Charles Orlando (Charles Orland), Dauphin of France

Charles Orlando, Dauphin of France (French: Charles Orland, Dauphin de France) (11 October 1492–16 December 1495) was the eldest son and heir of Charles VIII of France and Anne of Brittany. October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Not to be confused with 1492: Conquest of Paradise. ... -1... 1495 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Charles VIII the Affable (French: Charles VIII lAffable) (June 30, 1470 – April 7, 1498) was King of France from 1483 to his death. ... Portrait of Anne of Brittany by Jean Bourdichon Anne of Brittany (January 25, 1477 – January 9, 1514), also known as Anna of Brittany (French: Anne de Bretagne; Breton: Anna Vreizh), was a French aristocrat, who was to become queen to two successive French kings, and ruling Duchess of Brittany. ...

The marriage of Charles and Anne had been celebrated in December 1491, less than a year earlier; however, it had begun unhappily, the new Queen resenting the marriage forced upon her, and the political dominance of her sister-in-law, Anne, Duchess of Bourbon. Her pregnancy was thus greeted with especial joy by her – as well as by the King, and the people. Accordingly, Anne spent her pregnancy at ease, being given the devoted attention of her husband, who ensured that she would not be tired out or subject to unnecessary travel. In the autumn of 1492, the King and Queen went to the castle of Plessis lès Tours, where all was prepared for the birth of the hoped-for boy. Anne de Beaujeu Anne of France (or Anne of Beaujeu) (Genappe, April 1461 – 14 November 1522, Chantelle), was the daughter of Louis XI, King of France and his second queen consort, Charlotte of Savoy. ...

The Queen went into labour on the night of 10 October, and was swiftly attended to by the royal doctors and midwives; with her was King Charles, who soon lost his calm due to anxiety, much to the annoyance of those around. However, all went well, and at 4 o'clock in the morning, the Queen gave birth to a robust and well-formed boy, who was automatically Dauphin of France. Coat of Arms of the Dauphins of France. ...

The Dauphin was immediately the subject of controversy. His parents and his godmother Jeanne de Laval, widow of King René I of Naples, wanted to name him Orlando (French: Orland), after Roland the hero of the The Song of Roland whose name was rended thus in Italian language; the name had been suggested to them by Francois, a hermit and preacher of Paule, in whom they had confidence. The godfathers (Louis, Duke of Orleans and Peter II, Duke of Bourbon), however, flatly refused to allow a future King of France to be given such a foreign name, and begged for him to be named instead after his ancestors: Louis, or Philippe, or Charles. René dAnjou, René I of Naples (René I the Good, French Le bon roi René) (January 16, 1409 – July 10, 1480), was Duke of Anjou, Count of Provence (1434–1480), Count of Piedmont, Duke of Bar (1430–1480), Duke of Lorraine (1431–1453), King of Naples (1438–1442; titular... It has been suggested that Orlando (character) be merged into this article or section. ... The Song of Roland (French: ) is the oldest major work of French literature. ... Louis XII the Father of the People (French: Louis XII le Père du Peuple) (June 27, 1462 – January 1, 1515) was King of France 1498 – January 1, 1515. ... Peter II of Bourbon (1438 – 1503) was Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1488 to his death, following his elder brothers John II and Charles II, Archbishop of Lyon. ...

Finally, after three days of dispute, a compromise was reached: the Dauphin would be named Charles Orland in the French language, and Orlandus Carolus in Latin. This settled, the baptism was held on 13 October. The Dauphin, clad in cloth of gold, was carried into the Church of Saint Jean of Plessisour by Jean IV of Châlon, Prince of Orange, and was baptised in the font there, surrounded by the greatest lords of the Court, each holding the candle, the basin or the towel. During the ceremony, Charles VIII held the hand of François of Paule, who led the ceremony and blessed Charles Orlando. Anne of Brittany, still recovering, was not in attendance. French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the principality of Orange in southern France. ...

Described by the chronicler Philippe de Commines as a "beautiful child and daring in word, not fearing the things that the other children are accustomed to fear", Charles Orlando was a healthy and vigorous child, who grew well and strong, a fluent speaker by age 3. When he reached the age of 18 months, he was installed in Amboise, monitored by two governors, the lords de Boisy and That-Guénant, a governess, Madam de Bussière, and surrounded by a multitude of servants. He was the pride and joy of his parents. His mother doted on him, buying him presents; his father described him as the "most beautiful of [Charles'] invaluable stones". Both insisted on being kept informed of his health and his progress, by means of letters and messages. Philippe de Commines (or de Commynes or Philip de Comines) (1447-1511) was a French-speaking Fleming in the courts of Burgundy and France, a diplomat, and a writer, and he has been called the first truly modern writer (Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve) and the first critical and philosophical historian...

The King also took a series of measures in order to protect his heir. Hunting in the forest of Amboise was prohibited; the doors of the city were reduced to four, making it easier to monitor traffic and to seal the city where necessary; archers were posted at the strategic points of the castle; and the child was constantly in the prayers of François of Paule. In the autumn of 1495, when an epidemic of measles struck Touraine, Charles VIII (who after returning from Italy remained in Lyon, where he was joined by the Queen), ordered the child to be even more closely cloistered in Amboise. But to no avail: Charles Orlando contracted measles, and in spite of the efforts of the doctors and the prayers of the monks, he expired on December 16, 1495. Charles VIII, deeply affected, but advised by his physicians to remain staunch and cheerful, succeeded in hiding his sorrow; Anne gave herself up to her grief so violently that for a time her life, and her sanity, were feared for. The Touraine is a former province of France. ...