Charles VIII of France


Charles VIII, called the Affable, French lAffable , was a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France, from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13. His elder sister Anne of France acted as regent jointly with her husband Peter II, Duke of Bourbon until 1491 when the young king turnedyears of age. During Annes regency, the great lords rebelled against royal centralisation efforts in a conflict known as the Mad War , which resulted in a victory for the royal government.

Charles was born at the Chteau dAmboise in France, the only surviving son of King Louis XI by his second wife Charlotte of Savoy. His godparents were Charles II, Duke of Bourbon , Joan of Valois, Duchess of Bourbon and Edward of Westminster, the son of Henry VI of England who had been living in France since the deposition of his father by Edward IV. Charles succeeded to the throne onAugust 1483 at the age of 13. His health was poor. He was regarded by his contemporaries as possessing a pleasant disposition, but also as foolish and unsuited for the business of the state. In accordance with the wishes of Louis XI, the regency of the kingdom was granted to Charles elder sister Anne, a formidably intelligent and shrewd woman described by her father as the least foolish woman in France. She would rule as regent, together with her husband Peter of Bourbon, until 1491.

Source: Wikipedia