The French Valois: Charles VIII, the Affable (1483-98)


Figure 1.--This painting shows Charles VIII at an early stage of his Italian page. He was only about 21 years old, younger than depicted here. I an not sure in what city the scene is set, not do I know whompainted the portrait and when. Note the altar boys at left, dressed not unlike modern altar boys. I do not know who the page leading the Charles' horse is.

Charles was born in 1470. His father died when he was only about 13 years old. For a time the regency was overseen by his sister, Anne de France. France had fought bitter wars with England. With the reign of Charles, France's focus turned south. Divided Italy was a magnent to the major European powers. Aragon (Spain) had seized southern Italy (Naples and Sicily). The growing power of the French monarchy enabled Charles VIII to launch the ultimately failed Italian wars of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Ludovicio il Moro, Duke of Milan, help induce Charles to claim the throne of Naples. (This effort was continued by Louis XII and Francis I.) The effort was blocked by the Holy Alliance organized by Pope Alexander and Imperial (Spanish troops). This series of wars marked the start of Valois rivalry with the Habsburgs (ruling house of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire). This rivalry persisted until the French Revolution. Notably the Italian Wars initiated by Charles occurred at a time that Spain and Portugal were beginning to create vast colonial empires. Had France focused on maritime emire rather than intractable wars in Italy, modern history might have been quite different.

Parents

Louis XI (1423-1483) was the eldest son of Charles VII and Marie d'Anjou. Louis was born in Bourges on July 3, 1423. His father's political prospects were at a low point. As a boy, he was brought up in the desolate Loches castle. Louis did not get on well with his father. At Louis' birth the English controlled western Frabce and the Duke of Burgandy the north. Joan of Arc's appearance and a treaty with Burgandy helped expel the English. As Dauphin he was nomally responsible for Dauphiné. He became involuntarily involved in a plot against his father an eventually had to flee France. His reign was mixed, but he undeniably strengthed what was a weak monarchy. He died in 1483 when his son Charles was still quite young. Charles mother was Charlotte d'Savoie (c1445- ). Her parents were Louis I, Duke of Savoy, and Anne of Cyprus.

Siblings

There were three siblings, two girls and a Charles: Anne de France (1461- ), Joan de Valois (1464- ), and Charles de Valois, the Dauphin (1470-98).

Childhood

Charles was born in 1470. His father died when he was only about 13 years old. For a time the regency was overseen by his sister, Anne de France.

Italian Wars

France had fought bitter wars with England. With the reign of Charles, France's focus turned south. Divided Italy was a magnent to the major European powers. Aragon (Spain) had seized southern Italy (Naples and Sicily). The growing power of the French monarchy enabled Charles VIII to launch the ultimately failed Italian wars of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Ludovicio il Moro, Duke of Milan, help induce Charles to claim the throne of Naples (1494). (This effort was continued by French kings Louis XII and Francis I.) Ludovicio wanted French help against the Spanish forces of King Alfonso of Naples. Charles invoked the claim to Naples of the House of Anjou. A French army under Charles moved in Italy, taking Rome and Naples (1495). The effort was blocked by the Holy League (also called the League of Venice) organized by Pope Alexander VI. The Italian princes (Milan, Naples, and Venice) and fearful of French power joined in a rare show of unity with the pope along with Emperor Maximillian I. The key player was Ferdinand of Aragon who commanded a powerful Spanish army. Charles who had taken Naples was in danger of being cut off from Framce. He rushed north with half his army and a considerable bagage train of loot. The French army was maulded at Fornovo near Piacenza, but Charles managed to get accross the Alps which most of his loot. Much of the army that he had left in Naples and other Italian cities was eventually destroyed. This series of wars marked the start of Valois rivalry with the Habsburgs (ruling house of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire). This rivalry persisted until the French Revolution.

Marriage

Charles married Anne de Dreux, Duchess of Brittany in 1491.

Children

Charles and Anne had four children: Charles-Orlando de France, Dauphin (1492-95), Charles fe France (1496), François de France (1497?), and Anne de France (??). Anne like her brothers died young, but we are not sure of the dates. All of Charles three sons died at an early age.

The Americas

Notably the Italian Wars initiated by Charles occurred at a time that Spain and Portugal were beginning to create vast colonial empires. Had France focused on maritime empire rather than intractable wars in Italy, modern history might have been quite different. The Ferdinand iof Aragon who fought Charles in aragon was of course the same Ferdinand who as husband od Isabela had dispatched Columbus to the Indies (1492).

Sucession

Charles himself died quite young, only about 28 years old. As none of his sons survived him, he left no direct successor. Louis was the son of Charles, duc d'Orléans, a descendant of King Charles V. When the direct Valois line expired with Charles VIII, Louis inherited the throne as Louis XII.







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Created: May 20, 2004
Last updated: May 20, 2004