Birth of King Charles VIII of France

 

 On this day - 30th June 1470 

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 Birth of King Charles VIII of France 


 Charles VIII was born in Amboise on the 30th June 1470.
He was the eldest son of the conniving, reclusive and unpopular Louis XI and Charlotte of Savoy.

The young prince was pleasant and likeable, and later dubbed 'Charles the Affable'

However, he could also be a bit flighty and impatient.

Charles medical condition was reported to be quite poor, but it didn't prevent him from partaking in many physical activities, and being involved on the battlefield

 Charles was also a bit accident prone - an attribute that may have contributed to his death.

He wasn't very tall, had a big head, short crooked legs and had six toes on each foot!

Despite these ungainly attributes, Charles had an unhealthy obsession for women - and followed these pleasures with great enthusiasm!!

 Charles became king in August 1483, at the age of thirteen.
Due to his poor health and limited intelligence, the first few years of his reign, was in the hands of a regency.

This consisted of his sister Anne and her husband Pierre de Bourbon.

 In December 1491, Charles married fourteen year Anne of Brittany.

Anne was not happy with the marriage, and arrived at her wedding with two beds!

Their marriage was not an overly happy one, however Anne would give birth to six children, who sadly, all died young.

 On 7th April 1498, while on his way to watch a game of tennis, Charles struck his head on the lintel of a door.

After spending time watching the tennis and chatting to courtiers, Charles apparently collapsed.

The king was attended by his physicians, who insisted he not be moved.

Instead, the ailing monarch was laid on a makeshift bed made of timber slats - where he spent his final hours of life.

He was just 27 years old.

 Charles died with no heirs, having lost three infant sons, and a daughter to illness.

The French throne passed to his cousin Louis of Orléans, who became Louis XII and ruled for 17 years.

The new king also married Charles’ twenty-one year-old widow, Anne.

 After Charles’ death, a rumour quickly grew, that the King had been poisoned.
Some said that he received 'boucon italiano' - poison from Italy.

Charles supposedly finished his lunch with an orange especially brought to him by the future Louis XII...

The Tudor Intruders (and more)
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 Sources - sciencedirect/wiki/Charles_VIII_of_France

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 16th C. portrait of King Charles VIII of France
After Jean Perréal