A silent but authoritative man, he rules his kingdom with an efficient iron fist. He is a widower in his mids with four adult children: Louis, Phillipe, Charles, and Isabelle. After he burns the leader of the Knights Templar at the stake, his family is cursed to the 13th generation. Although he is still relatively young and healthy, he is soon dead and all three of his sons aren't too far behind.
Since none of them had produced a son who lived past childhood, the crown goes to his nephew. The Beautiful Elite : Arguably the most powerful man in the world at his time, he's known for being very handsome even well into what would be considered middle-aged in the medieval period. His nickname "The Fair" comes from his looks and not his tendencies as a ruler. Better with Non-Human Company : He loves animals and feels more at home with his dogs and horses than with his own family.
Character Title : He is the titular "Iron King" of the first novel. Deliberate Values Dissonance : He is considered to be a progressive king by the standards of the time but still expels the Jews from France.
The Good King : He is a wise and progressive man who is responsible for the efficient government of what was the richest kingdom in Christendom during his lifetime. He is not loved by his people, but he is respected for his gifts and the stability he brings. The Lost Lenore : Still mourns for his late wife Jeanne and has never remarried, even though an unmarried King is wasting a lot of political capital.
Morality Pet : He seems to prefer Isabelle to his sons and their conversation when she tells him she's miserable at home is his only moment when he opens up to someone else. The Quiet One : Rarely speaks and is called more of a statue than a man. Sibling Yin-Yang : He's quite progressive by the standards of the time: he frees the serfs and takes a more meritocratic approach to governing than one would expect a Medieval king to have.
