny. He also wanted to get rid of the "Tard-Venus," groups of mercenary soldiers who robbed the country after the treaty. To achieve these goals, Charles relied on a skilled noble from Brittany named Bertrand du Guesclin. Du Guesclin was an expert in guerrilla warfare (small, surprise attacks). He also defeated Charles II of Navarre in 1364, ending his threat to Paris.
Charles sent the mercenary groups, led by du Guesclin, to fight in a civil war in Castile (Spain). This was between King Peter the Cruel and his half-brother Henry. Peter had English support, while Henry was supported by the French.
Du Guesclin and his men drove Peter out of Castile in 1365. The Black Prince, who was in charge of southwestern France for his father, supported Peter. At the Battle of Nájera in 1367, the English defeated Henry's army. Du Guesclin was captured but Charles V paid a large ransom to free him. The Black Prince became sick and soon withdrew his support from Peter. In 1369, du Guesclin attacked Peter again. Henry killed Peter, becoming King of Castile. This created a strong alliance between France and Castile. Charles V could now restart the war against England with an advantage.
War Continues with England
After the Castile campaign, the Black Prince was ill and in debt. His rule in Gascony became very strict. Nobles from Gascony asked Charles for help. When the Black Prince refused to come to Paris to answer charges, Charles declared war in May 1369.
Instead of fighting one big battle, Charles chose a strategy of attrition. This meant spreading out the fighting everywhere possible. The French and Castilian navies destroyed an English fleet at La Rochelle in 1372. Then, du Guesclin launched attacks on the English coast. Bertrand du Guesclin, who became the top military commander in 1370, pushed back a major English attack in northern France. He used a mix of raids, sieges, and smaller battles. He famously defeated Robert Knolles at the Battle of Pontvallain.
Most of the main English leaders died within a few months. The Black Prince returned to England, where he died in 1376. By 1375, Charles had won back most of the English lands in France. Only Calais and Gascony remained. This effectively cancelled the Treaty of Brétigny.
The Papal Schism
In 1376, Pope Gregory XI decided to move his court back to Rome. It had been in Avignon, France, for almost 70 years. Charles wanted to keep French influence over the Pope. He tried to convince Gregory to stay in France. But Gregory refused.
The Pope died in March 1378. When cardinals met to elect a new Pope, a Roman crowd demanded a Roman Pope. They feared the French cardinals would elect a French Pope who would return to Avignon. The cardinals elected Urban VI. The new Pope quickly angered the cardinals. The French cardinals left Rome and said Urban's election was not valid. They then elected Cardinal Robert of Geneva as Pope Clement VII.
The French cardinals quickly asked for Charles's support. Charles recognized Clement as Pope in November. He forbade anyone in France from obeying Urban. Charles's support allowed Clement to survive as Pope. This led to the Papal Schism, which divided Europe for nearly 40 years.
Death of the King
Charles's last years were spent strengthening his control over Normandy. He also worked to neutralize Charles of Navarre. Peace talks with the English did not succeed. The taxes he had raised for his wars made the working classes very unhappy.
The abscess on the King's left arm dried up in September 1380. Charles knew he was going to die. On his deathbed, he announced that a major tax, the hearth tax, would be cancelled. This tax was a main source of government money. It would have been impossible to carry out this order. But the people heard about it. The government's refusal to lower other taxes led to the Maillotin revolt in 1381.
The King died on September 16, 1380. His 11-year-old son, Charles VI, became king. Charles V is buried in the Basilica of St Denis, north of Paris.
Charles V's Legacy
Charles V was seen as a very important king for the future. Many people wished later kings would follow his example. Christine de Pizan wrote a biography of Charles V in 1404. It gives many personal details about the king's life. It also showed him as a moral example for future rulers.
A very important part of Charles V's cultural plan was his huge library. It was located in his expanded Louvre Palace. This library had over 1,200 books. It showed the king's power and greatness. It also showed his concern for the good of his people. Charles wanted to collect copies of books in French. This way, his advisors could read them. He had important works translated into French for the first time. These included Aristotle's books on politics and ethics. These books helped guide the king on how to govern and how to be a good person.
Charles V also focused on royal ceremonies and smart political ideas. His life showed a balance between thinking and ruling. He followed the example of great French kings like St. Louis and Charlemagne. He even had a special "Coronation Book" made in 1364.
Charles V was also a "builder king." He built or rebuilt several important buildings. These included the Bastille, the Louvre Palace, Château de Vincennes, and Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. These buildings were copied by other nobles.
Historians praise Charles V for being practical. This helped him win back the lands lost at Brétigny.
However, his successes did not last forever. Charles's brothers argued among themselves. They controlled the government until 1388. Charles VI, his son, preferred tournaments to ruling. When he became mentally ill in 1392, his uncles took power again. By 1419, France was divided. Henry V was conquering northern France. The victories of Charles V were lost because of his successors' mistakes.
Family and Children
On April 8, 1350, Charles married Joanna of Bourbon (born February 3, 1338 – died February 4, 1378). They had several children:
- Joanna (born September 1357 – died October 21, 1360)
- Bonne (born 1358 – died November 7, 1360)
- Joanna (born June 6, 1366 – died December 21, 1366)
- Charles VI (born December 3, 1368 – died October 22, 1422), who became King of France.
- Marie (born February 27, 1370 – died June 1377)
- Louis (born March 13, 1372 – died November 23, 1407), Duke of Orléans.
- Isabella (born July 24, 1373 – died February 23, 1378)
- John (born 1374/76 – died young)
- Catherine (born February 4, 1378 – died November 1388). She married John of Berry, Count of Montpensier.
Charles also had one child with Biette de Cassinel:
- Jean de Montagu (born around 1350 – died October 17, 1409).
