Charles II, Count of Alençon

Who was Charles II, Count of Alençon?

Charles II of Alençon, called the Magnanimous was the second son of Charles of Valois and his first wife Margaret, and brother of Philip VI, King of France. He was Count of Alençon, Perche, Count of Chartres and Count of Joigny.

In April 1314 he married Jeanne of Joigny, who succeeded her father John II as Countess of Joigny in 1335, but died on 2 September 1336. They had no children.

He showed a marked, if foolhardy courage from the time of his first taking up arms, and took part in the Battle of Cassel.

In December 1336, he married Maria de La Cerda y Lara, the daughter of Fernando de la Cerda, Lord of Lara. They had five children:

Charles III of Alençon

Philip of Alençon, made Bishop of Beauvais in 1356, later Cardinal, Archbishop of Rouen, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Aquileia, and Bishop of Ostia and Sabina

Peter II of Alençon

Isabelle, became a nun

Robert of Alençon, Count of Perche, married 5 April 1374 Jeanne, daughter of Viscount John I of Rohan