Editing Charles the Fat

{{Era|Individuals}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Spoilerhd|10 November 2021}}
{{Update|''[[The Siege of Paris]]''}}
{{Quote|I am a king. You are a godless invader. Who are you to parley with me?|Charles the Fat to Eivor Varinsdottir, 866.|Assassin's Creed: Valhalla|Majesty in the Dark}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Charles the Fat
|native =
|image = ACV Charles the Fat render.png
|birth = 13 June 839<br>{{Wiki|Donaueschingen}}, {{Wiki|Carolingian Empire}}
|death = 13 January 888 {{c|aged 48}}<br>[[Germany|East Francia]], Carolingian Empire
|active =
|species = [[Human]]
|database = [[Database: Charles the Fat|Charles the Fat]]
|affiliates = {{Wiki|Carolingian dynasty}}
}}
'''Charles III''' (839 – 888), also known as '''Charles the Fat''' or the '''Mad King''', was the great-grandson of [[Charlemagne]]<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Charles the Fat]]</ref> and the last emperor of the {{Wiki|Carolingian Empire}} to rule over the Kingdom of [[Francia|West Francia]]. In the last few years of his reign alongside his wife [[Richardis]], [[Paris]] was subjected to a [[Vikings|Viking]] [[Siege of Paris (885–886)|siege]] that led to his downfall<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]] – [[The Siege of Paris]]''</ref> and eventual deposition.<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Charles the Fat}}</ref>

==Biography==
During his youth, Charles was haunted by "demons" and as a result was subjected to a purification ritual involving fire. While Charles feigned to be cleansed of all demons and became a pious man, he developed a crippling fear of fire due to the experience. Charles remained a kind and pious man well into adulthood, even through he was subjected to random manic episodes in his alone time, where he talked to himself and his "demon" within him. It was noted by Richardis that during his time hearing her prayers, his demons receded and he became a gentle and kind man.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]] – [[The Siege of Paris]]'' – [[The Madness of King Charles]]</ref>

==Personality==
Due to his traumatic childhood illness, seemingly a form of {{wiki|dissociative identity disorder}}, and the ill-informed measures taken to cure it, Charles was a deeply conflicted and erratic man.<ref name="TheQueensGambit">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris'' – [[The Queen's Gambit]]</ref> His relationship with Richardis swung wildly between complete devotion to duplicity,<ref name="MajestyInTheDark">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]] – [[The Siege of Paris]]'' – [[Majesty in the Dark]]</ref> as he framed and later put Richardis through a literal {{Wiki|trial by odeal|trial by fire}}<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris'' – [[Fire And Faith]]</ref> on false charges of adultery with his archchancellor, [[Liutward]]. Further complicating their relationship was the fact that while he loved Richardis as a wife, they had not produced a son, as he instead preferred to spend time with [[courtesan]]s.<ref name="MajestyInTheDark"/><ref name="TheQueensGambit"/> This caused Charles to become obsessed with his illegitimate son, [[Bernard]], hoping to make him his heir. However, Richardis believed Charles to be a bad influence on the boy and took Bernard into her custody.<ref name="TheQueensGambit"/>

While Charles's host personality was generally pious, it showed subservience to his heretical {{Wiki|Alter ego|alter}}. The alter had a habit of quoting scripture, particularly making reference to the ''{{wiki|Book of Revelation}}''. He also used pentagrams, the [[Cult of Baphomet|Sabbatic Goat]], and other heretical iconography.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]] – [[The Siege of Paris]]'' – [[Royal Fox Hunt]]</ref> Charles' adoption of the name Liutward in the brothels may also indicate the existence of other dormant or less dominant alters. 

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" captionalign="center">
ACV Charles the Fat Promo Art 1.jpg|Promotional Art
ACV Charles the Fat Promo Art 2.jpg|Promotional Art
ACV Strangers Bearing Gifts 9.jpg‎|An effigy of Charles burning in Ravensthorpe
ACV Painting of Charles the Fat.png|A painting of King Charles in the [[Villa of Amiens]]
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{Mo}}
**''[[The Siege of Paris]]'' {{1st}}

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}
{{ACV}}
[[Category:839 births]]
[[Category:888 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Franks]]
[[Category:Nobility]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Italy]]
[[Category:Monarchs of France]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Germany]]
[[Category:Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Carolingian dynasty]]

[[fr:Charles III le Gros]]
[[zh:“胖子”查理]]