France

The kingdom of France, populated up until the Black Death of 1348-9 by 12-16 millions souls and including up to the Treaty of Brétigny (1360) the Ile-de-France together with the apanages of Normandy, Anjou, Bourbon, Champagne, Valois, Auvergne and Languedoc, plus a number of important fiefs such as the counties of Blois, Nevers and Foix, and (from 1349) Montpellier and the Dauphiné; diminished from 1354 by the growing activity and influence in the Cotentin and other parts of Normandy of the king of Navarre, Charles of Evreux, and by English conquests resulting in an enlarged duchy of Guyenne (essentially Gascony; will become the principality of Aquitaine) stretching from the borders of the great and at times pro-English duchy of Brittany to the Pyrenees (save for the neutral county of Béarn) and eastwards to embrace the Poitou, Limousin and Rouergue (on the border with the Languedoc); Ponthieu and Guines are also in English hands. The French re-conquest under Charles V and Du Guesclin progressively drives the English from the realm, leaving them (by 1370-80) the ports of Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, Bordeaux and Bayonne, and a much-reduced Aquitaine. Brittany returns to French allegiance from 1365 onwards (Treaty of Guérande).

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

King Charles IV of France (d. 1328)

Charles was born at Creil on 18 June 1294 as the third son of King Philip IV of France and Jeanne of Navarre. In January 1308 he was married to Blanche of Burgundy. He was made count of La Marche in 1314. He succeded as king of France and king of Navarre on 3 January 1322, after the death of his elder brother, Philip V, and was crowned on 11 February in Rheims. In May of the same year his marriage was annulled and he then married Marie of Luxemburg on 21 September 1322. She gave birth to a son in March 1324, but the infant died soon after, and Marie survived him only by a few days. Charles married a third time, to Jeanne of Évreux, on 5 July 1324. When he died, on 1 February 1328, he had only one living child, a daugther Marie from his third marriage. The children born out of his first two marriages had died in childhood and so had the first daugther from his third marriage. The queen, Jeanne of Évreux, however, was pregnant when her husband died, and she give birth to a posthumous daughter, called Blanche. He was the last king of France of the direct Capetian line. As Charles died without male offspring, he was succeeded to the throne of France by Philip VI of Valois, the son of his maternal uncle Charles de Valois.

King Philip IV the Fair of France (d. 1314)

Philip IV of France (1268 - 1314), called 'the Fair', king of France, king of Navarre through his wife Jeanne I of Navarre; son of Philippe III, king of France, and Isabella of Aragon. He married queen Jeanne of Navarre.

France

The kingdom of France, populated up until the Black Death of 1348-9 by 12-16 millions souls and including up to the Treaty of Brétigny (1360) the Ile-de-France together with the apanages of Normandy, Anjou, Bourbon, Champagne, Valois, Auvergne and Languedoc, plus a number of important fiefs such as the counties of Blois, Nevers and Foix, and (from 1349) Montpellier and the Dauphiné; diminished from 1354 by the growing activity and influence in the Cotentin and other parts of Normandy of the king of Navarre, Charles of Evreux, and by English conquests resulting in an enlarged duchy of Guyenne (essentially Gascony; will become the principality of Aquitaine) stretching from the borders of the great and at times pro-English duchy of Brittany to the Pyrenees (save for the neutral county of Béarn) and eastwards to embrace the Poitou, Limousin and Rouergue (on the border with the Languedoc); Ponthieu and Guines are also in English hands. The French re-conquest under Charles V and Du Guesclin progressively drives the English from the realm, leaving them (by 1370-80) the ports of Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, Bordeaux and Bayonne, and a much-reduced Aquitaine. Brittany returns to French allegiance from 1365 onwards (Treaty of Guérande).

Blanche of Burgundy, queen of France (d. 1326)

Daughter of Odo V, count of Burgundy, and Mahaut, countess of Artois. First wife of king Charles IV of France, to whom she was married in 1308. Some manuscript versions of Froissart’s Chronicles mistakenly describe her as daughter of the count of Artois, when in fact she was the daughter of the countess of Artois, daughter and heir of Robert II, count of Artois.

Eudes IV, duke of Burgundy (d. 1349)

Eudes was a younger son of duke Robert II of Burgundy and Agnes of France. He succeded as duke of Burgundy in 1315. He was married to Jeanne of France. Their only son, Philip, died before his father, in 1346. Eudes was therefore succeded by his grandson, Philip of Rouvre.

Fortress of Château-Gaillard

The castle of Château-Gaillard (Eure), France.

France

The kingdom of France, populated up until the Black Death of 1348-9 by 12-16 millions souls and including up to the Treaty of Brétigny (1360) the Ile-de-France together with the apanages of Normandy, Anjou, Bourbon, Champagne, Valois, Auvergne and Languedoc, plus a number of important fiefs such as the counties of Blois, Nevers and Foix, and (from 1349) Montpellier and the Dauphiné; diminished from 1354 by the growing activity and influence in the Cotentin and other parts of Normandy of the king of Navarre, Charles of Evreux, and by English conquests resulting in an enlarged duchy of Guyenne (essentially Gascony; will become the principality of Aquitaine) stretching from the borders of the great and at times pro-English duchy of Brittany to the Pyrenees (save for the neutral county of Béarn) and eastwards to embrace the Poitou, Limousin and Rouergue (on the border with the Languedoc); Ponthieu and Guines are also in English hands. The French re-conquest under Charles V and Du Guesclin progressively drives the English from the realm, leaving them (by 1370-80) the ports of Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, Bordeaux and Bayonne, and a much-reduced Aquitaine. Brittany returns to French allegiance from 1365 onwards (Treaty of Guérande).

France

The kingdom of France, populated up until the Black Death of 1348-9 by 12-16 millions souls and including up to the Treaty of Brétigny (1360) the Ile-de-France together with the apanages of Normandy, Anjou, Bourbon, Champagne, Valois, Auvergne and Languedoc, plus a number of important fiefs such as the counties of Blois, Nevers and Foix, and (from 1349) Montpellier and the Dauphiné; diminished from 1354 by the growing activity and influence in the Cotentin and other parts of Normandy of the king of Navarre, Charles of Evreux, and by English conquests resulting in an enlarged duchy of Guyenne (essentially Gascony; will become the principality of Aquitaine) stretching from the borders of the great and at times pro-English duchy of Brittany to the Pyrenees (save for the neutral county of Béarn) and eastwards to embrace the Poitou, Limousin and Rouergue (on the border with the Languedoc); Ponthieu and Guines are also in English hands. The French re-conquest under Charles V and Du Guesclin progressively drives the English from the realm, leaving them (by 1370-80) the ports of Calais, Cherbourg, Brest, Bordeaux and Bayonne, and a much-reduced Aquitaine. Brittany returns to French allegiance from 1365 onwards (Treaty of Guérande).

King Charles IV of France (d. 1328)

Charles was born at Creil on 18 June 1294 as the third son of King Philip IV of France and Jeanne of Navarre. In January 1308 he was married to Blanche of Burgundy. He was made count of La Marche in 1314. He succeded as king of France and king of Navarre on 3 January 1322, after the death of his elder brother, Philip V, and was crowned on 11 February in Rheims. In May of the same year his marriage was annulled and he then married Marie of Luxemburg on 21 September 1322. She gave birth to a son in March 1324, but the infant died soon after, and Marie survived him only by a few days. Charles married a third time, to Jeanne of Évreux, on 5 July 1324. When he died, on 1 February 1328, he had only one living child, a daugther Marie from his third marriage. The children born out of his first two marriages had died in childhood and so had the first daugther from his third marriage. The queen, Jeanne of Évreux, however, was pregnant when her husband died, and she give birth to a posthumous daughter, called Blanche. He was the last king of France of the direct Capetian line. As Charles died without male offspring, he was succeeded to the throne of France by Philip VI of Valois, the son of his maternal uncle Charles de Valois.

Marie of Luxemburg, queen of France (d. 1324)

Second wife and queen consort of king Charles IV of France, whom she married in 1322. She was born in 1304 to emperor Henry VII and Margaret of Brabant. She was a younger sister of John the Blind, count of Luxemburg and king of Bohemia. She died in 1324 after giving birth to a son, who died a few days before his mother.

Henry VII of Luxemburg, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1313)

First emperor of the House of Luxemburg.

John the Blind of Luxemburg, king of Bohemia (d. 1346)

John was born on 10 August 1296 as the eldest child of Henry VII, count of Luxemburg, who was later to become King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor, and Margaret of Brabant. He was named after his maternal grandfather, John I, duke of Brabant. He married his first wife, Elisabeth of Bohemia, on 31 August 1310. She was the heir of the kingdom of Bohemia, which passed on first to John and then to his eldest son, Charles. Elisabeth died in 1330 after bearing her husband several children. In 1334 John remarried to a Capetian princess, Beatrix of Bourbon, daughter of Duke Louis I of Bourbon, by whom he had a further son, Wenceslas. John was considered a paladin of chivalry in his day and his death at the battle of Crécy is legendary. Froissart nearly refers to John as ‘Charles of Bohemia’. In the ‘Rome’ redaction of Book I, however, he explains: ‘qui se nonma Jehans, et li auqun dient que il fu rebaptisiés a avoir nom Carles’ (§ 279).

Blanche of Burgundy, queen of France (d. 1326)

Daughter of Odo V, count of Burgundy, and Mahaut, countess of Artois. First wife of king Charles IV of France, to whom she was married in 1308. Some manuscript versions of Froissart’s Chronicles mistakenly describe her as daughter of the count of Artois, when in fact she was the daughter of the countess of Artois, daughter and heir of Robert II, count of Artois.

Pope John XXII

Jacques Duèze (1249 - 1334), pope Jean XXII (1316 - 1334). He was the second pope to rule from Avignon.

Marie of Luxemburg, queen of France (d. 1324)

Second wife and queen consort of king Charles IV of France, whom she married in 1322. She was born in 1304 to emperor Henry VII and Margaret of Brabant. She was a younger sister of John the Blind, count of Luxemburg and king of Bohemia. She died in 1324 after giving birth to a son, who died a few days before his mother.

King Charles IV of France (d. 1328)

Charles was born at Creil on 18 June 1294 as the third son of King Philip IV of France and Jeanne of Navarre. In January 1308 he was married to Blanche of Burgundy. He was made count of La Marche in 1314. He succeded as king of France and king of Navarre on 3 January 1322, after the death of his elder brother, Philip V, and was crowned on 11 February in Rheims. In May of the same year his marriage was annulled and he then married Marie of Luxemburg on 21 September 1322. She gave birth to a son in March 1324, but the infant died soon after, and Marie survived him only by a few days. Charles married a third time, to Jeanne of Évreux, on 5 July 1324. When he died, on 1 February 1328, he had only one living child, a daugther Marie from his third marriage. The children born out of his first two marriages had died in childhood and so had the first daugther from his third marriage. The queen, Jeanne of Évreux, however, was pregnant when her husband died, and she give birth to a posthumous daughter, called Blanche. He was the last king of France of the direct Capetian line. As Charles died without male offspring, he was succeeded to the throne of France by Philip VI of Valois, the son of his maternal uncle Charles de Valois.

Issoudun

Berry

Berry, a region and historic province of France.

King Charles IV of France (d. 1328)

Charles was born at Creil on 18 June 1294 as the third son of King Philip IV of France and Jeanne of Navarre. In January 1308 he was married to Blanche of Burgundy. He was made count of La Marche in 1314. He succeded as king of France and king of Navarre on 3 January 1322, after the death of his elder brother, Philip V, and was crowned on 11 February in Rheims. In May of the same year his marriage was annulled and he then married Marie of Luxemburg on 21 September 1322. She gave birth to a son in March 1324, but the infant died soon after, and Marie survived him only by a few days. Charles married a third time, to Jeanne of Évreux, on 5 July 1324. When he died, on 1 February 1328, he had only one living child, a daugther Marie from his third marriage. The children born out of his first two marriages had died in childhood and so had the first daugther from his third marriage. The queen, Jeanne of Évreux, however, was pregnant when her husband died, and she give birth to a posthumous daughter, called Blanche. He was the last king of France of the direct Capetian line. As Charles died without male offspring, he was succeeded to the throne of France by Philip VI of Valois, the son of his maternal uncle Charles de Valois.

Jeanne of Évreux, queen of France (d. 1371)

Probably born between 1304 and 1309 as daughter of Louis, count of Évreux, and Margaret of Artois. Louis of Évreux was the half-brother of Philip IV of France and Charles of Valois. Jeanne herself was the sister of Philip III of Évreux, king of Navarre. She was married to King Charles IV of France on 5 July 1324 and was his third wife.

Louis, count of Évreux (d. 1319)

Louis d'Évreux (c. 1276 - 1319), count of Évreux; third son of king Philippe III of France and his second wife Marie de Brabant.

Jeanne of Évreux, queen of France (d. 1371)

Probably born between 1304 and 1309 as daughter of Louis, count of Évreux, and Margaret of Artois. Louis of Évreux was the half-brother of Philip IV of France and Charles of Valois. Jeanne herself was the sister of Philip III of Évreux, king of Navarre. She was married to King Charles IV of France on 5 July 1324 and was his third wife.

Philip III of Évreux, king of Navarre (d. 1343)

Philip III (1306 - 1343), count of Évreux, king of Navarre jure uxoris; eldest son of Louis, count of Évreux, and Margaret of Artois. He married Jeanne II of Navarre. Froissart mistakenly calls him ‘Louis’ in Book I (§ 44), possibly confusing him with his youngest son. Some manuscript readings also refer to him as ‘Charles’.

King Charles IV of France (d. 1328)

Charles was born at Creil on 18 June 1294 as the third son of King Philip IV of France and Jeanne of Navarre. In January 1308 he was married to Blanche of Burgundy. He was made count of La Marche in 1314. He succeded as king of France and king of Navarre on 3 January 1322, after the death of his elder brother, Philip V, and was crowned on 11 February in Rheims. In May of the same year his marriage was annulled and he then married Marie of Luxemburg on 21 September 1322. She gave birth to a son in March 1324, but the infant died soon after, and Marie survived him only by a few days. Charles married a third time, to Jeanne of Évreux, on 5 July 1324. When he died, on 1 February 1328, he had only one living child, a daugther Marie from his third marriage. The children born out of his first two marriages had died in childhood and so had the first daugther from his third marriage. The queen, Jeanne of Évreux, however, was pregnant when her husband died, and she give birth to a posthumous daughter, called Blanche. He was the last king of France of the direct Capetian line. As Charles died without male offspring, he was succeeded to the throne of France by Philip VI of Valois, the son of his maternal uncle Charles de Valois.

Philip VI of Valois, king of France (d. 1350)

Philip was born in 1293 as the eldest son of Charles I, count of Valois and Anjou, and Margaret of Anjou. He was engaged to Jeanne of Burgundy, daughter of Duke Robert II of Burgundy in 1303 and married her in July 1313. In that year he became count of Maine. After his father’s death in 1325, he also became count of Valois and Anjou. He married his second wife, Blanche of Évreux, princess of Navarre, in 1350.