Charles II of Navarre

Lore & Background

Charles II was born in Évreux to Philip III and Joan II of Navarre. He inherited extensive lands in Normandy from his parents, including Évreux, Mortain, parts of Vexin, and a portion of Cotentin. He was raised in France and likely had no command of the Navarro-Aragonese language at his coronation in 1350. He regarded Navarre mainly as a source of manpower for his designs on the French throne.

In 1354, Charles arranged the assassination of Constable Charles de la Cerda, whom he resented for receiving the fiefdom of Angoulême. He then made overtures to England, forcing King John II of France to make peace via the Treaty of Mantes. After further intrigues, John arrested Charles in 1356 and imprisoned him. Following John's capture at Poitiers, Charles was freed in 1357 by supporters and entered Paris as a hero, demanding the Dauphin's Duchy of Normandy and County of Champagne.

During the Jacquerie rebellion of 1358, Charles led the French aristocracy against the peasants, despite his alliance with the Parisian revolutionaries led by Étienne Marcel. He died accidentally burned alive in 1387.

Reader's Guide

Charles II of Navarre was a pivotal and opportunistic figure in the Hundred Years' War, whose shifting allegiances repeatedly altered the balance of power between France and England. His assassination of the Constable of France and subsequent alliances with Edward III forced the French king into concessions, demonstrating how a minor ruler could exploit the conflict. His claim to the French throne, based on his mother's lineage, kept him in constant opposition to the Valois. Though he never achieved his ultimate goal, his actions contributed to the instability of France during the captivity of John II and the early reign of Charles V. His involvement in the Jacquerie and Parisian revolution highlights his willingness to side with the nobility against popular revolt when it suited him. Charles's legacy is that of a cunning, self-serving prince whose maneuvers exemplified the complex loyalties and realpolitik of the late medieval period.

Did You Know?

• Charles II was accidentally burned alive in 1387.
• He arranged the murder of Constable Charles de la Cerda in 1354.
• He was sprung from prison in 1357 by a band of 30 men from Amiens.
• He led the French aristocracy against the Jacquerie peasant rebellion in 1358.