Charles II of Navarre

Charles II of Navarre was born with ambition in his blood, inheriting the small Pyrenean kingdom of Navarre and the rich French county of Évreux. His claim to the French crown, through his mother, was strong—some said stronger than that of the Valois king, John II. This perceived injustice fueled his entire tumultuous reign. Charismatic and politically shrewd, Charles was a master of shifting alliances, weaving plots with the English, fomenting rebellion among the discontented French nobility, and even being implicated in assassination attempts. His actions, including the treacherous murder of a constable of France, were pivotal in exacerbating the chaos of the Hundred Years' War. While he briefly seized Paris and wielded immense influence, his reputation for duplicity ultimately limited his gains. He died from a bizarre accident—some accounts say his own physician ordered him wrapped in linen soaked in brandy to treat a skin condition, and a careless servant's candle set him ablaze—a fiery end for a man who spent his life playing with political fire.