Charles VII

(1403-1461)

   king of France

   Born in Mehun-sur-Yèvre, near Bourges, Charles VII, king of France (1422-61), was the oldest surviving son of King charles vi and isabeau of bavaria. During the civil war between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians, he left Paris and took refuge in Bourges. His mother had signed the Treaty of Troyes (1420), which disinherited him to the benefit of the king of England, Henry V, who was his nephew. Upon the death of Henry V, Henry VI of England succeeded him under the regency of the duke of Bedford. Charles VII was recognized as king of France only in the southwest and in the Midi. Despite the support of arthur III, count of Riche-mont, he did not have confidence in himself until he was recognized as the true king of France by jeanne d'arc, who liberated Orléans and had him crowned at Reims (1429). After a part of northern France was retaken (Orléanais, Vendômois, Champagne, Brie, Valois, Beauvaisis), Charles VII reconciled with philippe III le bon, duke of Burgundy, who had been allied with the English (by the Treaty of Arras [1435]). Paris being retaken (1436), and the truce of Tours signed with the English (1444), Charles Vii reorganized his kingdom, limiting the power of the papacy in France through the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, and created a new army by the ordinances of 1445-48 (companies of skilled archers were formed). He reestablished a sound currency and raised regular taxes. With his financial adviser Jacques coeur, France experienced a full economic uplift. Charles Vii rid the kingdom of swindlers and forgers and put down the praguerie revolt. Thanks to capable military leaders (jean dunois, philippe de la hire, jean bureau, jean xaintrailles), the reconquest of France continued. The victory at Formigny (1450) allowed the retaking of Normandy and Castillon (1453), the surrender of bordeaux (1453), and the recapture of La Guyenne, with only Calais remaining in the hands of the English. Charles VlI's mistress, agnes sorel, who was the first officially recognized favorite in French history, had an important influence on the king and his policies. Charles had earlier married marie d'anjou, who was the mother of louis xi.