Charles IV of France

King of France and Navarre from 1322 to 1328 (1294–1328)

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Lived 1294–1328, aged 34France

France Historical Figures

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Era
1294–1328
Aged 34

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

The last king of the direct Capetian line, whose death without a son in 1328 cracked open a succession crisis that would ignite the Hundred Years' War between France and England.

Biography

About

Charles IV, third son of Philip IV, took the throne in 1322 and immediately faced a peasant revolt in Flanders the following year. In 1324 he failed to win election as Holy Roman Emperor, then turned his attention to Edward II of England, who as Duke of Guyenne owed him homage but refused to give it. Charles conquered the duchy in the War of Saint-Sardos, forced Edward to swear allegiance and pay a fine, then returned Guyenne in shrunken form. When he died on 1 February 1328 with no male heir, the senior line descended from Philip IV ended. His niece Joan II took Navarre; his cousin Philip of…

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