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Home / People / Charles V of France

Historical person

Charles V of France

1338–1380

Charles V of France, known as Charles the Wise, ruled from 1364 to 1380 and rebuilt French fortunes during the Hundred Years’ War. Working with commanders such as Bertrand du Guesclin, he recovered territory lost after earlier defeats and strengthened royal administration.

In Maurice Druon’s The King without a Kingdom, Cardinal Hélie de Talleyrand-Périgord recounts the reign of John II, whose hostility towards Charles of Navarre and dependence on a narrow circle of favourites deepen France's political divisions. In David Gilman’s Defiant Unto Death, he has become a knight and war leader in northern France, but his position makes his family, land and reputation targets for enemies who understand that war is fought through treachery as well as open combat. Other novels featuring Charles V of France include David Gilman’s Gate of the Dead, David Gilman’s Viper’s Blood, David Gilman’s Scourge of Wolves, Christian Cameron’s Sword of Justice, and David Gilman’s Cross of Fire.

Historical context

Historical periods linked to Charles V of France

Hundred Years’ War 1337–1453 CE

Series

Series featuring Charles V of France (4 series)

Master of War in Order

by David Gilman 9 books 4.6

The Master of War series follows Thomas Blackstone, an English archer and later knight, through the Hundred Years’ War. Beginning with the Crécy campaign in 1346, the sequence expands across France, Aquitaine, Brittany, Castile and northern Italy, using Blackstone’s career to show how medieval war was fought through…

All books in this series

Chivalry in Order

by Christian Cameron 7 books 4.5

The Chivalry series follows William Gold from his beginnings as a London cook’s boy in the campaign of 1356 to a career as knight and professional captain. His path leads from Poitiers through the mercenary wars of Italy, crusading expeditions and the rivalries of France, Savoy, Venice, Genoa…

All books in this series

Arrows of Albion in Order

by Jonathan Lunn 8 books 4.3

Arrows of Albion follows Martin Kemp, an English archer and sometime mercenary, through the campaigns and border wars of the mid-fourteenth century. Beginning with Edward III’s invasion of France and the Battle of Crécy, the series moves through the siege of Calais, warfare in Brittany and Scotland, Gascon…

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The Accursed Kings in Order

by Maurice Druon 7 books 4.2

The Accursed Kings follows the French and English monarchies from the final year of Philip IV's reign in 1314 to the capture of John II at Poitiers and the political crisis of the late 1350s. Across seven novels, the direct Capetian line fails, the Valois dynasty takes the…

All books in this series