Charles de la Cerda explained

Charles de la Cerda
Succession:Count of Angoulême
Reign:1350–1354
Predecessor:Joan of Navarre
Successor:John I de Berry
Succession2:Constable of France
Reign2:13501354
Predecessor2:Raoul II, Count of Eu
Successor2:James I, Count of Ponthieu
Birth Date:1327
Death Date:8 January 1354
Death Place:L'Aigle
House:House of la Cerda
Father:Alfonso de la Cerda of Spain
Mother:Isabelle d'Antoing

Charles de la Cerda, commonly known as Charles of Spain (French: Charles d'Espagne) (1327  - 8 January 1354), was a Franco-Castilian nobleman and soldier, the son of Alfonso de la Cerda of Spain (died 1327) and Isabelle d'Antoing, and grandson of Alfonso de la Cerda the disinherited (1270–1333). He was a distant cousin of John II of France.

A boyhood companion and favorite of John while he was Duke of Normandy, Charles commanded the Castilian galleys at the Battle of L'Espagnols-sur-Mer, where he was defeated by Edward III of England after a long and desperate struggle. Soon after John's accession to the throne, he was appointed Constable of France, filling the vacancy left by the execution of Raoul II, Count of Eu, and created Count of Angoulême. Vacant since the death of Joan II of Navarre in 1349, the title to Angoulême was claimed by her son, Charles II, King of Navarre, who bitterly resented La Cerda's preferment. In 1351, Charles de la Cerda married Marguerite, a daughter of Charles, Duke of Brittany.

In 1354, following an altercation with Philippe de Navarre (1336-1363), brother of Charles II of Navarre, Jean le Soult (called Le Bascon), a henchman of Charles II of Navarre, slew de la Cerda in an inn in L'Aigle. The repercussions of this murder led to a continuous state of instability within France that was only resolved upon the accession of Charles V in 1364.

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