Charles IV the Fair (French: Charles IV le Bel) (1294 – February 1 1328), a member of the Capetian Dynasty, reigned as King of France from 1322 to 1328.

He was the third son of Philip IV. By virtue of his mother, Jeanne I of Navarre's, birthright, Charles claimed the title Charles I, King of Navarre.

He was crowned King of France in 1322 at the cathedral in Reims. In 1327 Charles helped his sister Isabella against her husband, King Edward II of England. During his six-year reign Charles IV increased taxes, imposed onerous duties, and arbitrarily confiscated estates from enemies or those he disliked.

As with his brother before him, Charles died without a male heir, thus ending the direct line of the Capetian dynasty. Twelve years earlier, the Salic Law had been recognized as controlling succession to the French throne, thus barring Charles' 1-year-old daughter Mary from succeeding as the monarch. His wife was also pregnant at the time of his death. Since it could have been possible that she would give birth to a son, a regency was set up with the heir presumptive Philip of Valois, a member of the Valois branch of Capetians, being the regent. After two months, his widow gave birth to yet another daughter. The regent thus became the King and in May was consecrated and crowned Philip VI. At this time, the Salic Law was further re-interpreted to forbid not only inheritance by a woman, but also inheritance through a female line, thus barring Edward III of England from the French throne.

Charles IV died at Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, and is interred with his third wife, Jeanne d'Evreux in Saint Denis Basilica.

Marriages

• 1308 — Blanche de Bourgogne (1). The marriage was dissolved in 1322.

• 1322 — Marie de Luxembourg (2)

• July 5, 1325 — Jeanne d'Evreux (1310 – 1371) (3)

Issue

• (1) Philip (1314 – 1322)
• (1) Jeanne (1315 – 1321)
• (2) Louis (b. and d. 1324).
• (3) Jeanne (1326 – 1327)
• (3) Marie (1327 – 1341)
• (3) Blanche (April 1 1328 – February 8 1345)

  1294 births | 1328 deaths | French monarchs | Navarrese monarchs | House of Capet

  Carles IV de França | Karel IV. Sličný | Karl IV. (Frankreich) | Carlos IV de Francia | شارل چهارم | Charles IV de France | 샤를 4세 | Karlo IV., kralj Francuske | שארל הרביעי מלך צרפת | შარლ IV (საფრანგეთი) | Karel IV van Frankrijk | シャルル4世 (フランス王) | Karol IV Piękny | Carlos IV de França | Карл IV (король Франции) | Karol IV. (Francúzsko) | Karl IV av Frankrike | 查理四世 (法兰西)