Charles IV (Charles the Fair), 1294–1328, king of France
(1322–28), youngest son of Philip IV, brother and successor of
Philip V. Charles continued his brother's work of strengthening
the royal power. He also increased the royal revenues, notably
by debasing the coinage. Pope John XXII, having declared Holy
Roman Emperor Louis IV deposed, offered (1324) to support
Charles for emperor, but the plan came to nothing. Charles
invaded (1324) Guienne (Aquitaine), a possession of the English
king, and in 1327 he compelled England to cede to France the
Guienne districts around Agen and Bazas and to pay a large
indemnity. The English, however, retained the rest of Guienne.
Charles, the last king of the Capetian dynasty, was succeeded by
Philip VI, of the Valois line. The Columbia Electronic
Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University
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French History: Biographies