Charles II of Alençon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tomb Effigy of Charles d'Alencon

Charles II of Alençon, called the Magnanimous (1297 – August 26, 1346) was the second son of Charles of Valois and his first wife Margaret. He was Count of Alençon, Perche (1325–1346), Count of Chartres and Count of Joigny (1335–1336).

He married in April 1314 Jeanne of Joigny, who succeeded her father John II as Countess of Joigny in 1335 but died on September 2, 1336. They had no children.

Coat of arms of the counts and dukes of Alençon of the House of Valois.

Coat of arms of the counts of Perche.

He showed a marked, if foolhardy courage from the time of his first taking up arms (1324, in Aquitaine), and took part in the Battle of Cassel (1328).

In December 1336, he married Maria de la Cerda (1310 – November 19, 1379, Paris), the daughter of Fernando de la Cerda, Lord of Lara. They had five children:

1. Charles III of Alençon (1337 – July 5, 1375, Lyon)
2. Philip of Alençon (1338–1397, Rome), made Bishop of Beauvais in 1356, later Cardinal, Archbishop of Rouen, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Aquileia, and Bishop of Ostia and Sabina
3. Peter II of Alençon (1340 – September 20, 1404)
4. Isabelle (1342 – September 3, 1379, Poissy), became a nun
5. Robert of Alençon (1344–1377), Count of Perche, married April 5, 1374 Jeanne, daughter of Viscount John I of Rohan

He entered the War of the Breton Succession in 1340, and was subsequently killed at the Battle of Crécy.

He was succeeded in Alençon by his son Charles, and in Perche by his son Robert.