Charles VII of France
King of France who ended the Hundred Years' War.
Charles VII of France lived from 22 February 1403 to 22 July 1461. Known as the Victorious or the Well-Served, he ruled as king from 1422 until his death. His time on the throne brought the Hundred Years' War to a close and effectively ended English claims to the French crown. When he became king, things looked bleak: English forces and the Duke of Burgundy controlled much of the country, including Paris and Reims, the traditional coronation city. His own father, Charles VI, had disinherited him in 1420 and named Henry V of England and his heirs as the rightful successors. A civil war also raged between the Armagnacs, who backed the House of Valois, and the Burgundian party, allied with the English.
Charles set up his court in Bourges, south of the Loire River, and was mockingly called the "King of Bourges" since that area was one of the few territories left to him. His fortunes turned with the rise of Joan of Arc, a spiritual leader. Alongside Jean de Dunois, she led French troops to break the siege of Orléans and other key Loire cities, then defeated the English at the Battle of Patay. With local English forces scattered, the people of Reims switched sides and opened their gates, allowing Charles to be crowned at Reims Cathedral in 1429. Six years later, he ended the Anglo-Burgundian alliance through the Treaty of Arras with Burgundy. He recovered Paris in 1436 and steadily reconquered Normandy in the 1440s, using a newly organized professional army and advanced siege cannons. After the Battle of Castillon in 1453, the French regained all of England's continental holdings except the Pale of Calais. His final years were troubled by conflict with his rebellious son, the future Louis XI.
Charles was born at the Hôtel Saint-Pol in Paris and was made Count of Ponthieu six months later in 1403. He was the eleventh child and fifth son of Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria. Isabeau had a scandalous affair with her brother-in-law Louis I, Duke of Orléans, and Charles supposedly doubted his own parentage. After he became Dauphin, his enemies questioned his legitimacy. However, modern biographer Malcolm Vale states there is no concrete evidence that Charles was not the king's son, and his doubts may stem from his father disinheriting him in January 1421. On 18 December 1413, Charles was betrothed to Marie of Anjou, daughter of Duke Louis II of Anjou and Yolande of A
- born
- 22 February 1403
- died
- 22 July 1461
- field
- Monarchy
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- Ending the Hundred Years' War; being crowned at Reims after Joan of Arc's campaigns
Lore & Background
Charles VII was born at the Hôtel Saint-Pol in Paris, the eleventh child and fifth son of Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria. His four elder brothers died childless, leaving him as Dauphin. During the civil war between Armagnacs and Burgundians, Charles became the Armagnac figurehead. In 1418, after Burgundians seized Paris, he fled and established his court at Bourges, where he was derisively called the 'King of Bourges.' He married Marie of Anjou in 1422.
His fortunes turned with the emergence of Joan of Arc, who helped lift the siege of Orléans and defeat the English at Patay. This enabled Charles to be crowned at Reims Cathedral in 1429. He later ended the Anglo-Burgundian alliance via the Treaty of Arras in 1435, recovered Paris in 1436, and reconquered Normandy in the 1440s using a professional army and siege cannons. After the Battle of Castillon in 1453, France recaptured all English continental possessions except Calais.
Reader's Guide
Charles VII's significance lies in his reversal of French fortunes during the Hundred Years' War. From a position of near-total collapse—with his own father disinheriting him and English forces controlling the capital—he rebuilt French military power through professionalization and artillery. His reign marked the effective end of English territorial claims in France and the consolidation of the French monarchy. The emergence of Joan of Arc provided a crucial spiritual and military turning point, enabling his coronation and rallying support. His later years were troubled by conflict with his son, the future Louis XI, but his legacy as the king who ended the war is secure.
Did You Know?
- Charles VII was disparagingly called the 'King of Bourges' because only the area around Bourges remained under his control early in his reign.
- He was crowned at Reims Cathedral in 1429 after Joan of Arc and Jean de Dunois lifted the siege of Orléans and defeated the English at Patay.
- Charles VII signed the Treaty of Arras with Burgundy in 1435, ending the Anglo-Burgundian alliance.
- His father Charles VI had disinherited him in 1420 and recognized Henry V of England as the legitimate successor to the French crown.
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