Charles of Valois (March 12, 1270–December 16, 1325) was the fourth son of Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet and founded the House of Valois. In 1284, he was created Count of Valois (as Charles I) by his father and, in 1297, he was created Count of Anjou (as Charles III) by his brother Philip IV.
Charles was the father of Philip VI, and paternal uncle to three kings (Louis X, Phillip V, and Charles IV). In 1284, he was given the crown of Aragon by Pope Martin IV, who declared an Aragonese Crusade. In 1285, he gained the title of Count of Valois, and Count of Anjou and Maine in 1290.
During his life, he unsuccessfully sought the rule of four other kingdoms: Aragon, Sicily, the Latin Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.
His first marriage, in 1290, was to Marguerite of Anjou and Maine (1274–1299), daughter of King Charles II of Naples. They had the following children:
In 1302 he remarried to Catherine I of Courtenay (1274–1308), titular Empress of Constantinople. They had four children:
Finally, in 1308, he married Mahaut of Chatillon (1293–1358), daughter of Guy III of Châtillon, Count of Saint Pol. They had also four children: