Charles VI of France became King at the age of 12. In 1385, the Bavarian Princess Isabeau had been sent to France to become his bride. In April 1392 Charles suffered from a mysterious illness and it was at this point when people began to notice a sharp change in his behavior.
After a close friend of his was murdered, he set out to find the killer. He was behaving incoherently while riding with his knights. A page accidentally dropped a lance and Charles rushed forward with a drawn sword and killed four of his own men before he could be overpowered. For days following the incident, Charles was in a coma.
A surgeon drilled some holes in Charles’ skull, hoping to relieve pressure on his brain. Some churchmen and university doctors came toCharles-VI-of-France believe that Charles was the victim of sorcery and in 1398 some attempts were made to exorcise him. Charles’ attacks of insanity became his permanent state and he became delusional. He claimed his name was Georges, denied that he was the King or had a wife or children and would frequently attack any servants or doctors who attempted to help him.
Later, Charles went through a stage of believing that he was made of glass and that if people came too near him he would break. Thus, he insisted that iron rods be inserted into his clothing to prevent him from breaking. He refused to change his linen, to bathe or to be shaved and frequently urinated on himself. He lived this way until the end of his life in the autumn of 1422. Doctors today believe he suffered from schizophrenia among other illnesses.
After a close friend of his was murdered, he set out to find the killer. He was behaving incoherently while riding with his knights. A page accidentally dropped a lance and Charles rushed forward with a drawn sword and killed four of his own men before he could be overpowered. For days following the incident, Charles was in a coma.
A surgeon drilled some holes in Charles’ skull, hoping to relieve pressure on his brain. Some churchmen and university doctors came toCharles-VI-of-France believe that Charles was the victim of sorcery and in 1398 some attempts were made to exorcise him. Charles’ attacks of insanity became his permanent state and he became delusional. He claimed his name was Georges, denied that he was the King or had a wife or children and would frequently attack any servants or doctors who attempted to help him.
Later, Charles went through a stage of believing that he was made of glass and that if people came too near him he would break. Thus, he insisted that iron rods be inserted into his clothing to prevent him from breaking. He refused to change his linen, to bathe or to be shaved and frequently urinated on himself. He lived this way until the end of his life in the autumn of 1422. Doctors today believe he suffered from schizophrenia among other illnesses.
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