Charles IV, Duke of Alençon.

About Charles IV, Duke of Alençon

Charles IV, Duke of Alençon, was a French prince of the blood, military commander, governor and courtier during the reigns of Louis XII and Francis I. Born into the House of Valois-Alençon, Charles was a distant relation of the royal family, but one of the closest agnates. After the ascent of Francis I in 1515, he was the heir presumptive until the birth of the king's first son in 1518. He undertook his early military service in the later campaigns of Louis XII. He fought at the recapture of Genoa in 1507, and the decisive defeat of the Venetians at Agnadello in 1509. That year he was married to Marguerite, the sister of the future king Francis I. At the ascent of Francis in 1515, he saw combat as the commander of the rear-guard at the famous battle of Marignano at which the Swiss army was annihilated, restoring French control over Milan.