The Tale of Charles The Bad

The King could be called the real villain of the Hundred Years' War.

Many rulers hope to have a cool nickname to be remembered for all time. Some are more flattering than others. There is Alexander the Great, Charles the Bald, Vlad the Impaler, Suliman the Magnificent, and many others. Even not-great kings may have some redeeming qualities.

This was not the case for Charles II of Navarre. The ultimate opportunist, Charles earned the nickname "The Bad" for his dealings during the Hundred Years' War. He also goes down as a great example of karmic justice.

Charles gained a reputation for playing the English and French against each other during the Hundred Years' War. Several times he escaped imprisonment and execution. He was one of the most cunning rulers of his time.

The Beginning of A Machiavellian

Charles was born on October 10, 1332. His parents were Philip, Count of Evreux, and Joan of France. Through his mother, Charles was related to the royal family of France and had claims to territory in Normandy. These territories made him of the most potent landholders in northern France.

After the death of his mother in 1349, Charles was crowned King of Navarre. While Navarre is a Spanish kingdom, it was a…