Charles V dans sa librairie, frontispice, Policraticus, Jean de Salisbury, BNF, manuscrit Français 24287, f. 2.

Charles V in his library

@credits

The library of Charles V and his family was constituted during the 14th century. When the King acceded to power, he transformed the Louvre, the old fortress of Philip August, and created a librairie in the Tour de la Fauconnerie (which in this case refers to a library. In modern French librairie = book shop). In 1380 he owned more than 300 books. Some other of his libraries could be found in Vincennes or Melun.

His brothers were also great collectors and the whole royal family bought and ordered illuminated manuscripts