Editing Charles V of France (section)

===Accession and first acts===
[[File:Coronation of Jeanne of Bourbon 3.jpg|thumb|left|Coronation of Charles V]]
Charles was crowned [[List of French monarchs|King of France]] in 1364 at the [[Notre-Dame de Reims|Cathedral of Reims]].<ref>Jonathan Sumption, ''The Hundred Years War: Trial by Fire'', 511.</ref> The new king was highly intelligent, but closed-mouthed and secretive, with sharp eyes, a long nose and a pale, grave manner. He suffered from [[gout]] in the right hand and an [[abscess]] in his left arm, possibly a side-effect of an attempted poisoning in 1359. Doctors were able to treat the wound but told him that if it ever dried up, he would die within 15 days. His manner may have concealed a more emotional side; his marriage to [[Joan of Bourbon]] was considered very strong, and he made no attempt to hide his grief at her funeral or those of his children, five of whom predeceased him.

His reign was dominated by the war with the English and two major problems: recovering the territories ceded at Brétigny and ridding the land of the ''Tard-Venus'' (French for "latecomers"), mercenary companies that turned to robbery and pillage after the treaty was signed. In achieving these aims, Charles turned to a minor noble from [[Brittany]] named [[Bertrand du Guesclin]]. Nicknamed "the Black Dog of [[Brocéliande]]", du Guesclin fought the English during the [[Breton War of Succession]] and was an expert in [[guerrilla warfare]]. Du Guesclin also defeated [[Charles II of Navarre]] at the [[Battle of Cocherel]] in 1364 and eliminated his threat to Paris.

In order to lure the ''Tard-Venus'' out of France, Charles first hired them for an attempted crusade into [[Hungary]], but their reputation for brigandage preceded them, and the citizens of [[Strasbourg]] refused to let them cross the [[Rhine]] on their journey. Charles next sent the mercenary companies (under the leadership of du Guesclin) to fight in a civil war in [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] between King [[Peter of Castile|Peter the Cruel]] and his illegitimate half-brother [[Henry II of Castile|Henry]]. Peter had English backing, while Henry was supported by the French.

Du Guesclin and his men were able to drive Peter out of Castile in 1365 after the capture of the fortresses of [[Magallón]] and [[Briviesca]] and the capital [[Burgos]]. The [[Edward, the Black Prince|Black Prince]], now serving as his father's viceroy in southwestern France, took up Peter's cause. At the [[Battle of Nájera]] in April 1367, the English defeated Henry's army. Du Guesclin was captured after a memorable resistance and ransomed by Charles V, who considered him invaluable. The Black Prince, affected by [[dysentery]], soon withdrew his support from Peter. The English army suffered badly during the retreat. Four English soldiers out of five died during the [[Castillan Campaign]]. In 1369, du Guesclin renewed the attack against Peter, defeating him at the decisive [[Battle of Montiel]]. Henry stabbed the captive Peter to death in du Guesclin's tent, thereby gaining the throne of Castile. Bertrand was made Duke of Molina, and the Franco-Castillan alliance was sealed. Charles V could now resume the war against England under favorable conditions.