Charles VII
King of France
Biography
Charles VII, known as 'the Victorious' (le Victorieux), had one of the most difficult paths to the throne in history. His father, King Charles VI, suffered from severe mental illness. Taking advantage of this, the English King Henry V forced Charles VI to sign the Treaty of Troyes, which disinherited Charles VII (then Dauphin) and gave the French crown to the English.
When both his father and Henry V died, the English claimed that Henry V's infant son was the true King of France. Although many French people supported Dauphin Charles, he could not be officially recognized as king because the traditional coronation city, Reims, was deep in enemy territory. Stripped of his birthright and forced into hiding in the south, the Dauphin fell into a deep depression.
His fate completely changed when Joan of Arc appeared. She restored his confidence, lifted the Siege of Orléans, and finally escorted him safely to Reims in 1429. Only after being anointed and crowned at Reims Cathedral did he officially become King Charles VII.
Despite his rocky start, Charles VII proved to be a highly effective ruler. Later in his reign, he heavily reformed the French military, notably creating Europe's first standing army and introducing powerful artillery. With these modernized forces, he successfully expelled the English, ended the Hundred Years' War, and greatly strengthened the French monarchy.