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286 CHARLES (FRANCE) bon, undertook to reign in his name. A gen- eral rebellion broke out against their oppressive administration, especially in Paris, where the insurgents were called Maillotins, from the mallets with which they were armed. Charles was taken by the duke of Burgundy to Flan- ders, and won, Nov. 27, 1382, the battle of Roosebeke. This success resulted in the tem- porary submission of the great cities of France. The king's uncles availed themselves of this opportunity to levy new taxes upon the people, but Charles dismissed them in 1388, declaring that he intended to govern for himself; and for several years, at least, France enjoyed un- der his rule a wise and mild administration, which secured for the young king a popular affection which even subsequent misfortunes failed to obliterate. In 1392 Charles, while marching against the duke of Brittany, was violently frightened by the sudden appearance of a ragged maniac, who stopped his horse and cried: "Do not proceed further, noble king; you are betrayed." This overpowered his al- ready weak mind, and he fell into a state of derangement, which was the next year aggra- vated by his running the risk of being burned alive at a masquerade ball. Henceforth he was disabled from attending to the duties of his position; and his uncles again seized the reins of government, the duke of Burgundy managing to secure his own ascendancy. The king's brother, Duke Louis of Orleans, soon at- tempted to snatch the power from his hands, and two opposite parties, Orleanists and Bur- gundians, arose to divide the court and the na- tion. The contest grew fiercer when John the Fearless of Burgundy succeeded his father, Philip the Bold, and his hatred toward his cousin of Orleans could only be gratified by causing the latter to be murdered, Nov. 23, 1407. The count of Armagnac, the leader of a formidable soldiery from the south of France, at once espoused the cause of Orleans, and henceforth this faction was called by the name of Armagnacs. Civil war commenced between these and the Burgundians, and the unfortunate king was entirely neglected and left to the care of menials ; while his wife, Isabella of Bavaria, whom he had married in July, 1385, gave her- self up to amours and political intrigues. The daughter of a horse dealer, Odette de Champ- divers, sometimes styled the little queen from having been his mistress, was almost the only one who brought any consolation to the king's distracted mind. During his lucid intervals he had sense enough to sympathize with the mis- fortunes of France. The condition of the coun- try was becoming worse every day, when a new enemy appeared in the person of Henry V. of England, who, landing on the coast of Nor- mandy, gained a victory over the French at Agincourt, Oct. 25, 1415, as complete as those of Crecy and Poitiers. France was everywhere given up to pillage, murder, fighting, and blood- shed. At the end of four years there seemed to be a lull, and negotiations were entered into ; but the treacherous murder of John the Fear- less, perpetrated in the presence of the dauphin Charles, Sept. 10, 1419, gave anew impetus to the civil war. Philip the Good, son of John the Fearless, eager to avenge his father's death, concluded a treaty at Troyes May 21, 1420, with the treacherous wife of Charles and Henry V. of England, in virtue of which the latter re- ceived the hand of the king's daughter Cath- arine, with the regency of France for the present and the assurance of succeeding to the throne after the king's death. In all these transac- tions the unfortunate prince had of course nothing to do, except to sanction them by his presence or signature. Henry V. did not long enjoy his prospect of grapdeur, dying Aug. 31, 1422. Charles himself died shortly afterward, leaving most of France in English hands. CHARLES VII., the Victorious, the fifth king of the house of Valois, born in Paris, Feb. 22, 1403, died at the castle of Mehun-sur-Yevre, near Bourges, July 22, 1461. The fifth son of Charles VI. and Isabella, he became by the early death of his brothers heir apparent to the crown in 1416. In 1417 he was appointed lieu- tenant of the kingdom, and shortly afterward he assumed the title of regent, without how- ever being able, on account of his indolent habits, to exert any authority ; he was but a tool in the hands of his favorites, most of them leaders of the Armagnac faction. On the death of Henry V. and Charles VI. in 1422, Henry VI. of England was proclaimed king of France at St. Denis, and his authority recog- nized by the majority of the people, while Charles was supported only by a few citizens of central and southern France. He was so poor and powerless that his enemies called him the roi de Bourges, as if this city were the whole of his monarchy. The duke of Bedford, who governed in the name of Henry VI., success- fully waged war against Charles, and the Eng- lish troops, victorious in several encounters, concentrated themselves around Orleans, which was the stronghold of the French king. His position was utterly helpless, when suddenly a young peasant girl, Joan of Arc, the celebrated " maid of Orleans," came to his rescue. Her en- thusiasm, patriotic devotion, and confidence in victory inspired the French troops with new ardor, while terror spread among the English. Orleans was delivered, the enemy repeatedly defeated, and the king triumphantly brought to Rheims, where he received the holy unction. From this tune Charles was indeed the real king in the eyes of the whole people, who everywhere rose in his behalf. The war became a national one, in which the lower classes, who had until then remained nearly indifferent, took an active part. The capture and death of Joan of Arc, far from damping the popular enthusiasm, kindled a new spirit. The French gained con- siderable advantages ; and finally the treaty of Arras, concluded in 1435, between the king and Philip of Burgundy, insured their ultimate triumph. Henceforth Charles appeared to be