Charles VIII

(1470-1498)

   king of France

   The king of France (1483-98), Charles VIII was the son of louis xi and Charlotte of Savoy. His sister, anne de france, who served as regent (1483-91), was the wife of Pierre de Beaujeu, who himself was able to gain subsides from the Estates General of Tours (1484) and fought against the rebellious nobles in the Guerre folle (1485-88). This conflict ended with the victory at Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier over the duke of orléans and François ii, duke of Brittany. Anne then married her brother to Anne of Brittany (1491), thus adding that duchy to the Crown. Charles V III subsequently signed the Treaties of Étaples with Henry VII of England and of Senlis with Maximilian of Austria, which restored to him Artois and Franche-Comté. On the advice of Guillaume briconnet, Charles VIII undertook to have recognized the claims that louis xi, his father, had inherited, through the House of Anjou, on the kingdom of Naples, thus beginning the wars in italy. He easily conquered the kingdom of Naples, but Milan, Venice, Maximilian of Austria, Ferdinand of Aragon, and Pope Alexander Vi all being allied against him, he was forced to retreat and return to France after the Battle of Fornoue, thus losing the territory that he had taken. Charles VIII was succeeded by his cousin, the duke of orléans, who became louis xii.