Charles de Valois, Duc de Berry
Encyclopedia
Charles de Valois, Duke of Berry (26 December 1446 – 24 May 1472) was a son of Charles VII
, King of France. He spent most of his life in conflict with his elder brother, King Louis XI of France
.
, last child and fourth son of Charles VII and Marie of Anjou
. As his elder brother, the Dauphin Louis, had repeatedly run into conflict with his father and since 1456 was living in exile at the court of Burgundy, some expected the crown to pass to Charles. When Charles VII died in 1461, however, Louis XI succeeded nonetheless.
After his accession, Louis XI granted his younger brother the Duchy of Berry
as an appanage
. Dissatisfied with this, Charles joined with Charles, Count of Charolais
, the Burgundian heir
, and other powerful nobles such as Francis II, Duke of Brittany in the League of the Public Weal
in May 1465. This started the Guerre folle (Mad War), which ended in October with the Treaty of Conflans
between Louis XI and the Count of Charolais.
Under the treaty, Charles was granted the Duchy of Normandy
as an additional appanage. He proved unable to control his new possession and ran into conflict with his former ally Francis II of Brittany. Louis dispatched the royal army to Normandy and assumed direct royal control of the Duchy. Charles, now reconciled with Duke Francis, fled to Brittany, where he remained until September 1468, when he and Francis signed the Treaty of Ancenis with Louis, promising to abandon the former Count of Charolais, now Duke of Burgundy.
In October 1468 Louis was imprisoned by Charles of Burgundy during a conference at Péronne
. In order to obtain his release, Louis agreed to grant Champagne
to his brother as compensation for Normandy
. Once free, Louis reneged on the promises made under duress but in April 1469, he finally reconciled with his brother, granting him the Duchy of Guyenne
.
At the time, Charles also agreed with the Duke of Burgundy to marry the latter's only child and heir, Mary of Burgundy
. Louis had no intention of allowing a union between his brother and his enemy's daughter and dispatched envoys to Pope Paul II
to ensure that the necessary dispensation
, required on grounds of consanguinity
, was not granted. Louis was unsucessful in this endeavour, as the Pope granted the dispensation.
Still, the marriage plan still came to nothing as Charles died at Bordeaux
in May 1472, probably from a combination of tuberculosis
and a venereal disease contracted from his mistress, Colette de Chambes. According to legend, Colette had been fed poisoned fish by her aged but jealous husband, Louis d'Amboise, viscount of Thouars.
Since Charles left no legitimate issue, his lands returned to the crown.
His daughter by the viscountess, Anne batarde de Valois, died childless not long after her marriage in 1490 to François de Volvire, Baron of Russec.
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| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="3"| Preceded by:
new creations
| width="40%" align="center" | Duke of Berry
1461–1465
| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="3"| Succeeded by:
to royal domain
|-
| width="40%" align="center" | Duke of Normandy
1465–1466
|-
| width="40%" align="center" | Duke of Guyenne
1469–1472
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
, King of France. He spent most of his life in conflict with his elder brother, King Louis XI of France
Louis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
.
Life
Charles was born at ToursTours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, last child and fourth son of Charles VII and Marie of Anjou
Marie of Anjou
Marie of Anjou was the Queen consort of King Charles VII of France from 1422 to 1461. Her mother, Yolande of Aragon, played a leading role in the last phase of the Hundred Years' War.-Family:...
. As his elder brother, the Dauphin Louis, had repeatedly run into conflict with his father and since 1456 was living in exile at the court of Burgundy, some expected the crown to pass to Charles. When Charles VII died in 1461, however, Louis XI succeeded nonetheless.
After his accession, Louis XI granted his younger brother the Duchy of Berry
Duke of Berry
The title of Duke of Berry in the French nobility was frequently created for junior members of the French royal family. The Berry region now consists of the départements of Cher, Indre and parts of Vienne. The capital of Berry is Bourges. The first creation was for John, third son of John II, King...
as an appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
. Dissatisfied with this, Charles joined with Charles, Count of Charolais
Charles I, Duke of Burgundy
Charles the Bold , baptised Charles Martin, was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477...
, the Burgundian heir
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
, and other powerful nobles such as Francis II, Duke of Brittany in the League of the Public Weal
League of the Public Weal
The League of the Public Weal was an alliance of feudal nobles organized in 1465 in defiance of the centralized authority of King Louis XI of France...
in May 1465. This started the Guerre folle (Mad War), which ended in October with the Treaty of Conflans
Treaty of Conflans
The Treaty of Conflans was signed on October 1465 between King Louis XI of France and Count Charles of Charolais. This treaty was signed months after the Battle of Montlhéry where the French dukes of Alençon, Burgundy, Berri, Bourbon, and Lorraine defeated King Louis' forces...
between Louis XI and the Count of Charolais.
Under the treaty, Charles was granted the Duchy of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
as an additional appanage. He proved unable to control his new possession and ran into conflict with his former ally Francis II of Brittany. Louis dispatched the royal army to Normandy and assumed direct royal control of the Duchy. Charles, now reconciled with Duke Francis, fled to Brittany, where he remained until September 1468, when he and Francis signed the Treaty of Ancenis with Louis, promising to abandon the former Count of Charolais, now Duke of Burgundy.
In October 1468 Louis was imprisoned by Charles of Burgundy during a conference at Péronne
Péronne
Péronne is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Péronne, Saône-et-Loire, in the Saône-et-Loire département* Péronne, Somme, in the Somme département* Péronne-en-Mélantois, in the Nord département...
. In order to obtain his release, Louis agreed to grant Champagne
Champagne (province)
The Champagne wine region is a historic province within the Champagne administrative province in the northeast of France. The area is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name...
to his brother as compensation for Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Once free, Louis reneged on the promises made under duress but in April 1469, he finally reconciled with his brother, granting him the Duchy of Guyenne
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
.
At the time, Charles also agreed with the Duke of Burgundy to marry the latter's only child and heir, Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy
Mary of Burgundy ruled the Burgundian territories in Low Countries and was suo jure Duchess of Burgundy from 1477 until her death...
. Louis had no intention of allowing a union between his brother and his enemy's daughter and dispatched envoys to Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
to ensure that the necessary dispensation
Dispensation (Catholic Church)
In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, a dispensation is the suspension by competent authority of general rules of law in particular cases...
, required on grounds of consanguinity
Consanguinity
Consanguinity refers to the property of being from the same kinship as another person. In that respect, consanguinity is the quality of being descended from the same ancestor as another person...
, was not granted. Louis was unsucessful in this endeavour, as the Pope granted the dispensation.
Still, the marriage plan still came to nothing as Charles died at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
in May 1472, probably from a combination of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and a venereal disease contracted from his mistress, Colette de Chambes. According to legend, Colette had been fed poisoned fish by her aged but jealous husband, Louis d'Amboise, viscount of Thouars.
Since Charles left no legitimate issue, his lands returned to the crown.
His daughter by the viscountess, Anne batarde de Valois, died childless not long after her marriage in 1490 to François de Volvire, Baron of Russec.
|-
| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="3"| Preceded by:
new creations
| width="40%" align="center" | Duke of Berry
Duke of Berry
The title of Duke of Berry in the French nobility was frequently created for junior members of the French royal family. The Berry region now consists of the départements of Cher, Indre and parts of Vienne. The capital of Berry is Bourges. The first creation was for John, third son of John II, King...
1461–1465
| width="30%" align="center" rowspan="3"| Succeeded by:
to royal domain
Crown lands of France
The crown lands, crown estate, royal domain or domaine royal of France refers to the lands, fiefs and rights directly possessed by the kings of France...
|-
| width="40%" align="center" | Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
1465–1466
|-
| width="40%" align="center" | Duke of Guyenne
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
1469–1472