Charles II d'Albret (1407–1471) was a French magnate, administrator, and soldier. He was the son of Charles I of Albret and

Marie de Sully Marie de Sully or Seuly (1365 – c. 1409/1410) was the Sovereign (Princess) of Boisbelle (today known as Henrichemont). She was the daughter of Louis I de Sully and his wife, Isabelle de Craon (died 1394). Early life and engagement Upon the d ...

. His father died in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt, leaving the younger Charles as lord of

Albret The lordship (''seigneurie'') of Albret (Labrit), situated in the Landes, gave its name to one of the most powerful feudal families of France in the Middle Ages. History Its members distinguished themselves in the local wars of that epoch; and d ...

and titular

Count of Dreux The Counts of Dreux were a noble family of France, who took their title from the chief stronghold of their domain, the château of Dreux, which lies near the boundary between Normandy and the Île-de-France. They are notable for inheriting the Du ...

, titular count since after Agincourt the lands of the county of Dreux were in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

hands. As a member of the

Armagnac Armagnac (, ) is a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle blanche and Ugni blanc, traditionally ...

faction, Charles was a supporter of the Dauphin Charles, future Charles VII of France. His links to the Armagnacs were strengthened by his marriage in 1417 to

Anne of Armagnac Anne of Armagnac, Dame d'Albret, Countess of Dreux (1402 – before March 1473) was a French noblewoman and a member of the powerful Gascon Armagnac family which played a prominent role in French politics during the Hundred Years War and were th ...

, daughter of

Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac (1360 – 12 June 1418) was Count of Armagnac and Constable of France. He was the son of John II, Count of Armagnac, and Jeanne de Périgord. He succeeded in Armagnac at the death of his brother, John III, in ...

, from whom the faction took its name, and Bonne de Berry. Charles served on the royal council of Dauphin Charles and in 1427 joined with Richemont and

Yolande of Aragon Yolande of Aragon (11 August 1384 – 14 November 1442) was Duchess of Anjou and Countess of Provence by marriage, who acted as regent of Provence during the minority of her son. She was a daughter of John I of Aragon and his wife Violant ...

in removing the Dauphin's unpopular favourite Pierre de Giac. De Giac was soon afterwards executed by drowning. He took part in the campaigns of

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc (french: link=yes, Jeanne d'Arc, translit= �an daʁk} ; 1412 – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the coronat ...

, and was named lieutenant of the province of Berry. He was confirmed in possession of the county of Dreux in 1441 by King Charles VII.

Family

Charles and

Anne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

had seven children; *

Jean d'Albret John III (french: Jean d'Albret; 1469 – 14 June 1516) was ''jure uxoris'' King of Navarre from 1484 until his death, as husband and co-ruler with Catherine of Navarre, Queen Catherine. He was a son of Alain I of Albret, Alain I, Lord of Albret ...

(1420–1468) *

Louis d'Albret Louis d'Albret (1422–1465) was a French Cardinal. He was a son of Charles II of Albret, Count of Dreux. He was bishop of Aire in 1445, bishop of Cahors in 1460. He was created Cardinal in 1461. In 1465 he was Bishop of Tarbes and Camerlengo of ...

, Cardinal (1422–1465) *Arnaud Amanieu d'Albret, d.1463, grandfather of

Marie d'Albret, Countess of Rethel Marie d'Albret, Countess of Rethel, Countess of Nevers (25 March 1491 – 27 October 1549) was the suo jure Countess of Rethel, a title which she inherited at the age of nine upon the death of her mother, Charlotte of Nevers, Sovereign Countess of ...

*Charles d'Albret, d.1473 *Gilles d'Albret, d.1479 *Marie d'Albret, d.1486, married

Charles I, Count of Nevers Charles I, Count of Nevers (1414 – 25 May 1464), Count of Nevers and Rethel, was the son of Philip II, Count of Nevers, and Bonne of Artois.Jules Michelet, ''Louis XI Et Charles Le Téméraire'', ed. E. Renault, (Clarendon Press, 1907), 104. ...

, on 11 June 1456, no issue *

Jeanne II d'Albret Arthur III ( br, Arzhur), more commonly known as Arthur de Richemont (24 August 139326 December 1458), was briefly Duke of Brittany from 1457 until his death. He is noted primarily, however, for his role as a leading military commander during ...

, d.1444, married

Arthur III, Duke of Brittany Arthur III ( br, Arzhur), more commonly known as Arthur de Richemont (24 August 139326 December 1458), was briefly Duke of Brittany from 1457 until his death. He is noted primarily, however, for his role as a leading military commander during ...

, on 29 August 1442, no issue

Death

On his death Albret passed to his grandson Alain (called Alain the Great), Jean's son, but he left the county of Dreux to his third son, Arnaud Amanieu. Alain, however, seized control of the county. His fourth son, Charles, was executed for treason in 1473.

References

Sources

* * Bordonove, Georges, ''Charles VII le Victorieux.'' Paris: Pygmalion, 1985. {{DEFAULTSORT:Charles 02 Of Albret 1407 births 1471 deaths People of the Hundred Years' War Counts of Dreux House of Albret 15th-century French people