CHARLES VI

FRENCH, 1368-1422

Charles VI succeeded to the French throne at the age of 11 after the death of his father, but would not take personal charge of the country, which was ruled in the meantime by his uncles, until he was 21. Although Charles was a popular ruler, his reign was marred by a number of mental breakdowns, during which the country was effectively ruled by his unpopular wife, Isabeau of Bavaria. France became prey to a series of destabilising rivalries and feuding between various court factions, which would in turn be manipulated by Henry V in his bid to take the French throne.