Foreign policy Charles IV of France

1 foreign policy

1.1 charles , england
1.2 revolt in flanders
1.3 charles , holy roman empire
1.4 charles , crusades

foreign policy
charles , england

charles inherited long-running period of tension between england , france. edward ii, king of england, duke of aquitaine, owed homage king of france, had avoided paying homage under charles older brother louis x, , had paid homage philip v under great pressure. once charles took throne, edward attempted avoid payment again. 1 of elements in disputes border province of agenais, part of gascony , in turn part of aquitaine. tensions rose in november 1323 after construction of bastide, type of fortified town, in saint-sardos, part of agenais, french vassal. gascon forces destroyed bastide, , in turn charles attacked english-held montpezat: assault unsuccessful, in subsequent war of saint-sardos charles trusted uncle , advisor, charles of valois, wrested control of aquitaine english; 1324, charles had declared edward s lands forfeit , had occupied whole of aquitaine apart coastal areas.

a near-contemporary miniature showing future edward iii giving homage charles iv under guidance of edward s mother, , charles sister, isabella, in 1325.

charles s sister isabella married king edward , sent france in 1325 official mission of negotiating peace brother; unofficially, chroniclers suggested evading hugh despenser elder , hugh younger, political enemies in england. charles had sent message through pope john xxii edward suggesting willing reverse forfeiture of lands if edward ceded agenais , paid homage rest of lands. pope in turn had proposed isabella ambassador. charles met isabella , said have welcomed france. isabella joined young prince edward later year, paid homage charles on father s behalf peace gesture. despite this, charles refused return lands in aquitaine english king, resulting in provisional agreement under edward resumed administration of remaining english territories in 1326, whilst france continued occupy rest.

meanwhile, isabella had entered relationship exiled english nobleman roger mortimer , refused return england, instead travelling hainaut, betrothed prince edward philippa, daughter of local count. used money, plus earlier loan charles, raise mercenary army , invade england, deposing husband edward ii, murdered in 1327. under isabella s instruction, edward iii agreed peace treaty charles: aquitaine returned edward, charles receiving 50,000 livres, territories of limousin, quercy, agenais, , périgord, , bazas county, leaving young edward reduced territory.

revolt in flanders

charles faced fresh problems in flanders. count of flanders ruled immensely wealthy state had traditionally led autonomous existence on edge of french state. french king regarded having suzerainty on flanders, under former monarchs relationship had become strained. philip v had avoided military solution flanders problem, instead enabling succession of louis count – louis was, great extent, under french influence, having been brought @ french court. on time, however, louis clear french loyalties , lack of political links within flanders began erode position within county itself. in 1323 peasant revolt led nicolaas zannekin broke out, threatening position of louis , imprisoning him in bruges.

charles relatively unconcerned @ first, since in many ways revolt french crown weakening position of count of flanders on long term. 1325, however, situation becoming worse , charles stance shifted. not did uprising mean louis not pay charles of monies due him under previous treaties, scale of rebellion represented wider threat feudal order in france itself, , might appear charles unable, rather unwilling, intervene protect vassal. accordingly, france intervened.

in november 1325 charles declared rebels guilty of high treason , ordered them excommunicated, mobilising army @ same time. louis pardoned rebels , released, once safely in paris shifted position , promised charles not agree separate peace treaty. despite having amassed forces along border, charles military attentions distracted problems in gascony, , chose settle rebellion peacefully through peace of arques in 1326, in louis indirectly involved.

charles , holy roman empire

charles gave name nephew, charles iv, holy roman emperor, shown here giving homage patron.

charles responsible shaping life of nephew, charles iv, holy roman emperor. charles iv, named wenceslaus, came french court in 1323, aged seven, taken under patronage of french king. charles gave nephew particularly advanced education standards of day, arranged marriage blanche of valois, , renamed him.

charles , crusades

the crusades remained popular cause in france during charles reign. father, philip iv, had committed france fresh crusade , brother, philip v, had brought plans fresh invasion close execution in 1320. plans cancelled, however, leading informal , chaotic shepherds crusade.

charles entrusted charles of valois negotiate pope john xxii on fresh crusade. charles, keen crusader took cross in 1323, had history of diplomatic intrigue in levant – had attempted become byzantine emperor earlier in career. negotiations floundered, however, on pope s concerns whether charles iv use monies raised crusade actual crusading, or whether frittered away on more general activities of french crown. charles of valois s negotiations overtaken conflict england on gascony.

after death of charles of valois, charles became increasingly interested in french intervention in byzantium, taking cross in 1326. andronicus ii responded sending envoy paris in 1327, proposing peace , discussions on ecclesiastical union. french envoy sent in return pope john s blessing later in year, however, found byzantium beset civil war, , negotiations floundered. death of charles next year prevented french intervention in byzantium.