Charles VII of France

Charles VII of France, known as 'the Well-Served' (le Bien-Servi), ascended to the throne in 1422 during a tumultuous period marked by the Hundred Years' War. His reign was characterized by significant challenges, including the occupation of northern France by English forces and the duke of Burgundy, as well as a civil war that divided the nation between the Armagnacs and the Burgundians. Disinherited by his father, Charles VI, who recognized Henry V of England as the rightful heir, Charles faced a daunting path to legitimacy.

Despite being derisively referred to as the 'King of Bourges' due to his court's relocation to the city of Bourges, Charles VII's fortunes changed with the arrival of Joan of Arc. This remarkable figure inspired the French troops, leading them to crucial victories, including the lifting of the siege of Orléans and the decisive Battle of Patay. These successes galvanized the French populace, allowing Charles to be crowned at Reims Cathedral in 1429, a pivotal moment in his reign.

In the years that followed, Charles VII worked diligently to consolidate his power and restore French territories. He ended the Anglo-Burgundian alliance through the Treaty of Arras and successfully recaptured Paris in 1436. His military campaigns in the 1440s, bolstered by a newly organized professional army and advanced siege technology, led to the reclamation of Normandy. The culmination of his efforts came after the Battle of Castillon in 1453, where France regained all English continental possessions except for the Pale of Calais.

The latter part of Charles VII's reign was not without its difficulties, as he faced ongoing conflicts with his son, the future Louis XI. Nevertheless, his legacy as a monarch who navigated France through one of its most challenging eras remains significant.