Charles VII of France
Early Life and Ascension to the Throne
Charles VII of France, born on February 22, 1403, was a pivotal figure in French history, known for his role in the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War. He was the fifth son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. His early life was marked by the tumultuous political landscape of France, which was embroiled in internal strife and external threats. Charles's ascension to the throne was fraught with challenges, primarily due to the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War, a conflict that divided the French nobility.
Charles was initially not expected to inherit the throne due to his position in the line of succession. However, the deaths of his elder brothers and the mental illness of his father, Charles VI, positioned him as the Dauphin of France. The Treaty of Troyes in 1420, orchestrated by his mother and the English, disinherited him in favor of Henry V of England. Despite this setback, Charles was proclaimed king by his supporters in 1422, following the deaths of both his father and Henry V.
Reign and Military Campaigns
Charles VII's reign was characterized by a series of military campaigns aimed at reclaiming French territories occupied by the English. The most significant turning point in his reign was the intervention of Joan of Arc, a peasant girl who claimed divine guidance. Her involvement led to the lifting of the Siege of Orléans in 1429, a decisive victory that bolstered French morale and paved the way for Charles's coronation at Reims Cathedral.
Following his coronation, Charles VII implemented a series of military reforms that strengthened the French army. He established the first permanent army in France, a move that shifted the reliance away from feudal levies and mercenaries. This professionalization of the military was instrumental in the eventual French victories in the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War.
Political and Economic Reforms
Beyond his military achievements, Charles VII is noted for his political and economic reforms, which laid the groundwork for the modernization of the French state. He restructured the royal administration, reducing the power of the nobility and increasing the efficiency of the government. The establishment of the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges in 1438 was a significant ecclesiastical reform that asserted the independence of the French church from papal authority.
Economically, Charles VII focused on the recovery and stabilization of the French economy, which had been devastated by decades of war. He implemented tax reforms, including the introduction of the taille, a direct tax on the peasantry, which provided a steady source of revenue for the crown. These reforms not only strengthened the monarchy but also facilitated the rebuilding of war-torn regions.
Legacy and Death
Charles VII's legacy is marked by his successful efforts to restore French sovereignty and his contributions to the centralization of royal power. His reign saw the conclusion of the Hundred Years' War with the signing of the Treaty of Picquigny in 1475, which effectively ended hostilities between France and England. Charles's ability to navigate the complex political landscape of his time and his strategic military and administrative reforms earned him the epithet "Charles the Victorious."
Charles VII died on July 22, 1461, and was succeeded by his son, Louis XI. His reign is often seen as a turning point in French history, setting the stage for the emergence of France as a unified and powerful nation-state.