Charles VI of France

Charles VI, King of France 1380 to 1422, was a member of the Valois Dynasty. He was born in Paris on December 3, 1368, the son of King Charles V and Jeanne de Bourbon.

At the age of eleven, he was crowned King of France in 1380 in the cathedral at Reims. Until he took complete charge as king in 1388, France was run by his uncle, Philippe the Bold.

Charles VI was known both as Charles the Mad and as Charles the Well Beloved, since, beginning in his mid twenties, he experienced bouts of psychosis. These fits of madness would occur periodically for the rest of his life. Doctors today believe, based on his ups and downs, that he may in fact have suffered from bipolar disorder.

He married:

• 1) Isabeau de Bavière (1371-September 24, 1435) on July 17, 1385.

Children:

• 1) Michèle (January 11, 1395 - July 08, 1422)
• 2) Charles VII (February 22, 1403 - July 21, 1461)
• 3) Isabella of Valois (November 09, 1389 - September 13, 1409)
• 4) Catherine (October 27, 1401 - January 03, 1437)
• 5) Jeanne (January 24, 1391 - September 27, 1433)
• 6) Charles (February 06, 1392 - January 13, 1401)
• 7) Marie (August 24, 1393 - August 19, 1438)
• 8) Louis (January 22, 1396 - December 18, 1415)
• 9) Jean (August 31, 1398 - April 04, 1417)
• 10) Charles (September 26, 1386 - December 28, 1386)
• 11) Jeanne (June 14, 1388 - 1390)
• 12) Philippe (November 10, 1407 - November 10, 1407)

Married:

• 2) Odette de Champdivers
• Daughter: Marguerite de Valois (1407-1458)

Charles VI's reign was marked by the continuing war with the English (the Hundred Years' War), culminating in 1415 when the French army was defeated at the Battle of Agincourt. In 1420, Charles signed the Treaty of Troyes which recognized Henry V of England as his successor and meant his own son could not succeed him. Many citizens, including Joan of Arc, believed that the king only agreed to such disastrous and unprecedented terms, under the mental stress of his illness and that as a result France could not be held to them.

Charles VI died on October 21, 1422 at Paris and is interred with his wife, Isabeau de Bavière in Saint Denis Basilica.

He was eventually succeeded by his son Charles VII.

Preceded by: Charles V

List of French monarchs

Succeeded by: Charles VII