Charles, Duke of Orléans (1391-1465) was a French poet with a particularly interesting life story.

Charles was one of the many French noblemen captured at the Battle of Agincourt. In his mid-twenties, he was recently married for the second time (his first wife, Isabella of Valois, having died in childbirth) and had barely begun to enjoy life. Wounded, he was taken to England as a hostage, and remained there for no less than twenty-five years.

His captivity was not strict; he was allowed to live more or less in the manner to which he had become accustomed, but he was not ransomed, possibly due to his close relationship with the French royal family. Restored to his home territory, he made a feeble attempt to regain lost lands before settling down to end his life at his court in Blois, where he became a celebrated patron of the arts.

His son would become King Louis XII of France.