Origins & Early Life

Charles VI (3 December 1368 – 21 October 1422), nicknamed the Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé) and in the 19th century, the Mad (French: le Fol or le Fou), was King of France from 1380 until his death in 1422. He is known for his mental illness and psychotic episodes that plagued him throughout his life, including glass delusion. Charles ascended the throne at age 11, his father Charles V leaving behind a favorable military situation, marked by the reconquest of most of the English possessions in France. Charles VI was placed under the regency of his uncles: Philip II, Duke of Burgundy; Louis I, Duke of Anjou; John, Duke of Berry; and Louis II, Duke of Bourbon.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He decided in 1388, aged 20, to emancipate himself. In 1392, while leading a military expedition against the Duchy of Brittany, the king had his first attack of delirium, during which he attacked his own men in the forest of Le Mans. A few months later, following the Bal des Ardents (January 1393) where he narrowly escaped death from burning, Charles was again placed under the regency of his uncles, the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy. From then on, and until his death, Charles alternated between periods of mental instability and lucidity...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor — Contemporary (Born in 1368) (1368): Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary, a pivotal figure in late medieval European history.
• Federico da Montefeltro — Contemporary (Born in 1422) (1422): Renaissance Condottieri, Lord of Urbino, and Patron of Humanism
• Henry V of England — Contemporary (Died in 1422) (1422): Warrior-King of England, whose victories marked the zenith of English power in the Hundred Years' War.
• William Caxton — Contemporary (Born in 1422) (1422): Pioneering English merchant, diplomat, and printer who introduced the printing press to England.
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• Agnes Chow — Shared historical date (12-03 · Born) (1996): Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and political candidate.
• 5th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (10-21 · Born) (1617): Spiritual and political leader of Tibet, unifying the region under the Ganden Phodrang.
• Alfred Nobel — Shared historical date (10-21 · Born) (1833): Pioneering chemist, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prizes.
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