 | Charles VI of France: Encyclopedia - Charles VI of France
Charles VI of France
Charles VI the Well-Beloved, later known as the Mad (French: Charles VI le Bien-Aimé, later known as le Fol) (December 3, 1368 – October 21, 1422) was a King of France (1380 – 1422) and a member of the Valois Dynasty.
Charles VI of France - Early Life
He was born in Paris, the son of King Charles V and Jeanne de Bourbon. At the age of eleven, he was crowned King of France in 1380 in the cathedral at Reims. Until he took complete charge as king in 1388, France was run by his uncle, Philip the Bold.
Charles VI was known both as Charles the Well Beloved and later as Charles the Mad, since, beginning in his mid-twenties, he experienced bouts of psychosis. These fits of madness would recur for the rest of his life. Doctors today believe, based on his ups and downs, that he may in fact have suffered from either schizophrenia or porphyria.
Charles VI of France - The King goes mad
His first known fit occurred in 1392 when his friend and advisor, Olivier de Clisson, was the victim of an attempted murder. Although Clisson survived, Charles was determined to punish the would-be assassin Pierre de Craon who had taken refuge in Brittany. Charles set off with an army. While travelling through a forest on a hot summer's day, a wild man rushed up to the King calling on him to turn back. Later the King went mad and attacked his own soldiers.
Charles' uncle Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (aka Philip the Bold) assumed the regency, dismissing Charles' advisers in the process. This was to be the start of a major feud which would divide the Kings of France and the Dukes of Burgundy for the next 85 years.
Charles VI of France - The Bal des Ardents
In January 1393, Queen Isabeau de Bavière organised a party to celebrate the marriage of one of her ladies-in-waiting. The King and five other lords dressed up as wild men and danced about chained to one another. The King's brother, Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans, approached with a lighted torch. One of the dancers caught fire and there was panic. Only the presence of mind of the Duchesse de Berri saved the King when she covered him with her robe. Four of the other men perished. This incident became known as the Bal des Ardents (the 'Ball of the Burning Men').
Most accounts seem to agree that Louis' action was an accident; he was merely trying to find his brother. Be that as it may, Louis soon afterwards pursued an affair with the Queen and was murdered by his political rival John, Duke of Burgundy (aka John the Fearless) in 1407.
Charles' royal secretary Pierre Salmon spent much time in discussions with the king while he was suffering from his intermittent but incapacitating psychosis. In an effort to find a cure for the king's illness, stabilize the turbulent political situation, and secure his own future, Salmon supervised the production of two distinct versions of the beautifully illuminated guidebooks to good kingship known as Pierre Salmon's Dialogues.
Charles VI of France - Treaty with England
Charles VI's reign was marked by the continuing war with the English (the Hundred Years' War), culminating in 1415 when the French army was defeated at the Battle of Agincourt. In 1420, Charles signed the Treaty of Troyes which recognized Henry V of England as his successor and meant his own son could not succeed him (see English Kings of France). Many citizens, including Joan of Arc, believed that the king only agreed to such disastrous and unprecedented terms, under the mental stress of his illness and that, as a result, France could not be held to them.
Charles VI died in 1422 at Paris and is interred with his wife, Isabeau de Bavière in Saint Denis Basilica.
He was eventually succeeded by his son Charles VII.
Charles VI of France - Spouse and Children
Charles VI married:
Isabeau de Bavière (1371 – September 24, 1435) on July 17, 1385.
Children:
1. Charles (September 26, 1386 – December 28, 1386)
2. Jeanne (June 14, 1388 – 1390)
3. Isabella of Valois (November 9, 1389 – September 13, 1409), married Richard II of England and after his death married Charles, Duke of Orleans.
4. Jeanne (January 24, 1391 – September 27, 1433), married John VI, Duke of Brittany
5. Charles (February 6, 1392 – January 13, 1401)
6. Marie (August 24, 1393 – August 19, 1438), an abbess
7. Michèle, (January 11, 1395 – July 8, 1422), married Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy
8. Louis, Duke of Guyenne (January 22, 1397 – December 18, 1415), married Marguerite of Burgundy.
9. Jean, Duke of Touraine (August 31, 1398 – April 4, 1417), married Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut
10. Catherine (October 27, 1401 – January 3, 1437), married Henry V of England and Owen Tudor
11. King Charles VII (February 22, 1403 – July 21, 1461) Married Marie of Anjou.
12. Philippe (November 10, 1407 – November 10, 1407)
He also had one illegitimate child by Odette de Champdivers, Marguerite bâtarde de France (1407 – 1458).
Categories: 1368 births | 1422 deaths | Parisians | French monarchs | Hundred Years' War
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