Charles de la Cerda
Charles de la Cerda, known by his contemporaries as Charles of Spain, was a Franco-Castillian noble who rose through the ranks in France to become Constable of France and the Count of Angoulême. Charles was the son of Alfonso de la Cerda of Spain and Isabelle d’Antoing. This made him a distant relative of John II of France. In his early years Charles spent much time in the company of the then Prince, John. Growing up together led to Charles being a confidant of the prince as he became Duke of Normandy. Closeness to John at this moment in time gave him influence, power and military commands. He was assassinated on 8 January 1354 on the orders of Charles of Navarre.
Charles de la Cerda: Admiral at Winchelsea
The most notable of Charles’ military commands was as an Admiral. He commanded a Castilian fleet at the Battle of Winchelsea. Though the naval battle, in 1350, was an English success, it was part of a wider naval campaign that was inflicting damage upon the English. Castilian galleys were making England’s trade with Gascony difficult, depriving the English of trade and sought-after imports. The threat that the Galleys posed also meant that Edward III needed to pay attention to his southern domains, along with the expenses being incurred in Northern France.
Constable of France
This, and the favour he held from John, meant that the week after the loss at Winchelsea, when John became King of France, he was in a position to benefit. The favouritism was met with a mixed response. John II appointed Charles as Constable of France. This was potentially unsettling at Court as such a senior role would be seen by many as being the right of a French born and raised noble of higher standing.
Count of Angoulême
The second act of favouritism shown to Charles de la Cerda was the conferring of the title of Count of Angoulême onto his friend. This was politically insensitive. The previous holder of the position was Joan II of Navarre. Joan had died in October 1349. In the turmoil caused by the Black Death and the passing of King Philip VI, no formal successor had been approved. It ought to have been a formality, Joan had a son, Charles, who had inherited Navarre. Under normal circumstances the title of Count of Angoulême would simply be passed to him. Instead, it was handed to Charles de la Cerda, making him a French noble to match the high status role that he had as holder of the office of Constable of France.
Hostility between Charles de la Cerda and Charles II of Navarre
This led to hostility between the two men. Charles of Navarre was bitter about the relative lack of compensation offered in lieu of Angoulême. They quarrelled and Charles of Navarre plotted the murder of the king’s favourite. It took place on 8 January 1354.
Charles de la Cerda’s assassination led to a series of overtures being made between Navarre, France and England that led to the Treaty of Mantes.
