Charles IV of France

French Monarchy-
Capetian Dynasty
(direct Capetians branch)

Hugh Capet Children    Robert II Robert II Children    Henry I    Robert I, Duke of Burgundy Henry I Children    Philip I    Hugh, Count of Vermandois Philip I Children    Louis VI Louis VI Children    Louis VII    Robert I of Dreux Louis VII Children    Mary, Countess of Champagne    Alix    Marguerite    Alys, Countess of the Vexin    Philip II    Agnes, Empress of Constantinople Philip II (Philip Augustus) Children    Louis VIII Louis VIII Children    Louis IX    Robert I, Count of Artois    Alphonse, Count of Poitou and Toulouse    Isabel of France    Charles I of Anjou and Sicily Louis IX Children    Philip III    Robert, Count of Clermont    Agnes, Duchess of Burgundy Philip III Children    Philip IV    Charles III, Count of Valois    Louis d'Evreux    Margaret of France Philip IV Children    Louis X    Philip V    Isabella of France    Charles IV Louis X Children    Joan II of Navarre    John I John I Philip V Charles IV

Charles IV the Fair (French: Charles IV le Bel) (1294 – February 1, 1328), a member of the Capetian Dynasty, reigned as King of France from 1322 to 1328.

He was the third son of Philip IV. By virtue of his mother, Jeanne I of Navarre's, birthright, Charles claimed the title Charles I, King of Navarre.

He was crowned King of France in 1322 at the cathedral in Reims. In 1327 Charles helped his sister Isabella against her husband, King Edward II of England. During his six-year reign Charles IV increased taxes, imposed onerous duties, and arbitrarily confiscated estates from enemies or those he disliked.

As with his brother before him, Charles died without a male heir, thus ending the direct line of the Capetian dynasty. Twelve years earlier, the Salic Law had been recognized as controlling succession to the French throne, thus barring Charles' 1-year-old daughter Mary from succeeding as the monarch. His wife was also pregnant at the time of his death. Since it could have been possible that she would give birth to a son, a regency was set up with the heir presumptive Philip of Valois, a member of the Valois branch of Capetians, being the regent. After two months, his widow gave birth to yet another daughter. The regent thus became the King and in May was consecrated and crowned Philip VI. At this time, the Salic Law was further re-interpreted to forbid not only inheritance by a woman, but also inheritance through a female line, thus barring Edward III of England from the French throne.

Charles IV died at Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, and is interred with his third wife, Jeanne d'Evreux in Saint Denis Basilica.

Marriages

• 1308 — Blanche de Bourgogne. The marriage was dissolved in 1322.

• 1322 — Marie de Luxembourg (2)

• July 5, 1325 — Jeanne d'Evreux (1310 – 1371) (3)

Issue

• (1) Jeanne (1315 – 1321)
• (3) Jeanne (1326 – 1327)
• (3) Marie (1327 – 1341)
• (3) Blanche (April 1, 1328 – February 8, 1345)

Marriage of Charles IV and Marie of Luxembourg, by Jean Fouquet