Charles III of Navarre

Festivities attending Charles being crowned in Pamplona, from the contemporary Grandes Chroniques de France

Charles III (1361 – 8 September 1425), called the Noble, was King of Navarre from 1387 to his death and Count of Évreux from 1387 to 1404, when he exchanged it for the title Duke of Nemours. He spent his reign improving the infrastructure of his kingdom, restoring Navarre's pride after the dismal reign of his father, Charles the Bad, and mending strained relations with France.

Charles III was born at Mantes-la-Jolie. He married the infanta Eleanor, daughter of Henry II of Castile, in 1375, putting an end to the conflict between Castile and Navarre.

As king, his politics were peace with France, Castile, Aragon, and England, support for the Avignon Papacy, and matrimonial alliance. He collaborated with Castile in a war on the Kingdom of Granada. By the Treaty of Paris, he abandoned his claims to Champagne and Brie and made peace with France.

In 1413, he created the Cort, a sort of supreme court. He created the title Prince of Viana for the heir the throne, entitling his grandson Charles in 1423. He was a patron of the arts and he finished construction on the great Gothic Cathedral of Pamplona. He built the royal palace at Tafalla and the Palacio Real de Olite, where he died in 1425.

His sister, Joanna of Navarre, married Henry IV of England.

Tomb of Charles III in the Cathedral of Pamplona.

Issue

Charles and Eleanor's children were:

• Joanna (1382–1413), married John I, Count of Foix, no issue
• Blanche (1385/91-1441), married John II of Aragon, became Queen of Navarre and had issue
• Isabella (1395–1435), married in 1419 to John IV of Armagnac, had issue and they were great great grandparents of Henry IV of France
• Beatrice (1392–1412), married to James II, Count of La Marche and had issue
• Maria (1388–1425), died unmarried and childless
• Margaret (1390–1403), died unmarried and childless
• Charles (1397–1402), Prince of Viana, but died young
• Louis (1402), Prince of Viana, but died young

External links

Charles III of Navarre House of Évreux Born: 1361 Died: 8 September 1425
Regnal titles
Preceded by Charles II	King of Navarre 1387–1425	Succeeded by Blanche I & John II
	Count of Évreux 1387–1404	French royal domain

Persondata
Name	Charles 03 Of Navarre
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1361
Place of birth
Date of death	8 September 1425
Place of death