Biography of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre 1332-1387

On 18th June 1318 [his father] Philip "Noble" III King Navarre (age 12) and [his mother] Joan Capet II Queen Navarre (age 6) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Louis X King France I Navarre and [his grandmother] Margaret of Burgundy Queen Consort France. He the son of [his grandfather] Louis I Count Évreux (age 42) and [his grandmother] Margaret Artois Countess Évreux. They were half first cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 10th October 1332 Charles "Bad" II King Navarre was born to Philip "Noble" III King Navarre (age 26) and Joan Capet II Queen Navarre (age 20). He a great x 3 grandson of King Henry III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 5.86%.

On 16th September 1343 [his father] Philip "Noble" III King Navarre (age 37) died. His son Charles (age 10) succeeded II King Navarre.

On 6th October 1349 [his mother] Joan Capet II Queen Navarre (age 37) died.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. In the year 1353, the King of Navarre,¹ after inciting a quarrel, killed Lord Charles of Spain, Marshal of France. In order to avoid the vengeance of the King of France, he fled for his own safety and sent his uncle to the Duke of Lancaster with letters of humble petition, asking that the Duke come to Normandy to aid and defend him. He offered to swear an oath of loyalty and friendship to the Duke against all living men. Accordingly, the Duke, having received permission from the King of England, gathered a large fleet at Southampton. But when the Duke was ready to sail, his knights, sent ahead as envoys to Normandy to examine the truth of the matter, returned and informed him that his relative, the King of Navarre, had since made peace with the King of France. Thus, the Duke's crossing was suspended for the time being.

Anno MCCCIIJ, rex Navarre suscitata rixa, occidit dominum Karolum de Ispania, Francie marescallum; unde vindictam coronati declinaturus in propria fugit, mittens avunculum suum duci Lancastrie cum literis suppliciter deprecatoriis quod veniret Normanniam in sui auxilium et defensionem, reciperetque ab ipso iuramentum fidelitatis et amicicie contra omnes viventes. Igitur dux, habita licensia a domino rege, magnam classem coadunavit apud Suthamptoniam; ubi, duce parato ad velificandum, revenerunt milites sui nuncii, promissi Normanniam pro istius negocii veritate contemplanda, per quos duci fuit notificatum quod predictus suus consanguineus rex Navarre coronato Francorum erat pacificatus; et sic ducis transfretacio pro tunc suspendebatur.

Note 1. Charles the Bad (age 20), king of Navarre, assassinated Charles de la Cerda (age 26) on the 8th January 1354. The story of his negotiations with Lancaster and of the result was told by sir Walter Manny in the Parliament Rolls, 2.264: "And while the said ambassadors were at the Papal Court (Avignon) for the aforementioned matter, the King of Navarre came often to the said Duke [of Lancaster], complaining of the grievances, wrongs, and harsh treatment he had suffered at the hands of the King of France. He declared, and with an oath affirmed, that he would gladly form an alliance with our lord the King [of England] against his said adversary, using all his power. And he pressed the Duke so persistently with these repeated appeals that the Duke promised him that the alliance would be made, if it pleased our said lord the King, and that he himself would prepare and strengthen himself with as much men and naval power as he could, and would come to the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey to confirm and secure the said alliance. Upon the Duke's return to England, our said lord the King, having heard what had been discussed and agreed, ordered the preparation of a great army, consisting of large ships, men-at-arms, and archers, and launched it from the Thames toward the said islands. But the winds were always contrary to him, so that with great difficulty he reached Portsmouth, and remained there for a long time, until certain news came that the said King of Navarre, in violation of the said alliance and of his promise and oath, had gone over to the French, and become adherent to our lord's adversary, the King of France."

From Avesbury 425.

Charles patched up a peace with the French king at Valognes, 10th September.

In 1354 Robert of Bar 1st Duke of Bar (age 9) was created 1st Duke Bar. [his sister-in-law] Marie Valois Duchess Bar (age 9) by marriage Duchess Bar.

On 8th January 1354 Charles de la Cerda (age 27) was murdered on the orders of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 21) in an inn in L'Aigle.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke [-1360]. After this, the Lord Duke of Lancaster,¹ having been appointed Captain of Brittany, sailed to Northern France and landed near the coast at Hogue. Around the feast of Saint Barnabas the Apostle [11th June], he rode out with Philip, the brother of the King of Navarre, who had invited the Duke to support him. In that same year, the King of France, having grown suspicious of the King of Navarre (age 23),² the Lord of Harcourt, and certain other nobles of the realm, invited them to a feast. There, he imprisoned the said King and had the other nobles killed. He proclaimed that the Lord of Harcourt had been justly executed by the axe, or as some said, while wearing the "sack of France" [i.e. a symbol of disgrace]. But in truth, he had not been guilty, and had been treated as a rebel unjustly. Thus, the King of Navarre, held on the island of Cotentin [Normandy], with the help of the Duke of Lancaster, stocked the region with supplies and reinforced it with troops both English and Navarrese, fortifying it against the tyranny of the French.

Post hecdominmus dux Lancastrie, ordinatus captaneus Brittanie, navigio Neustriam profectus, apud Hoggis litora mactus, circa festum sancti Barnabe apostoli equitavit com Philippo germano regis Navarre, qui ipsum ducem in sui auxilium invitavit. Isto nempe anno coronatus Francorum habens suspectos regem Navarrorum et dominum de Harecourt et quosdam alios mobiles de regno, ipsis comviviem invitatis, predictum regem incarceravit et alios nobiles trucidavit, profitendo domino de Harecourt securi feriendo aut, mt dicitur, saccum induto Francie, non tenuit, set rebellis exstitit injuste. Taliter prefato rege in insula de Constantin et Normannia; que cum auxilio ducis Lancastrie sufficienter victualiavit, hominibus tam Anglicis quam sue nacionis referta contra Francorum tirannidem inforciavit.

Note 1. The duke landed at La Hougue on the 18th June 1356. His raid through Normandy extended from the 22nd June to the 13th July.

Avesbury 462

Knighton 2611 [a poetic reference to Île-de-France], and he captured it by assault on the same day. Then he attacked the castle the same day until nightfall, and on the second and third day until the third hour [around 9 a.m.], and then they surrendered. For he had a powerful and well-equipped siege engine, with which he performed wonders in breaking down the walls of castles.

Froissart 367

Note 2. Charles of Navarre and Jean V, comte de Harcourt, were arrested by the king in person at Rouen, when dining at the table of his son Charles, duke of Normandy, and Harcourt was instantly executed; 5th April 1356.

In 1360 [his brother-in-law] Louis Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou (age 20) was created I Duke Anjou.

In 1360 [his brother-in-law] John Valois 1st Duke Berry (age 19) was created 1st Duke Berry and 1st Duke Auvergne.

In 1360 [his brother-in-law] Louis Valois Anjou I Duke Anjou (age 20) and Marie Chatillon Duchess Anjou (age 15) were married. She by marriage Duchess Anjou. She the daughter of Charles "Saint" Chatillon Duke Brittany (age 41) and Joan "Lame" Capet Countess Penthièvre (age 41). He the son of [his father-in-law] King John "The Good" II of France (age 40) and Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France. They were second cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

In 1360 [his daughter] Marie Évreux was born to Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 27) and [his wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre (age 16). Coefficient of inbreeding 4.14%.

In 1361 [his son] Charles III King Navarre was born to Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 28) and [his wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre (age 17). Coefficient of inbreeding 4.14%.

Before 1362 [his brother-in-law] John Valois 1st Duke Berry (age 21) and Joanne Armagnac Duchess Berry (age 15) were married. She by marriage Duchess Berry. She the daughter of John I Count Armagnac (age 50) and Beatrice Clermont Countess Armagnac (age 51). He the son of [his father-in-law] King John "The Good" II of France (age 42) and Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France. They were third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

In 1363 [his brother-in-law] Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy (age 20) succeeded II Duke Burgundy.

In 1364 [his daughter] Bonne Évreux was born to Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 31) and [his wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre (age 20). Coefficient of inbreeding 4.14%.

In 1364 Robert of Bar 1st Duke of Bar (age 19) and [his sister-in-law] Marie Valois Duchess Bar (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Bar. She the daughter of [his father-in-law] King John "The Good" II of France (age 44) and Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France. He the son of Henry of Bar IV Count of Bar and Yolande Dampierre Countess of Bar (age 33). They were second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

On 19th June 1369 [his brother-in-law] Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy (age 27) and Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy (age 21) were married. She by marriage Duchess Burgundy. She the daughter of Louis Dampierre III Count Nevers II Count Flanders (age 38) and Margaret Brabant Countess Nevers and Flanders (age 46). He the son of [his father-in-law] King John "The Good" II of France and Bonne Luxemburg Queen Consort France. They were half third cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Around 1370 [his daughter] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England was born to Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 37) and [his wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre (age 26) at Pamplona [Map]. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.14%.

On 3rd November 1373 [his wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre (age 30) died at Évreux.

In 1375 [his son] Charles III King Navarre (age 14) and [his daughter-in-law] Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort Navarre (age 11) were married. She the daughter of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile (age 40) and Juana Manuel Queen of Castile (age 36). He the son of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 42) and [his former wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

In 1381 [his daughter] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England (age 11) was held hostage with her two brothers [his son] Charles III King Navarre (age 20) and [his son] Peter Évreux Count Mortain by [his former brother-in-law] King Charles V of France to ensure their father's (age 48) good behaviour. They were held under the guardianship of their maternal uncles [his former brother-in-law] John Valois 1st Duke Berry (age 40) and [his former brother-in-law] Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy (age 38).

On 2nd October 1386 [his son-in-law] John Montfort V Duke Brittany (age 47) and [his daughter] Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England (age 16) were married at Saillé [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Brittany 1221 Dreux, Countess Richmond. His third marriage, her first. The marriage proceeded when her father Charles "Bad" II King Navarre (age 53) agreed to give his daughter 120,000 gold francs and to pay 6,000 francs owed to John, duke of Brittany, for the rent of certain lands. He, John, gave her the cities of Nantes [Map] and Guerrand [Map]. The difference in their ages was 31 years. She the daughter of Charles "Bad" II King Navarre and [his former wife] Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. They were second cousin twice removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.

[his son] Peter Évreux Count Mortain was born to Charles "Bad" II King Navarre and Joan Valois Queen Consort Navarre. Coefficient of inbreeding 4.14%.