1328: Death of Charles IV and End of the Direct Capetians
p5Charles IV the Fair: The Last Direct Capetian and Dynastic Shift (1322–1328) · HIGH MIDDLE AGES
Ill at the end of 1327, Charles IV is bedridden from December 25, 1327. He dies on February 1, 1328. His disappearance ends the line of the Direct Capetians: after more than three centuries of continuity, the kingdom must designate a new king according to a dynastic logic that has become increasingly political.
👑 A Succession to Settle
The precedent of 1316–1317 has hardened a practice: privilege succession through men and prevent an heiress from transmitting the crown to another house. The decision aims first at stability.
🕯️ Funeral and Posthumous Birth
Charles IV dies while Queen Joan of Évreux is pregnant. His entrails are deposited at the abbey of Maubuisson. On April 1, 1328, the queen gives birth to a daughter, Blanche, which confirms the absence of surviving male descendant.
🧠 An Institutional Turning Point
The monarchy now conceives of itself as a public order: the continuity of the kingdom takes precedence. This way of settling the succession creates an enduring norm, and prepares future tensions.
🧠 Key Points to Remember
- 1328: End of the “Capetian miracle” in its direct form.
- Succession is as much a political choice as a dynastic one.