Karl VIII
FranceBiography of Charles VIII
Charles VIII, a member of the Valois dynasty, became the King of France in 1483 at the age of thirteen, succeeding his father Louis XI. Initially, his older sister, Anne de Beaujeu, ruled as regent during the early years of his reign.
The Mad War
The Duke of Orleans, who desired power for himself, formed an alliance with Duke Francis II of Brittany and other princes, leading to the outbreak of the Mad War. However, Charles VIII's lieutenant, Louis II de La Trémoille, defeated their army at Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier in 1486 and captured the Duke of Orleans. As part of the peace terms, Duke Francis II of Brittany had to pay war expenses, cede several border fortresses, and promise not to marry off his daughters without the consent of the King of France. Shortly after, Duke Francis II passed away, and his eleven-year-old daughter, Anne of Brittany, inherited his title.
The Marriage Dispute
To prevent Charles VIII from gaining control over Brittany, the kings of England and Spain, along with the Holy Roman Emperor, formed an alliance. Anne offered her hand in marriage to Emperor Maximilian I, and they were married in absentia. However, Anne de Beaujeu summoned a council of theologians and jurists, who declared the marriage invalid, making Charles a contender for Anne of Brittany's hand. Anne de Beaujeu managed to win the support of the Breton nobility and the Duke of Orleans. La Trémoille arrived in Brittany with an army, and Anne of Brittany was forced to agree to the marriage. On November 15, 1491, the union between Brittany and France was formally established through a marriage contract.
The Italian Campaign
After the successful annexation of Brittany, Charles VIII turned his attention to conquering the Kingdom of Naples, to which he had certain claims. In August 1494, Charles crossed the Alps with a large army and reached Naples without facing any resistance, as the oppressed population welcomed him with enthusiasm. He was crowned as King of Naples, Jerusalem, and Emperor of the East, and then celebrated his victory for two months. During this time, a new coalition was formed against France, consisting of Pope Alexander VI, the Republic of Venice, and former ally Ludovico Sforza of Milan. Their plan was to stop the French in the Po Valley, while Maximilian I of Austria, Henry VII of England, and Ferdinand II of Castile and Aragon would invade France.
The Return and Death
Charles appointed the Duke of Montpensier as viceroy of Naples, swiftly passed through Italy, and defeated the allied army at Fornovo on July 6, 1495, before returning to France. However, King Ferdinand recaptured Naples with the help of the Spanish, and the Duke of Montpensier died from the plague. The remnants of the French garrisons were brought back to France by Louis d'Orléans. Thus, the Italian campaign yielded no significant results. On April 7, 1498, Charles died in Amboise after accidentally hitting his head on a low doorframe, which caused a concussion. As all three of his sons with Anne of Brittany died in infancy, and there were no closer male relatives, according to the Salic law, he was succeeded by Louis XII, the Duke of Orleans, who was a great-grandson of Charles V.
