The Start of Charles' Reign

Some months after Charles of Anjou married Beatrice of Provence in 1246, therefore becoming Count of Provence and Forcalquier, he was knighted by his brother, King Louis IX, and formally given the counties of Anjou and Maine. (He had representatives manage them for him.)

Preparations had been underway in France for a Crusade (the Seventh), and Charles joined his brother along with their other brothers, Robert and Alphonse. They did not depart until 25 August 1248.

While Charles was away, the cities of Arles, Avignon, and Marseilles joined their military forces in an alliance. They chose a leader of their own, Barral of Baux, who had helped negotiate a conflict earlier between Savoy and Provence. Barral's army helped Charles save Beatrice of Provence from the forces of James I of Aragon that had surrounded her, and Barral's army helped guard the wedding of Beatrice and Charles. Now, however, Barral became Charles' rival.

Barral saw Charles' disrespect for the local nobles and was willing to join the rebellion against him. Charles' mother-in-law, Beatrice of Savoy, supported the rebel alliance. But more on that later.

The Seventh Crusade did not go well. Louis was very keen on it, but no one else in Europe was interested or free enough of other concerns to join. The French had to go it alone. They invaded Egypt in early June 1249, capturing Damietta and intending to invade Cairo in November. Charles' older brother Robert was killed in battle in February 1250 (see illustration). While retreating from Egypt, the remaining brothers were captured. Their ransom was the return of Damietta and the payment of 800,000 bezants.

While the army sailed to Acre, Charles showed his callow nature by spending his time gambling while Louis was mourning their brother. This annoyed Louis.

Returning to Provence, Charles continued to have his people make an account of all the towns and his possessions and claims. His decisions to increase his revenue and make demands of towns came up against the rebellion. One particular decision that rankled was the salt tax. We'll learn more about that tomorrow.

Charles of Anjou

King Louis VIII of France (1187 - 1226) and Blanch of Castile (1188 - 1252) had several children, one of whom became the next king of France, but their youngest son, Charles (1226 - 1285), had to find other venues for greatness.

Young Charles was fond of the fact that he was the first in the Capetian dynasty who was actually named after Charlemagne. He was also born to Louis after Louis became king, meaning he was the only son of Louis actually born to a king, or born "to the purple."

Youngest royal sons often had nothing to inherit—no land and no titles—and therefore were placed in powerful ecclesiastical positions (whether they were trained or interested was immaterial). His education included what a good priest would know: he would understand Catholic doctrine and be literate. He learned about medicine and law, and he enjoyed poetry (the illustration shows him depicted in a manuscript of one of his songs). Much of this took place away from his family, at the court of his brother, Count Robert I of Artois, who was about 10 years older.

Charles would have been put into a church role, but along came Beatrice of Provence, who was a few years younger.

Beatrice was the youngest daughter of the Count of Provence, and like Charles likely would have been destined for a convent. Her father had found very good marriages for his three elder daughters (they all became queens) and, since they were all provided for, he left his title to Beatrice. His death would make Beatrice the owner of the counties of Provence and Forcalquier.

Suddenly, Beatrice was a prize for any man, and several powerful men took steps to gain her hand (and tracts of land) in marriage. She was also considered a great beauty. (There is much more to this story, but we're going to focus on Charles for the moment.) Suffice it to say that the two were married in 1246, the year after her father died and she became wealthy.

Charles set out to control the two counties as the Count by right of marriage, but clashed with the nobility and Beatrice's mother, Beatrice of Savoy. This was to be his first taste of trying to rule those who did not want to be ruled, and his motivation to become ruthless in the future.

More on his problem with Provence and his mother-in-law tomorrow.