622 years ago today, on February 22, 1403 (February 2, 1403), King Charles VII of France was born. Charles VII (victor) also known as: Faithful Charles (February 22, 1403 - July 22, 1461) King of the French dynasty of Valois (reigned 1422-1461). He finally won the Hundred Years' War and laid the foundation for France's strength in the following centuries. Charles VII was the son of the mad Charles VI. The Treaty of Troyes signed in 1420 stripped him of his throne and passed it to King Henry V of England. When his father, King Charles VI, died, King Henry VI (son of Henry V) of England was declared King of France by the British. Charles VII, with the support of the Armagnacs, effectively controlled the area south of the Loire, and northern France was completely under British rule. After Joan of Arc's decisive victory at Orleans in 1429, Charles VII saw hope again. With Joan of Arc's support, Charles VII was crowned on July 17, 1429, in Reims Cathedral, where successive French kings were crowned. However, after Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians, who were allies of England, Charles VII, who had been greatly favored by Joan of Arc, did nothing to rescue her, causing Joan of Arc to be burned to death in 1431. In 1435, Charles VII reconciled with Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (the good man), the leader of the Burgundians, and was given the opportunity to retake Paris. In 1436, Charles VII entered Paris. In 1438, Charles VII issued a state edict in Bruges, which made the French church to a certain extent subordinate to the royal family. In 1439, the Orleans edict establishing a standing army was issued. In 1440, Charles VII quelled the rebellion of the great nobles. Charles VII ended the Hundred Years' War in 1453 and regained all the British territories in France except Calais. Comments: Winning the famous Hundred Years' War in history played an important role in the development and prosperity of France