Charles VI of France

Charles VI of France, known as Charles the Mad, ascended to the throne at the tender age of eleven following the death of his father, Charles V. His early reign was marked by a favorable military situation, with much of the English territory in France being reconquered. However, the young king was placed under the regency of his uncles, including Philip II, Duke of Burgundy, and Louis I, Duke of Anjou, who wielded significant power during his formative years.

At the age of twenty, Charles sought to assert his independence, but his reign was soon overshadowed by mental illness. His first episode of delirium occurred in 1392 during a military campaign against Brittany, where he infamously attacked his own troops. Following a near-fatal incident at the Bal des Ardents in January 1393, he was once again placed under the regency of his uncles, leading to a tumultuous period characterized by alternating phases of lucidity and instability.

As Charles struggled with his mental health, the political landscape of France became increasingly fraught. His wife, Queen Isabeau, and his younger brother, Louis I, Duke of Orléans, vied for influence, while the rivalry between the Duke of Orléans and John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, ignited the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War. This conflict further complicated Charles's reign, as he found himself caught between the two factions.

The king's military fortunes took a turn for the worse in 1415 when his forces suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Agincourt. In the aftermath, Charles signed the Treaty of Troyes, which disinherited his son, the Dauphin, in favor of Henry V of England. This treaty arranged for Henry to become regent and heir to the French throne, while Charles's daughter Catherine was married to him. However, the unexpected death of Henry shortly before Charles's own demise allowed the House of Valois to continue its struggle against the House of Lancaster, culminating in the eventual Valois victory and the conclusion of the Hundred Years' War in 1453.

Despite the legal succession of his grandson, Henry VI of England, Charles's son was crowned in Reims Cathedral in 1429, gaining recognition as the true heir by the French populace even before his coronation. Charles VI's reign remains a poignant chapter in French history, marked by both personal tragedy and significant political upheaval.