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At the age of 14, Charles VII becomes Dauphin after the death of his father, Charles VI. Fouquet, Jean. Portrait of Charles VII. Circa 1450–1455. Musée du Louvre, Paris. -
Joan of Arc arrives at the Château de Chinon and correctly identifies Charles VII in disguise, convincing him of her divine mission. Saint-Evre, Gillot. Joan of Arc before King Charles VII at Chinon, February 1429. 1833. Musée National du Château de Versailles, Versailles. -
The French, led by Joan, achieved a decisive victory and lifted the siege at Orléans, marking one of the most important turning points in the war. Lenepveu, Jules Eugène. Jeanne d'Arc au siège d'Orléans. 1886-1890. Panthéon, Paris, Panthéon de Paris Collection. -
French forces, inspired by Joan, defeated the English army, gaining a significant momentum after taking back Orléans. Boutet de Monvel, Louis-Maurice. The Battle of Patay. Circa 1910. Jeanne d'Arc, by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel, Plon-Nourrit et Cie, 1910. -
Joan leads Charles VII to Reims, where he is crowned King of France, legitimizing his claim to the throne. Ingres, Jean-Auguste-Dominique. Joan of Arc at the Coronation of Charles VII. 1854. Musée du Louvre, Paris. -
Joan is captured by the Burgundians while defending the town of Compiègne. Dillens, Adolphe-Alexandre. Capture of Joan of Arc. 1847–1852. Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. -
Joan is tried for heresy by an English-backed court after the Burgundians sent her to the English. Charles sends a half-hearted appeal to the Burgundians for Joan’s release. Delaroche, Paul. Joan of Arc, Sick, Interrogated in Prison by the Cardinal of Winchester. 1824. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen. -
Joan is burned at the stake in Rouen; she becomes a martyr for France. Stilke, Hermann Anton. Joan of Arc's Death at the Stake. 1843. State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. -
Charles reconciles with the Burgundians, ending their alliance with England. Effectively weaken English influence in Normandy Unknown Artist. Conférences d'Arras (1435). Manuscript Français 5054, fol. 86r. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris. -
After French forces retook Paris in April 1436 from the English, Charles made a triumphant entry into the capital, symbolizing the restoration of royal power. Berthélemy, Jean-Simon. Entrée de l'armée française à Paris, le 13 avril 1436. 1787. Musée du Louvre -
Charles reforms the French Church, asserting royal control over church appointments and finances. Unknown artist. Karel VII (1444). 15th century. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris. -
A failed uprising by nobles against Charles’s reforms, strengthening his authority. Unknown artist. Vigiles du roi Charles VII. Circa 15th century. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Ms. Français 5054, folio 145 verso, Paris. -
Temporary truce with England at Château de Plessis-lez-Tours. Charles used this opportunity to consolidate power and reform the military. Boudan, Louis. Veüe de l'entrée du chasteau du Plessis lez Tours, avec la chapelle St Jean. 17th century. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris. -
The truce ends. Charles launches a successful campaign to reclaim Normandy.
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French forces reclaim Rouen, the site of Joan’s execution, marking a symbolic victory. Decaisne, Henri. Entry of Charles VII into Rouen, 10 November 1449. 1838. Musée de l'Histoire de France, Château de Versailles, Versailles. -
French forces decisively defeat the English, leading to the reconquest of Normandy in its entirety. Unknown artist. Battle of Formigny (1450). Circa 1470–1480. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Ms. Français 2691, folio 183 recto, Paris. -
The French reclaim Bordeaux, weakening English control in Gascony. Jean de Wavri. Siège de Bordeaux (1453). Folio 113, Manuscrit Français 84, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris. -
The final battle of the Hundred Years’ War. The French forces defeated the English and led to the English losing almost all of their holding in France. Ending the 100 Years' War Larivière, Charles-Philippe. Battle of Castillon, July 17, 1453. 1839. Galerie des Batailles, Palace of Versailles, Versailles. -
After the English lost Bordeaux, marking the end of their presence in France, the war’s conclusion was reached. Charles remains in power until his death in 1461 Fouquet, Jean. Portrait of Charles VII. Circa 1450–1455. Musée du Louvre, Paris.