# Was the Dauphin in Shakespeare's "Henry V" the one who became Charles VII of France?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-dauphin-in-shakespeares-henry-v-the-one-who-became-charles-vii-of-france/341665>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-dauphin-in-shakespeares-henry-v-the-one-who-became-charles-vii-of-france/341665 "2006-01-26T04:59:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-dauphin-in-shakespeares-henry-v-the-one-who-became-charles-vii-of-france/341665/1 "2006-01-26T04:59:52Z")

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In Shakespeare’s play _Henry V,_ there is a rather ridiculous and self-important French prince called “the Dauphin,” who insults Henry by sending him a tun of tennis balls, and later is present at the Battle of Agincourt (but whether he survives the battle is unclear, IIRC). Was that the same Dauphin who later (with the help of Joan of Arc) became King Charles VII of France? The Wikipedia article on Charles VII – [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles\_VII\_of\_France](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_VII_of_France) – says:

> [@](#):
>
> Born in Paris, Charles was the eldest surviving son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau de Bavière. Three of his elder brothers were dauphin in their turn, but died without issue during the lifetime of their parents. Charles being the fourth dauphin, added to instability of the kingdom, which was under English attack.

Which doesn’t clear things up.

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**Author:** ![Tevildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Tevildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tevildo)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-dauphin-in-shakespeares-henry-v-the-one-who-became-charles-vii-of-france/341665/2 "2006-01-26T13:58:14Z")

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The Dauphin at the date of the battle (October 25, 1415) was Louis, Duke of Aquitaine. Louis died on December 18 of that year, and was suceeded as Dauphin by [Jean, Duke of Touraine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_de_Touraine).