1422-1461 Charles Vii

CHARLES VII, 1422-1461, was not able to be crowned king until 1429, seven years after the death of his father—and then he owed his crown to the courage, faith, and enthusiasm of the simple peasant maid, Joan of Arc (see Joan of Arc). After a series of brilliant successes in the field, she was able to lead Charles to Reims for coronation in the cathedral where his ancestors had been crowned. The greatest blot on the fame of Charles VII is that after Joan had saved the throne for him, he made no effort to save her when she fell into the hands of the English and was burned at the stake as a heretic.

Her influence, however, lived after her ; and before the end of his reign, the English were driven from all France, except Calais, and the Hundred Years' War was at an end.

Charles VII is sometimes given the title of " the Victorious," but " the Well-Served" better describes this king.

In administration Charles VII proved strong. By a series of re forms he gave to the crown a stand ing army with improved artillery— for cannon were now in use—and a permanent source of income; and at the end of his reign the king of France was in a stronger position than he had been at the end of that of Charles V.