Charles, Duke of Orléans

Also known as: Charles duke of Orleance / Charles of Orléans / Charles, Duke of Orleans / duke of Orleance · Family: France · Role: duke · First appears: Henry IV 9

Charles, Duke of Orléans, was the son of Louis, Duke of Orléans and was married to Isabella of Valois around 1401. After his father’s murder, he allied himself with John, Duke of Berry, John I, Duke of Bourbon, John I, Duke of Alençon, and Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac, becoming strongly opposed to John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, whom he “defied as his mortall fo and enimie.” In 1412, he joined the confederates in offering their service, lands, and support to Henry IV and his sons while preserving their allegiance.

Charles was an enemy of Henry V and Henry VI and remained an English prisoner after the battle of Agincourt in 1415. Around 1440, he was released after paying his ransom; at Calais, he had been sent with Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester and other envoys while Henry VI and Charles VII sought peace. After his release, Charles received his bastard brother Jean de Dunois and thanked him for governing his lands during his captivity.

In 1440, Charles married Marie of Cleves at Saint-Omer according to their agreement, after Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy had helped secure his release and joined him in alliance through the marriage. He fathered Louis XII, later king of France, and ransomed and restored his nephew John, Count of Angoulême, to his country. Around 1441, peace and alliance between Charles and Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy further strengthened the opponents of Henry VI.