Charles of Valois

Charles of Valois (March 12, 1270–December 16, 1325) was the fourth son of Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet and founded the House of Valois. In 1284, he was created Count of Valois (as Charles I) by his father and, in 1297, he was created Count of Anjou (as Charles III) by his brother Philip IV.

Life

Charles was the father of Philip VI, and paternal uncle to three kings (Louis X, Phillip V, and Charles IV). In 1284, he was given the crown of Aragon by Pope Martin IV, who declared an Aragonese Crusade. In 1285, he gained the title of Count of Valois, and Count of Anjou and Maine in 1290.

During his life, he unsuccessfully sought the rule of four other kingdoms: Aragon, Sicily, the Latin Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.

Marriage and Children

Charles de Valois was married three times.

His first marriage, in 1290, was to Marguerite of Anjou and Maine (1274–1299), daughter of King Charles II of Naples. They had the following children:
* Isabelle (1292–1309). Married Jean III, Duke of Brittany.
* Philip VI, first King of the Valois Dynasty.
* Jeanne of Valois (1294–1342). Married William I, Count of Hainaut and had issue.
* Marguerite of Valois (1295–1342). Married Guy I of Blois-Châtillon, Count of Blois, and had issue.
* Charles II, Count of Alençon (1297 – August 26, 1346 at the Battle of Crécy). Married first Jeanne de Joigny and second Marie de la Cerda and had issue from the second marriage.
* Catherine of Valois (b. 1299, died young).

In 1302 he remarried to Catherine I of Courtenay (1274–1308), titular Empress of Constantinople. They had four children:
* John, Count of Chartres (1302–1308).
* Catherine II of Valois, Princess of Achaea, titular Empress of Constantinople (1303–1346). She married Philip I d'Anjou, Prince of Taranto and had issue.
* Jeanne de Valois (1304–1363). Married Count Robert III of Artois and had issue.
* Isabel of Valois (1305–1349), Abbess of Fontevrault.

Finally, in 1308, he married Mahaut of Chatillon (1293–1358), daughter of Guy III of Châtillon, Count of Saint Pol. They had also four children:
* Marie of Valois (1309–1332). Married Charles, Duke of Calabria and had issue.
* Isabella of Valois (1313 – August 26, 1388). She married Peter I, Duke of Bourbon.
* Blanche of Valois (1317–1348). She married Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Sometimes called "Marguerite".
* Louis, Count of Chartres (1318–1328)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Charles of Valois

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1= 1. Charles of Valois
2= 2. Philip III of France
3= 3. Isabella of Aragon
4= 4. Louis IX of France
5= 5. Marguerite of Provence
6= 6. James I of Aragon
7= 7. Violant of Hungary
8= 8. Louis VIII of France
9= 9. Blanche of Castile
10= 10. Ramon Berenguer IV of Provence
11= 11. Beatrice of Savoy
12= 12. Peter II of Aragon
13= 13. Marie of Montpellier
14= 14. Andrew II of Hungary
15= 15. Yolanda (Violant) de Courtenay
16= 16. Philip II of France
17= 17. Isabelle of Hainaut
18= 18. Alfonso VIII of Castile
19= 19. ELeonor of England
20= 20. Alfonso II of Provence
21= 21. Garsenda of Forcalquier
22= 22. Thomas I of Savoy
23= 23. Marguerite of Geneva
24= 24. Alfonso II of Aragon
25= 25. Sancha of Castile
26= 26. William VIII of Montpellier
27= 27. Eudokia Komnene
28= 28. Béla III of Hungary
29= 29. Agnes of Antioch
30= 30. Peter II of Courtenay
31= 31. Yolanda of Flanders

External links

* [http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/history/characters/charles_iii_valois.shtml Brown University History Page on Charles of Valois]
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9008816/Charles-III Britannica entry on Charles of Valois]
* [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Valois_(1270-1325) GJGFrench wikipedia page on Charles de Valois] "(fr)"
* [http://www.historia-nostra.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=524&Itemid=58 Historia Nostra page on Charles de Valois] "(fr)"
* [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/CAPET.htm#CharlesValoisdied1325B MedLANDS Charles of Valois and his children]