Charles of Valois
Encyclopedia
Charles of Valois was the fourth son of Philip III of France
and Isabella of Aragon
. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon
and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet
and founded the House of Valois. In 1284, he was created Count of Valois (as Charles I) by his father and, in 1290, received the title of Count of Anjou from his marriage to Margaret of Anjou.
Moderately intelligent, disproportionately ambitious and quite greedy, Charles of Valois collected principalities. He had as appanage
the counties of Valois, Alençon and Perche (1285). He became in 1290 count of Anjou and of Maine by his marriage with Margaret, eldest daughter of Charles II
, titular king of Sicily; by a second marriage, contracted with the heiress of Baldwin II de Courtenay
, last Latin emperor
of Constantinople
, he also had pretensions on this throne. But he was son, brother, brother-in-law and son-in-law of kings or of queens (of France, of Navarre
, of England, and of Naples
), becoming, moreover, after his death, father of a king (Philip VI
).
He thus dreamed of more and sought all his life for a crown he never obtained. In 1285 the pope
recognized him as King of Aragon (under the vassalage of the Holy See
), as son of his mother, in opposition to King Pedro III, who after the conquest of the island of Sicily
was an enemy of the papacy. Charles then married Marguerite of Sicily, daughter of the Neapolitan king, in order to re-enforce his position in Sicily, supported by the Pope. Thanks to this Aragonese Crusade
undertaken by his father Philip III
against the advice of his brother, the future Philip the Fair
, he believed he would win a kingdom and won nothing but the ridicule of having been crowned with a cardinal's hat in 1285, which gave him the sobriquet of the "King of the Cap." He would never dare to use the royal seal which was made on this occasion and would have to renounce the title.
His principal quality was to be a good military leader. He commanded effectively in Flanders
in 1297. The king quickly deduced that his brother could conduct an expedition in Italy against Frederick II of Sicily
. The affair was ended by the peace of Caltabellotta (1302).
Charles dreamed at the same time of the imperial crown and married in 1301 Catherine de Courtenay, titular empress, granddaughter and heiress of the last Latin emperor of Constantinople, Baldwin II de Courtenay. But it needed the connivance of the Pope
, which he obtained by his expedition to Italy, where he supported Charles II of Anjou against Frederick II of Sicily, his cousin. Named papal vicar, he lost himself in the imbroglio of Italian politics, was compromised in a massacre at Florence
and in sordid financial exigencies, reached Sicily where he consolidated his reputation as a looter and finally returned to France discredited in 1301-1302.
Charles was back in shape to seek a new crown when the German king Albert of Habsburg
was murdered in 1308. Charles's brother, who did not wish to take the risk himself of a check and probably thought that a French puppet on the imperial throne would be a good thing for France, encouraged him. The candidacy was defeated with the election of Henry VII
as German king. Charles continued to dream of the eastern crown of the Courtenays.
He did benefit from the affection which Philip the Fair, who had suffered from the remarriage of their father, brought to his only full brother, and he found himself given responsibilities which largely exceeded his talent. Thus it was he who directed in 1311 the royal embassy to the conferences of Tournai
with the Flemish; he quarreled there with his brother's chamberlain Enguerrand de Marigny
, who openly flouted him. Charles did not pardon the affront and would continue the vendetta against Marigny after the king's death.
He was doggedly opposed to the torture of Jacques de Molay
, grand master of the Templars
, in 1314.
The premature death of Louis X
in 1316 gave Charles hopes for a political role, but he could not prevent his nephew Philip
, from taking the regency while awaiting the birth of Louis X's posthumous son. When that son (John I of France
) died after a few days, Philip took the throne as Philip V.
In 1324, he commanded with success the army of his nephew Charles IV
(who succeeded Philip V in 1322) to take Guyenne
and Flanders
from King Edward II of England
. He contributed, by the capture of several cities, to accelerate the peace, which was concluded between the king of France and his sister, Isabella
, queen-consort of England.
The Count of Valois died 16 December 1325 at Nogent-le-Roi
, leaving a son who would take the throne of France under the name of Philip VI
and commence the branch of the Valois: a posthumous revenge for the man of whom it was said, "Son of a king, brother of a king, uncle of three kings, father of a king, but never king himself."
His first marriage, in 1290, was to Margaret, Countess of Anjou, (1274–1299), daughter of King Charles II of Naples
. They had the following children:
In 1302 he remarried to Catherine I of Courtenay
(1274–1307), titular Empress of Constantinople
. They had four children:
Finally, in 1308, he married Mahaut of Châtillon
(1293–1358), daughter of Guy III of Châtillon, Count of Saint Pol. They had also four children:
Charles de Valois was also known to have one illegitimate child by an unknown mother. This child was placed in a nunnery, and yet was also treated as a legitimate heir to estates, being granted title to lands in Avignon upon her majority:
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Philip III of France
Philip III , called the Bold , was the King of France, succeeding his father, Louis IX, and reigning from 1270 to 1285. He was a member of the House of Capet.-Biography:...
and Isabella of Aragon
Isabella of Aragon
Isabella of Aragon , infanta of Aragon, was, by marriage, Queen consort of France in the Middle Ages from 1270 to 1271.-Life:...
. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon
James I of Aragon
James I the Conqueror was the King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona, and Lord of Montpellier from 1213 to 1276...
and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet
House of Capet
The House of Capet, or The Direct Capetian Dynasty, , also called The House of France , or simply the Capets, which ruled the Kingdom of France from 987 to 1328, was the most senior line of the Capetian dynasty – itself a derivative dynasty from the Robertians. As rulers of France, the dynasty...
and founded the House of Valois. In 1284, he was created Count of Valois (as Charles I) by his father and, in 1290, received the title of Count of Anjou from his marriage to Margaret of Anjou.
Life
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...
the counties of Valois, Alençon and Perche (1285). He became in 1290 count of Anjou and of Maine by his marriage with Margaret, eldest daughter of Charles II
Charles II of Naples
Charles II, known as "the Lame" was King of Naples, King of Albania, Prince of Salerno, Prince of Achaea and Count of Anjou.-Biography:...
, titular king of Sicily; by a second marriage, contracted with the heiress of Baldwin II de Courtenay
Baldwin II of Constantinople
Baldwin II of Courtenay was the last emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople.He was a younger son of Yolanda of Flanders, sister of the first two emperors, Baldwin I and Henry of Flanders...
, last Latin emperor
Latin Empire
The Latin Empire or Latin Empire of Constantinople is the name given by historians to the feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. It was established after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 and lasted until 1261...
of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, he also had pretensions on this throne. But he was son, brother, brother-in-law and son-in-law of kings or of queens (of France, of Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, of England, and of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
), becoming, moreover, after his death, father of a king (Philip VI
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
).
He thus dreamed of more and sought all his life for a crown he never obtained. In 1285 the pope
Pope Martin IV
Pope Martin IV, born Simon de Brion held the papacy from February 21, 1281 until his death....
recognized him as King of Aragon (under the vassalage of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
), as son of his mother, in opposition to King Pedro III, who after the conquest of the island of Sicily
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to the successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out on the Easter of 1282 against the rule of the French/Angevin king Charles I, who had ruled the Kingdom of Sicily since 1266. Within six weeks three thousand French men and women were slain by...
was an enemy of the papacy. Charles then married Marguerite of Sicily, daughter of the Neapolitan king, in order to re-enforce his position in Sicily, supported by the Pope. Thanks to this Aragonese Crusade
Aragonese Crusade
The Aragonese Crusade or Crusade of Aragon, a part of the larger War of the Sicilian Vespers, was declared by Pope Martin IV against the King of Aragon, Peter III the Great, in 1284 and 1285...
undertaken by his father Philip III
Philip III of France
Philip III , called the Bold , was the King of France, succeeding his father, Louis IX, and reigning from 1270 to 1285. He was a member of the House of Capet.-Biography:...
against the advice of his brother, the future Philip the Fair
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
, he believed he would win a kingdom and won nothing but the ridicule of having been crowned with a cardinal's hat in 1285, which gave him the sobriquet of the "King of the Cap." He would never dare to use the royal seal which was made on this occasion and would have to renounce the title.
His principal quality was to be a good military leader. He commanded effectively in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
in 1297. The king quickly deduced that his brother could conduct an expedition in Italy against Frederick II of Sicily
Frederick III of Sicily
Frederick II was the regent and subsequently King of Sicily from 1295 until his death. He was the third son of Peter III of Aragon and served in the War of the Sicilian Vespers on behalf of his father and brothers, Alfonso and James...
. The affair was ended by the peace of Caltabellotta (1302).
Charles dreamed at the same time of the imperial crown and married in 1301 Catherine de Courtenay, titular empress, granddaughter and heiress of the last Latin emperor of Constantinople, Baldwin II de Courtenay. But it needed the connivance of the Pope
Pope Boniface VIII
Pope Boniface VIII , born Benedetto Gaetani, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1294 to 1303. Today, Boniface VIII is probably best remembered for his feuds with Dante, who placed him in the Eighth circle of Hell in his Divina Commedia, among the Simonists.- Biography :Gaetani was born in 1235 in...
, which he obtained by his expedition to Italy, where he supported Charles II of Anjou against Frederick II of Sicily, his cousin. Named papal vicar, he lost himself in the imbroglio of Italian politics, was compromised in a massacre at Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and in sordid financial exigencies, reached Sicily where he consolidated his reputation as a looter and finally returned to France discredited in 1301-1302.
Charles was back in shape to seek a new crown when the German king Albert of Habsburg
Albert I of Germany
Albert I of Habsburg was King of the Romans and Duke of Austria, the eldest son of German King Rudolph I of Habsburg and his first wife Gertrude of Hohenburg.-Life:...
was murdered in 1308. Charles's brother, who did not wish to take the risk himself of a check and probably thought that a French puppet on the imperial throne would be a good thing for France, encouraged him. The candidacy was defeated with the election of Henry VII
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg...
as German king. Charles continued to dream of the eastern crown of the Courtenays.
He did benefit from the affection which Philip the Fair, who had suffered from the remarriage of their father, brought to his only full brother, and he found himself given responsibilities which largely exceeded his talent. Thus it was he who directed in 1311 the royal embassy to the conferences of Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
with the Flemish; he quarreled there with his brother's chamberlain Enguerrand de Marigny
Enguerrand de Marigny
Enguerrand de Marigny was a French chamberlain and minister of Philip IV the Fair.He was born at Lyons-la-Forêt in Normandy, of an old Norman family of the smaller baronage called Le Portier, which took the name of Marigny about 1200....
, who openly flouted him. Charles did not pardon the affront and would continue the vendetta against Marigny after the king's death.
He was doggedly opposed to the torture of Jacques de Molay
Jacques de Molay
Jacques de Molay was the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, leading the Order from 20 April 1292 until it was dissolved by order of Pope Clement V in 1312...
, grand master of the Templars
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, in 1314.
The premature death of Louis X
Louis X of France
Louis X of France, , called the Quarreler, the Headstrong, or the Stubborn was the King of Navarre from 1305 and King of France from 1314 until his death...
in 1316 gave Charles hopes for a political role, but he could not prevent his nephew Philip
Philip V of France
Philip the Tall was King of France as Philip V and, as Philip II, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne. He reigned from 1316 to his death and was the penultimate monarch of the House of Capet. Considered a wise and politically astute ruler, Philip took the throne under questionable...
, from taking the regency while awaiting the birth of Louis X's posthumous son. When that son (John I of France
John I of France
John I , called the Posthumous, was King of France and Navarre, and Count of Champagne, as the son and successor of Louis the Headstrong, for the five days he lived...
) died after a few days, Philip took the throne as Philip V.
In 1324, he commanded with success the army of his nephew Charles IV
Charles IV of France
Charles IV, known as the Fair , was the King of France and of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1322 to his death: he was the last French king of the senior Capetian lineage....
(who succeeded Philip V in 1322) to take Guyenne
Guyenne
Guyenne or Guienne , , ; Occitan Guiana ) is a vaguely defined historic region of south-western France. The Province of Guyenne, sometimes called the Province of Guyenne and Gascony, was a large province of pre-revolutionary France....
and Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
from King Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. He contributed, by the capture of several cities, to accelerate the peace, which was concluded between the king of France and his sister, Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, queen-consort of England.
The Count of Valois died 16 December 1325 at Nogent-le-Roi
Nogent-le-Roi
Nogent-le-Roi is a commune in the department of Eure-et-Loir in the Centre region in northern France.It is located some 20 kilometres north of Chartres and a shorter distance to the southeast of Dreux.-Population:-Royal deaths:...
, leaving a son who would take the throne of France under the name of Philip VI
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
and commence the branch of the Valois: a posthumous revenge for the man of whom it was said, "Son of a king, brother of a king, uncle of three kings, father of a king, but never king himself."
Marriages and children
Charles de Valois was married three times.His first marriage, in 1290, was to Margaret, Countess of Anjou, (1274–1299), daughter of King Charles II of Naples
Charles II of Naples
Charles II, known as "the Lame" was King of Naples, King of Albania, Prince of Salerno, Prince of Achaea and Count of Anjou.-Biography:...
. They had the following children:
- Isabelle (1292–1309). Married John III, Duke of BrittanyJohn III, Duke of BrittanyJohn III the Good was duke of Brittany, from 1312 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Mary of Limoges, his first wife...
. - Philip VIPhilip VI of FrancePhilip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
, first King of the Valois DynastyValois DynastyThe House of Valois was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, succeeding the House of Capet as kings of France from 1328 to 1589...
. - Joan of Valois (1294–1342). Married William I, Count of HainautWilliam I, Count of HainautWilliam I, Count of Hainaut was Count William III of Avesnes, Count William III of Holland and Count William II of Zeeland from 1304 to his death...
, and had issue. - Margaret of Valois (1295–1342). Married Guy I of Blois-Châtillon, Count of BloisCount of BloisThe County of Blois was originally centred on Blois, south of Paris, France. One of the chief cities, along with Blois itself, was Chartres. Blois was associated with Champagne, Châtillon , and later with the French royal family, to whom the county passed in 1391...
, and had issue. - Charles II, Count of AlençonCharles II of AlençonCharles II of Alençon, called the Magnanimous was the second son of Charles of Valois and his first wife Margaret, and brother of Philip VI, King of France...
(1297 – 26 August 1346 at the Battle of CrécyBattle of CrécyThe Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
). Married first Jeanne de Joigny and second Marie de la Cerda and had issue from the second marriage. - Catherine of Valois (b. 1299, died young).
In 1302 he remarried to Catherine I of Courtenay
Catherine I of Courtenay
Catherine I of Courtenay was Titular Empress of Constantinople from 1283 to her death in 1307. In 1301, she became the second wife of Charles of Valois, by whom she had one son and three daughters; the eldest of these, Catherine II of Valois, Princess of Achaea succeeded her as titular...
(1274–1307), titular Empress of Constantinople
Latin Empire
The Latin Empire or Latin Empire of Constantinople is the name given by historians to the feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. It was established after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 and lasted until 1261...
. They had four children:
- John, Count of Chartres (1302–1308).
- Catherine II of Valois, Princess of AchaeaCatherine II of Valois, Princess of AchaeaCatherine of Valois was titular Empress of Constantinople from 1308 to her death as Catherine II, Princess consort of Achaea from 1332 to 1341, and Governor of Cephalonia from 1341 to her death.-Life:...
, titular Empress of Constantinople (1303–1346). She married Philip I d'Anjou, Prince of TarantoPhilip I of TarantoPhilip I of Taranto : of the Angevin house, was titular Emperor of Constantinople , despot of Epirus, King of Albania, Prince of Achaea and Taranto, and Lord of Durazzo....
and had issue. - Joan of ValoisJoan of Valois (1304-1363)Joan of Valois was the daughter of Charles of Valois and his second wife Catherine I of Courtenay, titular empress of Constantinople....
(1304–1363). Married Count Robert III of ArtoisRobert III of ArtoisRobert III of Artois was the son of Philip of Artois and Blanche of Brittany.In 1318 he married Joan of Valois , daughter of Charles of Valois, and had issue:* Louis...
and had issue. - Isabella of Valois (1305–1349), Abbess of Fontevrault.
Finally, in 1308, he married Mahaut of Châtillon
Mahaut of Chatillon
Mahaut of Châtillon was the daughter of Guy III of Châtillon and Marie of Brittany. Her maternal grandmother was Beatrice of England, Beatrice was a daughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence.- Marriage :...
(1293–1358), daughter of Guy III of Châtillon, Count of Saint Pol. They had also four children:
- Marie of Valois (1309–1332). Married Charles, Duke of CalabriaCharles, Duke of CalabriaCharles, Duke of Calabria was the son of King Robert of Naples and Yolanda of Aragon.-Biography:Born in Naples, he became Duke of Calabria in 1309 on his father's accession, and was created Vicar-General of the Kingdom of Sicily...
and had issue. - Isabella of Valois (1313 – 26 August 1388). She married Peter I, Duke of BourbonPeter I, Duke of BourbonPeter I of Bourbon was the second Duke of Bourbon, from 1342 to his death.Peter was son of Louis I of Bourbon, whom he also succeeded as Grand Chamberlain of France, and Mary of Avesnes....
. - Blanche of ValoisBlanche of ValoisBlanche of Valois was the youngest daughter of Charles of Valois and his third wife Mahaut of Châtillon.-Family:Her paternal grandparents were Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. Her maternal grandparents were Guy IV, Count of Saint-Pol and Marie of Brittany.Marie was a daughter of John...
(1317–1348). She married Charles IV, Holy Roman EmperorCharles IV, Holy Roman EmperorCharles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
. Sometimes called "Marguerite". - Louis, Count of ChartresChartresChartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
(1318–1328)
Charles de Valois was also known to have one illegitimate child by an unknown mother. This child was placed in a nunnery, and yet was also treated as a legitimate heir to estates, being granted title to lands in Avignon upon her majority:
- Theresa of Avignon, Countess of AvignonAvignonAvignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
(1335–1387)
External links
- Brown University History Page on Charles of Valois
- Britannica entry on Charles of Valois
- GJGFrench wikipedia page on Charles de Valois (fr)
- Historia Nostra page on Charles de Valois (fr)
- MedLANDS Charles of Valois and his children
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