Charles II, Count of Alençon

Tomb Effigy of Charles d'Alençon

Charles II of Alençon, called the Magnanimous (1297 – 26 August 1346) was the second son of Charles of Valois and his first wife Margaret, and brother of Philip VI, King of France. He was Count of Alençon, Perche (1325–1346), Count of Chartres and Count of Joigny (1335–1336).

In April 1314 he married Jeanne of Joigny, who succeeded her father John II as Countess of Joigny in 1335, but died on 2 September 1336. They had no children.

He showed a marked, if foolhardy courage from the time of his first taking up arms (1324, in Aquitaine), and took part in the Battle of Cassel (1328).

In December 1336, he married Maria de La Cerda y Lara (1310 – 19 November 1379, Paris), the daughter of Fernando de la Cerda, Lord of Lara. They had five children:

1. Charles III of Alençon (1337 – 5 July 1375, Lyon)
2. Philip of Alençon (1338–1397, Rome), made Bishop of Beauvais in 1356, later Cardinal, Archbishop of Rouen, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Aquileia, and Bishop of Ostia and Sabina
3. Peter II of Alençon (1340 – 20 September 1404)
4. Isabelle (1342 – 3 September 1379, Poissy), became a nun
5. Robert of Alençon (1344–1377), Count of Perche, married 5 April 1374 Jeanne, daughter of Viscount John I of Rohan

Coat of arms of the counts and dukes of Alençon of the House of Valois.

Coat of arms of the counts of Perche.

He entered the War of the Breton Succession in 1340, and was subsequently killed at the Battle of Crécy.

He was succeeded in Alençon by his eldest son Charles, and in Perche by his son Robert.