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Charles VII of France (1403-1461). Photo by François-Séraphin Delpech on

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Charles VII of France

Charles VII of France was also referred to as the Victorious or the Well-Served (le Bien-Servi). He was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461.

Before ascending the throne he was known as the Dauphin. He was regent for his father, Charles VI, from 1418.

He was born on 22 February 1403 at the Hôtel Saint-Pol, the royal residence in Â鶹APP. Charles was given the title of Count of Ponthieu six months after his birth.

He was the eleventh child and fifth son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. His four elder brothers held the title of Dauphin of France as heirs apparent to the French throne in turn. All died childless, leaving Charles with a rich inheritance of titles.

In the Hundred Years’ War, Charles VII inherited the throne of France under desperate circumstances. The last years of Charles VII were marked by conflicts with his turbulent son, the future Louis XI of France.

Let’s learn about the Top 10 Interesting Facts about Charles VII of France

1. He was Betrothed to a Nine Year Old Girl at the Age of 10

In May 1413 rioting Â鶹APPians invaded the Hôtel Saint-Paul, where he lived. Toward the end of that year, he was betrothed to Mary of Anjou.

Mary was a nine-year-old daughter of Louis II of Anjou, king of Naples. Charles went to live in Anjou. However, Mary’s mother, energetic and accustomed to rule, established her influence over him.

2.  Charles became Captain General of Â鶹APP

A portrait of Charles VII. Photo by After Jean Fouquet on

In 1416, he became captain general of Â鶹APP. He began to participate in the royal council, where Louis of Anjou played a prominent role.

3. He held the title of Dauphin of France

Charles faces threats to his inheritance after becoming a dauphin(heir to the throne). He was forced to flee from Â鶹APP after the partisans of John The Fearless, Duke of Burgundy.

However, Charles and John the Fearless attempted a reconciliation on a small bridge near Pouilly-le-Fort. They signed the Treaty of Pouilly-le-Fort in which they would share the authority of the government. Additionally, assist each other and not form any treaties without the other’s consent.

4. His Men Killed the Duke of Burgundy

Charles VII of France. Photo by Unknown author on

After the first meeting, Charles and John decided that a further meeting should take place. They met on the bridge at Montereau.

However, the Duke brought only a small escort with him. He assumed that the meeting would be entirely peaceful and diplomatic.

The Dauphin’s men reacted to the Duke’s arrival by attacking and killing him. Charles’ level of involvement has remained uncertain to this day.

However, Charles claimed that he was unaware of his men’s intentions. The assassination marked the end of any attempt at a reconciliation between the Armagnac and Burgundian factions.

5. His Father Had Disinherited Him as the Heir to the Throne

Charles VI disinherited him in 1420. He recognized Henry V of England and his heirs as the legitimate successors to the French crow.

However, Frenchmen loyal to the king of France regarded the treaty as invalid on grounds of coercion. The supporters of Henry VI and the Dauphin Charles enlisted sufficient military force to press effectively for their candidates.

The English were able to enforce the claim of their king in the regions of France that they occupied. Northern France was thus ruled by an English regent, Henry V’s brother, John of Lancaster, the 1st Duke of Bedford.

6. He Claimed the Title of King of France for Himself

Coronation of Charles VII of France. Photo by Anonymous on

Charles claimed the title King of France for himself. However, he failed to make any attempts to expel the English from northern France out of indecision.

However, he remained south of the Loire River where he was still able to exert power. Additionally, he was able to maintain an itinerant court in the Loire Valley at castles such as Chinon.

Charles was called the King of Bourges. This is because the area around this city was one of the few regions that remained for him.

7. His Coronation as a King of France was through the Help of a Teenage Girl

Charles’s political and military position improved with the emergence of Joan of Arch. The teen emerged as a spiritual leader in France.

The town of Orléans had been under siege since October 1428. After Charles’s encounter with Joan of Arc. She set out to lead the French forces at Orléans.

Joan of Arc was aided by skilled commanders. They compelled the English to lift the siege on 8 May 1429, thus turning the tide of the war.

Interestingly, the French won the Battle of Patay on 18 June. The English field army lost about half its troops.

The troop pushed further into English and Burgundian-controlled territory. , Charles was crowned King Charles VII of France in Reims Cathedral on 17 July 1429.

8. He Ended the English-Burgundian Alliance

Charles VII summoned princes and other nobles. Photo by Unknown author on

King Charles VII ended the alliance after six years of being on the throne. He signed the Treaty of Arras with Burgundy.

It was followed by the recovery of Â鶹APP in 1436. Additionally, the steady reconquest of Normandy in the 1440s. Charles used a newly organised professional armag and advanced siege cannons.

French expelled the English from all their continental possessions except the Pale of Calais. This was after the battle of Castillon in 1453.

9. He Continued with his Father’s General Policy in Church Matters

Charles VII desired to lessen the power of the Holy See in France. Furthermore, preserve the liberties of the Gallican Church.

Charles supported the anti-papal contentions of the French members of the council of Basel (1431–1449).In 1438 he promulgated the Pragmatic Sanction at Bourges. This led to the patronage of ecclesiastical benefices removed from the Holy See

Bishops and abbots were to be elected by their clergy. This was following ancient custom.

10. Charles’ Later Years were Marked by Hostile Relations with his Heir

Charles’ relationship with his heir, Louis was not good during his last years. His heir demanded real power to accompany his position as the Dauphin.

However, Charles consistently refused him. Accordingly, Louis stirred up dissent and fomented plots in an attempt to destabilise his father’s reign.

In 1446, the king banished the Dauphin to the Dauphiny. This was after Charles’ last son, also named Charles, was born.

The two never met again. Louis thereafter refused the king’s demands to return to court. Louis eventually fled to the protection of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in 1456.

Charles VII’s reign was one of the most important in the history of the French monarchy. He was able to restore the country by rallying the people’s loyalty to himself as the legitimate king.