The fifth son of Charles VI and Isabeau of Bavaria, he became heir and Dauphin of France in 1417 and, in 1418, regent for his father. The year after, at Montereau, Charles's men murdered Jean, Duke of
Burgundy. Jean's son and successor forced the Treaty of Troyes upon Charles VI which disinherited Charles (VII).

In 1422 he married Marie of Anjou, to whom he had been betrothed since 1414. Marie, plain with a rather sharp nose, became the mother of thirteen children but lost his affections to Agnes Sorel who as 
well bore him four children.

Later, in 1422, when the Dauphin was at Mehun-syr-Yevre, he heard about his father's death and tried to go to Reims for his coronation; but this was prevented by the English who had possession of the city
as well as most of the rest of France.

For several years "the King of Bourges", as he was referred to, was hopelessly beset by doubts, including about his own legitimacy. Also his support was weakened by quarrels between his followers and, in his doubt, vacillated between suggestions of favourites.

The, in 1429, while he was at Chinon, dressed in man's clothing, Jeanne d'Arc demanded to see the king and proclaimed that she would both lead him to victory and save France from the English. With her assistance the French took Orleans and then Reims where, on 17 July 1429, the king was finally crowned. Jeanne d'Arc went on to liberate Paris but was then captured by the Bugundians who sold her to the English. On 30 May 1431 she was burned at the stake at Rouen.

In 1435 he signed the Treaty of Arras with the Duke of Burgundy and, in 1436 Paris was re-captured. In 1450 Normandy was re-conquered and in 1453 the English were finally driven out of Gascony.
All his life Charles had been sickly and in his last years suffered from an ulcerated leg. Though he died of necrosis of the lower jaw, which made eating impossible, he believed he had been poisoned by his
son, Louis XI, with whom he had been on bad terms for several years.
 

Source: Leo van de Pas