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1330: France
1330: AN ISSUE OF THE MAJORITY
"And so it was on the feast of Saint Stephen, the King of France did meet with his kin and his lords, to celebrate both that Saint's blessed martyrdom, and his own reaching of the age of majority. And many great lords and ladies were there with King John and his good lady--Philip of Valois, who had been Regent of France and his wife, Joan of Burgundy; the Count of Valois' brother, Charles of Alencon; Philip, Count of Evereux and his wife, Joan of France, the King's half-sister[1]; Eudes, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Joan of Poitiers, as well as her brother Philip, Count of Burgundy[2], who was the King's close cousin; Robert of Artois, Count of Beaumont, and his wife; Edward, King of England, and his wife, Queen Philippa[3]; John, King of Bohemia[4], and his son, Charles, who Pope John {XXIII} would crown King of the Romans in later years[5]; Charles, Count of Etampes[6]; Louis, Count of Clermont, who was the Grand Chamberlain, and Raoul of Brienne, Count of Eu, who was Constable, and many other great and noble lords beyond count....[7]
"And then King John did speak, and say it was meet and good that he stood now a man and would begin rule in his own right, and that he wished to reward all who had done him good service in the years of his childhood. And first he did call the Regent to him, and declared that as Philip of Valois had done him so many good turns, and so many worthy things, it was only fitting he be honored greatly. And so he did name Philip of Valois Duke of Anjou[8] and Grand Master of France[9], honors that the former Regent so greatly that he did weep in joy and proclaimed that John did hold his service not merely from duty, but from the brotherly affection that Philip did hold in him.
"With this done, the King called his cousin, the Count of Burgundy, and granted to him the title Duke of Berry, and assured him of his love and affection. And then he did call for the Count of Alencon, who was made a Peer of France, and named a Marshal for his brave acts in Flanders and Gascony. The Count of Clermont was made Duke of Bourbon[10], and the Counts of Evereux and Etampes were made peers, and many great honors were done, when the King did call on Robert of Artois. And then when the Count of Beaumont stood before him, the King proclaimed he was greatly honored to restore to Robert the lands of his grandfather, and proclaimed him Count of Artois[11].
"And the Count of Burgundy did rise, full wroth, and declared that his cousin had done him great wrong, robbing him of the lands of his grandmother, saying "How expect you me to swallow this wrong, me your kinsman? For am I not your heir?" And King John did say, "So some say, but this I know not. Indeed, I do deny it." And from that day on, the Count of Burgundy knew the King loved him not. And their cousin, the King of England saw this as well..."
--from The Chronicles of Jean Froissart, Vol. 1, John Tremain translation (1845)
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[1] IOTL, the King and Queen of Navarre at this time.
[2] He's also Count of Poitiers, but as the County of Burgundy is a Count-Palatinate in the Empire, it's the higher title.
[3] Froissart is getting his facts muddled--Edward was only Prince of Wales, and his wife Philippa was not present.
[4] John was a frequent guest at Paris OTL, and would never miss an event like this. IOTL, he was fighting for the Teutonic Knights against the Poles around this time, demonstrating his talent for picking losers.
[5] IOTL, Emperor Charles IV, who was crowned by Pope Clement VI in circumstances we will deal with later. Just as we will reveal the identity of the mysterious John XXIII in the near future.
[6] As Jean Froissart has failed to note, Philip of Evereux's elder brother.
[7] I'm skipping a lengthy description of the courses of the feast. Be thankful.
[8] IOTL, Philip himself created this title for his second son.
[9] One of the Great Offices of France. This is a real plum for Philip, and a sign that for all he will come to bitch about him, John was fonder of the man then he would later come to admit.
[10] IOTL, he received this title in 1327, along with the County of de la Marche, in exchange for giving up the County of Clermont.
[11] IOTL, of course, Robert's efforts ended in disaster and exile for himself. So, he's had a lucky break here.
"And so it was on the feast of Saint Stephen, the King of France did meet with his kin and his lords, to celebrate both that Saint's blessed martyrdom, and his own reaching of the age of majority. And many great lords and ladies were there with King John and his good lady--Philip of Valois, who had been Regent of France and his wife, Joan of Burgundy; the Count of Valois' brother, Charles of Alencon; Philip, Count of Evereux and his wife, Joan of France, the King's half-sister[1]; Eudes, Duke of Burgundy, and his wife, Joan of Poitiers, as well as her brother Philip, Count of Burgundy[2], who was the King's close cousin; Robert of Artois, Count of Beaumont, and his wife; Edward, King of England, and his wife, Queen Philippa[3]; John, King of Bohemia[4], and his son, Charles, who Pope John {XXIII} would crown King of the Romans in later years[5]; Charles, Count of Etampes[6]; Louis, Count of Clermont, who was the Grand Chamberlain, and Raoul of Brienne, Count of Eu, who was Constable, and many other great and noble lords beyond count....[7]
"And then King John did speak, and say it was meet and good that he stood now a man and would begin rule in his own right, and that he wished to reward all who had done him good service in the years of his childhood. And first he did call the Regent to him, and declared that as Philip of Valois had done him so many good turns, and so many worthy things, it was only fitting he be honored greatly. And so he did name Philip of Valois Duke of Anjou[8] and Grand Master of France[9], honors that the former Regent so greatly that he did weep in joy and proclaimed that John did hold his service not merely from duty, but from the brotherly affection that Philip did hold in him.
"With this done, the King called his cousin, the Count of Burgundy, and granted to him the title Duke of Berry, and assured him of his love and affection. And then he did call for the Count of Alencon, who was made a Peer of France, and named a Marshal for his brave acts in Flanders and Gascony. The Count of Clermont was made Duke of Bourbon[10], and the Counts of Evereux and Etampes were made peers, and many great honors were done, when the King did call on Robert of Artois. And then when the Count of Beaumont stood before him, the King proclaimed he was greatly honored to restore to Robert the lands of his grandfather, and proclaimed him Count of Artois[11].
"And the Count of Burgundy did rise, full wroth, and declared that his cousin had done him great wrong, robbing him of the lands of his grandmother, saying "How expect you me to swallow this wrong, me your kinsman? For am I not your heir?" And King John did say, "So some say, but this I know not. Indeed, I do deny it." And from that day on, the Count of Burgundy knew the King loved him not. And their cousin, the King of England saw this as well..."
--from The Chronicles of Jean Froissart, Vol. 1, John Tremain translation (1845)
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[1] IOTL, the King and Queen of Navarre at this time.
[2] He's also Count of Poitiers, but as the County of Burgundy is a Count-Palatinate in the Empire, it's the higher title.
[3] Froissart is getting his facts muddled--Edward was only Prince of Wales, and his wife Philippa was not present.
[4] John was a frequent guest at Paris OTL, and would never miss an event like this. IOTL, he was fighting for the Teutonic Knights against the Poles around this time, demonstrating his talent for picking losers.
[5] IOTL, Emperor Charles IV, who was crowned by Pope Clement VI in circumstances we will deal with later. Just as we will reveal the identity of the mysterious John XXIII in the near future.
[6] As Jean Froissart has failed to note, Philip of Evereux's elder brother.
[7] I'm skipping a lengthy description of the courses of the feast. Be thankful.
[8] IOTL, Philip himself created this title for his second son.
[9] One of the Great Offices of France. This is a real plum for Philip, and a sign that for all he will come to bitch about him, John was fonder of the man then he would later come to admit.
[10] IOTL, he received this title in 1327, along with the County of de la Marche, in exchange for giving up the County of Clermont.
[11] IOTL, of course, Robert's efforts ended in disaster and exile for himself. So, he's had a lucky break here.
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