Took me few years to realise the difference between the various traditions and it's not something we learn in school either, so it's understandable you wouldn't know unless you'd deliberately sought it out.
Des Hebreux, comme des Orientaux : a French Renaissance TL
- Thread starter Mina-van-Mako
- Start date
I made two alternative flags for Naples Lorraine, tell me which one you guys prefer
I will edit the second part of the TL after to change the flagThe first (with the inescutcheon suitably higher so it's in the centre ) fits a Lorraine dynasty of Neapolitan Sicily but the second Arms would actually work for a son or cadet line of the king.
) fits a Lorraine dynasty of Neapolitan Sicily but the second Arms would actually work for a son or cadet line of the king.The first (with the inescutcheon suitably higher so it's in the centre
(I was just finding cool that the red band on the Lorraine inescutcheon was fitting the capet red part ;-
well, I don't think I'm goig to do more, because I already spent several hours on making different ideas before choosing between those two)At the end of the Black Week, the Dauphin received a letter from his wife, that went back in Grenoble a few month ago. She gave birth to a daughter, that she, having no way to communicate with ther husband, named Helene, due to her duty to marry a Palaiologos. Louis, a bit disappointed not to have a heir, was relieved when her read that she was far more strong and healthy than her elders, who all died while still being babies. She was engaged with Ludovikos Palaiologos, the youngest of Thomas's sons, named after the Dauphin himself, and six years older than Helene.
He invited his wife to come with her daughter when she feels ready to do the trip. Explaining, without more details, that the situation in Genova is a bit complicated, and that he can not leave the city for the moment. In fact, the Doge died early after the end of the Black week, and citizens were a bit confused about how to elect a new Doge, what kind of term he should have, and other complicated questions. The debates ended in June, with the Constitution of Genova, claiming that a doge would be Doge until incapacity to reign, and that he would be elected by everyone literate person.
In Fontaine too, some election was being debated, the election of the new Patriarch of France, with many questions : was it really necessary to create an independant Orthodox Church of France ? What are even the required qualifications, no one was priest in this city, since one priest was enough, and this priest was the Patriarch himself. After two years of confusion, it was agreed that the guy temporarily in charge of the office, Demetrios Messeliene, was in fact pretty good at his job, and that he could be the Patriarch Demetrios Ist of France. He was confirmed in his functions by a free election, with every inhabitant of Fontaine, even Catholics and Jews. At this occasion would be launched the construction of a very peculiar building, the Oecumenic Basilique Saint-Sophie of France, having nothing more than the name of Basilique since there was no saint's relics.
Even about Sainte-Sophie-de-France, the debates were complicated, theologists were very confused about the legality of a Church for Catholics, Orthodox, and Jews, the idea seemed weird but profitable : it was cheaper, easier than three different buildings, would give a true place to pray for both Jews and Orthodox, and it could even be merged with the Church of Fontaine. But would it be blasphemy, shoud they invite the Pope ? Even the art was controversial, how to reconciliate the anti-icone Jews and the very free Christian representations, plus the mosaics, that were considered as a necessary element by the Byzantines.
This month of April 1461 was full of debates, so ono new ideas too. IT is considered to be the very beginning of the French Renaissance. Intense reflections about politics, theology, religious art, and soon art in general, were daily routine in the intelligentsia during this period. The Dauphin, trying to keep his popularity, tried to intervine the least in those debates, and organized his father's succession, knowing that he would inherit soon. Charles VII was old, and more important, finally accepted to leave life. Letters were sent to every important noble in the Kingdom, and even to the Duke of Burgundy, who didn't answer. Another thing to prepare was the future of the governorate of Genova.
The King Charles VII "the Victorious" expired in July, and his son, the King Louis XI, was crowned in Reims the 14th of August. The new Patriarch, Demetrios Ist, is present in the Cathedral, and the Pope Pie II too. His Holiness started to write many letters to the Patriarch of France a few weeks ago, trying to keep the two Church united, and even befriending his interlocutor. He went to the Coronation of Louis XI to give his benediction, but also to feel the atmosphere towards catholicism in the asembly, trying to know if he could trust this new Court of France. He also met Charlotte di Savoia, and had a very good moment, both liking litterature and poetry.
The court was set in Amboise, where Louis XI started a great reorganisation, separating from most of his fther's advisors, choosing new ones from his courst of Genova and Grenoble, and founded the City of Gentilly, on the model of Fontaine, and the Great Chancellery, meant to keep ambassadors of feoreign countries away from the people and eventual plots.
On the contrary of Fontaine, Gentilly remained mostly Catholic, due to the small amount of Pontics that had occasions and reasons to fly away from Trebizond to join France. Another reason was that many Pontics joined Fontaine instead of Gentilly, seing it as a promised land. The proximity in this city between Orthodox, Catholics and Jews was source of a prosperous cohabitation between the different religions, at least inside of the Cities. Because outside, people became more and more suspicious about the "Fontenois" as they called them, those people, being too free, too syncretistic and too different.
He invited his wife to come with her daughter when she feels ready to do the trip. Explaining, without more details, that the situation in Genova is a bit complicated, and that he can not leave the city for the moment. In fact, the Doge died early after the end of the Black week, and citizens were a bit confused about how to elect a new Doge, what kind of term he should have, and other complicated questions. The debates ended in June, with the Constitution of Genova, claiming that a doge would be Doge until incapacity to reign, and that he would be elected by everyone literate person.
In Fontaine too, some election was being debated, the election of the new Patriarch of France, with many questions : was it really necessary to create an independant Orthodox Church of France ? What are even the required qualifications, no one was priest in this city, since one priest was enough, and this priest was the Patriarch himself. After two years of confusion, it was agreed that the guy temporarily in charge of the office, Demetrios Messeliene, was in fact pretty good at his job, and that he could be the Patriarch Demetrios Ist of France. He was confirmed in his functions by a free election, with every inhabitant of Fontaine, even Catholics and Jews. At this occasion would be launched the construction of a very peculiar building, the Oecumenic Basilique Saint-Sophie of France, having nothing more than the name of Basilique since there was no saint's relics.
Even about Sainte-Sophie-de-France, the debates were complicated, theologists were very confused about the legality of a Church for Catholics, Orthodox, and Jews, the idea seemed weird but profitable : it was cheaper, easier than three different buildings, would give a true place to pray for both Jews and Orthodox, and it could even be merged with the Church of Fontaine. But would it be blasphemy, shoud they invite the Pope ? Even the art was controversial, how to reconciliate the anti-icone Jews and the very free Christian representations, plus the mosaics, that were considered as a necessary element by the Byzantines.
This month of April 1461 was full of debates, so ono new ideas too. IT is considered to be the very beginning of the French Renaissance. Intense reflections about politics, theology, religious art, and soon art in general, were daily routine in the intelligentsia during this period. The Dauphin, trying to keep his popularity, tried to intervine the least in those debates, and organized his father's succession, knowing that he would inherit soon. Charles VII was old, and more important, finally accepted to leave life. Letters were sent to every important noble in the Kingdom, and even to the Duke of Burgundy, who didn't answer. Another thing to prepare was the future of the governorate of Genova.
The King Charles VII "the Victorious" expired in July, and his son, the King Louis XI, was crowned in Reims the 14th of August. The new Patriarch, Demetrios Ist, is present in the Cathedral, and the Pope Pie II too. His Holiness started to write many letters to the Patriarch of France a few weeks ago, trying to keep the two Church united, and even befriending his interlocutor. He went to the Coronation of Louis XI to give his benediction, but also to feel the atmosphere towards catholicism in the asembly, trying to know if he could trust this new Court of France. He also met Charlotte di Savoia, and had a very good moment, both liking litterature and poetry.
The court was set in Amboise, where Louis XI started a great reorganisation, separating from most of his fther's advisors, choosing new ones from his courst of Genova and Grenoble, and founded the City of Gentilly, on the model of Fontaine, and the Great Chancellery, meant to keep ambassadors of feoreign countries away from the people and eventual plots.
On the contrary of Fontaine, Gentilly remained mostly Catholic, due to the small amount of Pontics that had occasions and reasons to fly away from Trebizond to join France. Another reason was that many Pontics joined Fontaine instead of Gentilly, seing it as a promised land. The proximity in this city between Orthodox, Catholics and Jews was source of a prosperous cohabitation between the different religions, at least inside of the Cities. Because outside, people became more and more suspicious about the "Fontenois" as they called them, those people, being too free, too syncretistic and too different.
Here I come again for the least regular TL this forum has ever experienced !
The new King had many problems to manage: keep Genova even though he couldn't reside in it; reduce his brother Charles to incapacity; make the De Bourgogne either loyal or weak; get the necessary money to buy the Somme cities; and convince the Pope to accept the very practical Pragmatique Sanction de Bourges. Those are the "Five projects of the reign" as Louis XI calls them.
Despite their clear importance, those projects were not applied before the middle of 1463, due to the Catalunyan uprising. Louis XI, seeing a good way to make the Kingdom and the royal domain bigger, tried to reach an agreement with the Principate of Catalunya. The offer being politely rejected by Barcelona, Louis XI offered it to Valencia, and Jean II of Aragon reached an agreement with him: Louis XI would help the King of Aragon in exchange of Rosselló and Cerdanya, and the promise that the Kings of Aragon would never revendicate the Kingdom of Naples. This agreement is signed the 9th of May in Saragoza, and is immediately effective. Louis XI denounces Catalunya and starts the siege of Perpignan, with the help of Gaston de Foix.
The implication of France in this war ends with the Treaty of Bordeaux, in May 1463, in the presence of delegates from Aragon, Castille, Navarre, France, and Catalunya. Aragon gives Cerdanya and Rosello to Louis XI, who in fact took them since winter 1462. The city of Estella goes to Navarre and the castle of Borja to Castille. In exchange of those concessions, the Kings of Navarre and Castille will give full support to the King of Aragon. Louis XI withdraws France from the conflict, offers northern Cerdagne to Gaston de Foix, and establishes a small merchant Republic in Rosellon, like Fontaine in terms of religious laws. Louis XI needed to reach Toulouse as quick as possible. The point of the Republic of Rosellon is to take some of the trade that was reaching Catalunya, since they Catalunya is now busy and in troubles. People reaching this place are mostly from Grenada, meaning that some Muslims were now creating a precedent: Rosellon would not only shelter Jews and non-Catholics Christian, but also Muslims.
Louis XI by the way reached one of his five projects, the one of buying the cities of the Somme River : for this, he authorised the English merchants to trade in Bordeaux if they pay special taxes to the French government. He also got several ‘’contributions‘’ more or less consensual, from Church properties. This fundraising was even more efficient than expected, Louis XI getting 700 000 Ecus d’or, 300 000 more than necessary. The King, reaching Péronne, with the money and the Treaty of Arras. The purchase of the cities made Charles le Téméraire furious, and he accused his own father Philippe le Bon of “giving the family realm for nothing”.
A meeting between Charles and Louis would happen in Abbéville, but it only happened to make things worse : Charles trying to invalidate the purchase, but the Treaty of Arras was precise and clear. The discussion turns short, and soon, it degenerates with Louis threatening Charles of a trial. Charles quits the table, and soon gathers some nobles to create a League against Louis XI, in the name of the “Public well-being”. Louis XI is framed of endangering the rights of the nobility and taking decisions he has no authority to take. He gathers Charles of France, as a potential regent of France, the Duke of Nemours and Count of La Marche, the Count of Dunois, the D’Amboise family, the Duke of Brittany, and, by alliance, the Duke of Cleves.
Against the League of the Greater Good, the King of France calls to war his ally the Duke of Lombardy, offers help to the King of Lorraine in exchange of help concerning the Neapolitan affairs, and pays some of the extra money raise for the Cities of the Somme river to get Swiss and Liege’s support. He also received a huge help from the Count of Foix, Bearn, and Cerdagne “the only vassal I can truly trust” from Louis XI’s own words. Some say that the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe the Good, passed out after hearing of those events. His son was taking huge risks with his behaviour, and he was the only heir Philippe had, so a death sentence would destroy the Duchy.
The War for the Greater Good, that both sides were claiming to defend, started. The plan of the royal loyalists was very clear : the main goal was to capture the Charles, to take the rebellious leaders away. The Count of Foix would attack the League by the South; the Swiss and the Sforza would invade Charolais and then join the Royal Armies; the King of Lorraine would try to keep the Duke of Cleves out of the Kingdom. Still the plan needed to work. This is during this war that was revealed the talent of Lukas Iohannis, the first (but not the last) great military leader that the Greeks would give to France. This is also to this occasion that Louis XI started to fund research to rediscover the recipe of the Greek fire, after learning with great disappointment that the different Greek scientists had only a vague idea of the recipe.
The rebellion, after few victories, starts to show its limits. The different nobles are not willing to work together, and their armies are having a hard time trying to join each others. The Duke of Cleves’s army never even entered the Kingdom, and the Duke of Bourbon switches side after a handful of fights with Gaston of Foix, who is then made Duke of Foix by the King of France. The Duke of Britany is the first to sign a treaty, in 1464, with the King Louis XI, being forced to pay huge reparations and to loose his right of signing alliances with French or English nobility. Charolles fell soon after this, and the Duke Philippe le Bon negotiated peace between the King. The peace took the form of several trials, except for the Duke of Bourbon, who is completely forgiven, and the Duke of Cleves, since he is no vassal of the King of France.
Charles the Bold, who had no male heir, has his only daughter taken by the King as a hostage, and loose the control over who will marry her. This punishment, extremely severe, will be lessened after some of Louis XI’s allies convince him that such a harsh outcome is going to trigger other civil wars. In fact, the trial of Charolais of Fall 1465, the last one intended by Louis XI, will be revised after many vassals, including the Duke of Burgundy, asked for it. The new outcome of the trial will free Mary of Burgundy, at the condition that she will be married with the heir of the French throne at his birth. This agreement still causes problems to the Count of Charolais, who loses the outcome of his long negotiations with Maximilian of Hapsburg. Mary of Burgundy is also very displeased at the idea of marrying a newborn child when she will be 20.
The other big exception to those trials is Jean de Bourbon. Switching to Louis XI’s side at the very beginning of the war, Jean de Bourbon was able to defend his interests and enters the King’s council. Gaston de Foix-Béarn also gets the control over the fortresses in Southern Cerdanya, and his title of Count of Foix is raised to Duke of Foix by a royal letter. Other nobles were judged: the most fervent members of the League were executed, and the ones who acknowledged their faults and that Louis XI considered as easily manageable were pardoned. This saved the House of Amboise and the Count of Dunois. Charles of France, as member of the royal family, was not executed but imprisoned.
PS : really sorry if someone waited for this (even though I don't think so), I am really bad at committing to something I started, I will try to improve this)
The new King had many problems to manage: keep Genova even though he couldn't reside in it; reduce his brother Charles to incapacity; make the De Bourgogne either loyal or weak; get the necessary money to buy the Somme cities; and convince the Pope to accept the very practical Pragmatique Sanction de Bourges. Those are the "Five projects of the reign" as Louis XI calls them.
Despite their clear importance, those projects were not applied before the middle of 1463, due to the Catalunyan uprising. Louis XI, seeing a good way to make the Kingdom and the royal domain bigger, tried to reach an agreement with the Principate of Catalunya. The offer being politely rejected by Barcelona, Louis XI offered it to Valencia, and Jean II of Aragon reached an agreement with him: Louis XI would help the King of Aragon in exchange of Rosselló and Cerdanya, and the promise that the Kings of Aragon would never revendicate the Kingdom of Naples. This agreement is signed the 9th of May in Saragoza, and is immediately effective. Louis XI denounces Catalunya and starts the siege of Perpignan, with the help of Gaston de Foix.
The implication of France in this war ends with the Treaty of Bordeaux, in May 1463, in the presence of delegates from Aragon, Castille, Navarre, France, and Catalunya. Aragon gives Cerdanya and Rosello to Louis XI, who in fact took them since winter 1462. The city of Estella goes to Navarre and the castle of Borja to Castille. In exchange of those concessions, the Kings of Navarre and Castille will give full support to the King of Aragon. Louis XI withdraws France from the conflict, offers northern Cerdagne to Gaston de Foix, and establishes a small merchant Republic in Rosellon, like Fontaine in terms of religious laws. Louis XI needed to reach Toulouse as quick as possible. The point of the Republic of Rosellon is to take some of the trade that was reaching Catalunya, since they Catalunya is now busy and in troubles. People reaching this place are mostly from Grenada, meaning that some Muslims were now creating a precedent: Rosellon would not only shelter Jews and non-Catholics Christian, but also Muslims.
Louis XI by the way reached one of his five projects, the one of buying the cities of the Somme River : for this, he authorised the English merchants to trade in Bordeaux if they pay special taxes to the French government. He also got several ‘’contributions‘’ more or less consensual, from Church properties. This fundraising was even more efficient than expected, Louis XI getting 700 000 Ecus d’or, 300 000 more than necessary. The King, reaching Péronne, with the money and the Treaty of Arras. The purchase of the cities made Charles le Téméraire furious, and he accused his own father Philippe le Bon of “giving the family realm for nothing”.
A meeting between Charles and Louis would happen in Abbéville, but it only happened to make things worse : Charles trying to invalidate the purchase, but the Treaty of Arras was precise and clear. The discussion turns short, and soon, it degenerates with Louis threatening Charles of a trial. Charles quits the table, and soon gathers some nobles to create a League against Louis XI, in the name of the “Public well-being”. Louis XI is framed of endangering the rights of the nobility and taking decisions he has no authority to take. He gathers Charles of France, as a potential regent of France, the Duke of Nemours and Count of La Marche, the Count of Dunois, the D’Amboise family, the Duke of Brittany, and, by alliance, the Duke of Cleves.
Against the League of the Greater Good, the King of France calls to war his ally the Duke of Lombardy, offers help to the King of Lorraine in exchange of help concerning the Neapolitan affairs, and pays some of the extra money raise for the Cities of the Somme river to get Swiss and Liege’s support. He also received a huge help from the Count of Foix, Bearn, and Cerdagne “the only vassal I can truly trust” from Louis XI’s own words. Some say that the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe the Good, passed out after hearing of those events. His son was taking huge risks with his behaviour, and he was the only heir Philippe had, so a death sentence would destroy the Duchy.
The War for the Greater Good, that both sides were claiming to defend, started. The plan of the royal loyalists was very clear : the main goal was to capture the Charles, to take the rebellious leaders away. The Count of Foix would attack the League by the South; the Swiss and the Sforza would invade Charolais and then join the Royal Armies; the King of Lorraine would try to keep the Duke of Cleves out of the Kingdom. Still the plan needed to work. This is during this war that was revealed the talent of Lukas Iohannis, the first (but not the last) great military leader that the Greeks would give to France. This is also to this occasion that Louis XI started to fund research to rediscover the recipe of the Greek fire, after learning with great disappointment that the different Greek scientists had only a vague idea of the recipe.
The rebellion, after few victories, starts to show its limits. The different nobles are not willing to work together, and their armies are having a hard time trying to join each others. The Duke of Cleves’s army never even entered the Kingdom, and the Duke of Bourbon switches side after a handful of fights with Gaston of Foix, who is then made Duke of Foix by the King of France. The Duke of Britany is the first to sign a treaty, in 1464, with the King Louis XI, being forced to pay huge reparations and to loose his right of signing alliances with French or English nobility. Charolles fell soon after this, and the Duke Philippe le Bon negotiated peace between the King. The peace took the form of several trials, except for the Duke of Bourbon, who is completely forgiven, and the Duke of Cleves, since he is no vassal of the King of France.
Charles the Bold, who had no male heir, has his only daughter taken by the King as a hostage, and loose the control over who will marry her. This punishment, extremely severe, will be lessened after some of Louis XI’s allies convince him that such a harsh outcome is going to trigger other civil wars. In fact, the trial of Charolais of Fall 1465, the last one intended by Louis XI, will be revised after many vassals, including the Duke of Burgundy, asked for it. The new outcome of the trial will free Mary of Burgundy, at the condition that she will be married with the heir of the French throne at his birth. This agreement still causes problems to the Count of Charolais, who loses the outcome of his long negotiations with Maximilian of Hapsburg. Mary of Burgundy is also very displeased at the idea of marrying a newborn child when she will be 20.
The other big exception to those trials is Jean de Bourbon. Switching to Louis XI’s side at the very beginning of the war, Jean de Bourbon was able to defend his interests and enters the King’s council. Gaston de Foix-Béarn also gets the control over the fortresses in Southern Cerdanya, and his title of Count of Foix is raised to Duke of Foix by a royal letter. Other nobles were judged: the most fervent members of the League were executed, and the ones who acknowledged their faults and that Louis XI considered as easily manageable were pardoned. This saved the House of Amboise and the Count of Dunois. Charles of France, as member of the royal family, was not executed but imprisoned.
PS : really sorry if someone waited for this (even though I don't think so), I am really bad at committing to something I started, I will try to improve this)
In January 1466, the illegitimate King of Navarre and his daughter Eleonore of Navarre were assassinated by Blanche of Navarre’s servants. She could prepare the plot despite being imprisoned due to the complicity of some of the guards. She was still executed for parricide and regicide. Gaston of Foix-Béarn could therefore inherit the Crown of Navarre. A treaty was signed with the King of France, in the city of Tarbes, establishing never-ending friendship and mutual support between the two kingdoms, and reasserting the titles of Duke of Foix, Viscount of Narbonne and Count of Bigorre as vassals to the French king. The whole point was to avoid the Plantagenet catastrophe to happen again.
The Kings Louis XI start a Grand Tour all over his Kingdom, reaching the provinces that suffered the most from the War for “Greater Good” that happened to cause more damages than improvements. He goes through Touraine, Bourgogne, Berry, reaches Vendôme and Lyon, stopping in his untrustworthy vassals’ estates to meet their people and get their support. He had only one thought in his mind, weakening his vassals. For such a task, he needed the support of his people. During his Great Tour, the King offered to Jean of Alençon royal pardon and the County of la Perche if he accepted to be under arrest in the Royal Court.
Louis XI also started a plot against Jean V d’Armagnac, who he knew was supporting the League for the Greater Good, and was traitor to the Kingdom. He stopped by Lectoure, to meet his reluctant vassal and set a trap. The King recruited thieves to break into the Count’s home during the meeting, the goal being to give the King some tangible proof that Jean V was a traitor. They found in his room proofs of illegal coin stamping and active plotting against the King during the Hundred Years War.
On the contrary of what he usually does, the King does not intent a trial, fearing that his traitor vassal could intrigue and twist the situation around. A formal war declaration is sent to Jean V d’Armagnac a few weeks after reaching Albi, where, with the help of the Cardinal of Albi and the King of Navarre, the King plans an invasion of the Counties of Rodez and Armagnac.
The Viscounty of Nogaro is promised to the King Gaston, as a vassal realm under the French Crown, as a compensation for the losses during the invasion. The invasion goes very smoothly, until the resistance in the Stronghold of Sainte-Gemme. Strongholg that gets burned* with Jean V and the few soldiers that were still loyal, the rest of the inhabitants having already surrendered. The possessions of the unruly Count were split between the King of France and the King of Navarre, ending the conflict.
*Some suspects that the King Louis XI used this siege as an occasion to test the results of the byzantine searchers concerning the Greek fire
To make sure of the stability of his kingdom, Louis XI calls the 26th Assembly of the General Estates in the city of Tours, to determine the global condition of his Kingdom, and get confirmation of the support from the people. In the history of the Kingdom, it is the first time that such a huge Assembly is called : not only were the three social Estates represented in all of their forms (both secular and regular clergies, commoners and mayors, nobles from the whole kingdom) but members of the Byzantine court, as well as representatives of Brittany, Burgundy, Lorraine and Navarre. For Louis XI, no matter if the council supported his politics or not, he would exit the Assembly having already won the day.
In fact, if the General Estates didn’t support the royal policy, because it costs too much, the King could reduce the taxes since he had already pacified most of his vassals, and he would seem to respect the people’s decision by letting the Kingdom enjoy a well-deserved prosperity after the unrest of the previous years. If the General Estates did support the King’s policy, he would be able to siege Calais and end the Hundred Years War.
Supporting a restauration of peace, the Third Estates representatives hoping for a peaceful year and the ambassadors of Burgundy and Brittany knowing who was on Louis XI’s list after the King of England, as well as landlords trying to avoid further reduction of their power. Siding with the King were the Byzantines, hoping to get land and prestige from the wars they could help the King to fight, as well as nobles hoping to get some lands and recognition for their support. Unsurprisingly, the outcome was in favor of a “Peace of the King” that was finally proclaimed at the end of the Assembly.
On a more personnal note, the King gets closer to his wife Charlotte de Savoie, who he offers to travel with. In fact, the Peace of the King proclaimed, the King had time for a secret project he had in mind for a while: the Royal Post, to make sure that the King could get informed before anyone else and travel easily. He also establishes a “Travel court”, much smaller than his usual court, including his wife and children, some servants, very few nobles including the Count de Perche, still forced by his allegiance to stay near the King whatever the occasion. The Byzantine scholar and ecumenic chaplain Lukas Angelopoulos, sent by the Byzantine Emperor to represent him, also stayed, documenting everything he saw and debating some issues they would encounter with Louis XI.
Still, the Kingdom of France is not completely safe : the King of England did not renounce the throne of France, and Charles the Bold will come back when he inherits the Duchy of Burgundy, and it would not be pretty. It is not even possible for the King to ally with one of them, since the Count of Charolais only has a daughter, and the bonds between the royal families if France and England don’t avoid any wars. He thinks in a first time about marrying his daughter Jeanne with François Phoebus de Foix-Béarn, son of Gaston de Foix Béarn, but another occasion appears to him: Frédéric III, Archduke of Austria, needs help against Mattias Corvin and the hussite King of Bohemia George Podebrady. After long negotiations, the young Maximilian of Austria will be engaged with Jeanne of France, despite her being five years younger, in exchange of military support from France.
Here it is, i hope you are not experiencing eye bleeding while in contact with my language skills x3
oh, and I am working on a Gimp map by the way, to be able to show you how France looks at this point in the scenario, and to makek you able to locate all the places
The Kings Louis XI start a Grand Tour all over his Kingdom, reaching the provinces that suffered the most from the War for “Greater Good” that happened to cause more damages than improvements. He goes through Touraine, Bourgogne, Berry, reaches Vendôme and Lyon, stopping in his untrustworthy vassals’ estates to meet their people and get their support. He had only one thought in his mind, weakening his vassals. For such a task, he needed the support of his people. During his Great Tour, the King offered to Jean of Alençon royal pardon and the County of la Perche if he accepted to be under arrest in the Royal Court.
Louis XI also started a plot against Jean V d’Armagnac, who he knew was supporting the League for the Greater Good, and was traitor to the Kingdom. He stopped by Lectoure, to meet his reluctant vassal and set a trap. The King recruited thieves to break into the Count’s home during the meeting, the goal being to give the King some tangible proof that Jean V was a traitor. They found in his room proofs of illegal coin stamping and active plotting against the King during the Hundred Years War.
On the contrary of what he usually does, the King does not intent a trial, fearing that his traitor vassal could intrigue and twist the situation around. A formal war declaration is sent to Jean V d’Armagnac a few weeks after reaching Albi, where, with the help of the Cardinal of Albi and the King of Navarre, the King plans an invasion of the Counties of Rodez and Armagnac.
The Viscounty of Nogaro is promised to the King Gaston, as a vassal realm under the French Crown, as a compensation for the losses during the invasion. The invasion goes very smoothly, until the resistance in the Stronghold of Sainte-Gemme. Strongholg that gets burned* with Jean V and the few soldiers that were still loyal, the rest of the inhabitants having already surrendered. The possessions of the unruly Count were split between the King of France and the King of Navarre, ending the conflict.
*Some suspects that the King Louis XI used this siege as an occasion to test the results of the byzantine searchers concerning the Greek fire
To make sure of the stability of his kingdom, Louis XI calls the 26th Assembly of the General Estates in the city of Tours, to determine the global condition of his Kingdom, and get confirmation of the support from the people. In the history of the Kingdom, it is the first time that such a huge Assembly is called : not only were the three social Estates represented in all of their forms (both secular and regular clergies, commoners and mayors, nobles from the whole kingdom) but members of the Byzantine court, as well as representatives of Brittany, Burgundy, Lorraine and Navarre. For Louis XI, no matter if the council supported his politics or not, he would exit the Assembly having already won the day.
In fact, if the General Estates didn’t support the royal policy, because it costs too much, the King could reduce the taxes since he had already pacified most of his vassals, and he would seem to respect the people’s decision by letting the Kingdom enjoy a well-deserved prosperity after the unrest of the previous years. If the General Estates did support the King’s policy, he would be able to siege Calais and end the Hundred Years War.
Supporting a restauration of peace, the Third Estates representatives hoping for a peaceful year and the ambassadors of Burgundy and Brittany knowing who was on Louis XI’s list after the King of England, as well as landlords trying to avoid further reduction of their power. Siding with the King were the Byzantines, hoping to get land and prestige from the wars they could help the King to fight, as well as nobles hoping to get some lands and recognition for their support. Unsurprisingly, the outcome was in favor of a “Peace of the King” that was finally proclaimed at the end of the Assembly.
On a more personnal note, the King gets closer to his wife Charlotte de Savoie, who he offers to travel with. In fact, the Peace of the King proclaimed, the King had time for a secret project he had in mind for a while: the Royal Post, to make sure that the King could get informed before anyone else and travel easily. He also establishes a “Travel court”, much smaller than his usual court, including his wife and children, some servants, very few nobles including the Count de Perche, still forced by his allegiance to stay near the King whatever the occasion. The Byzantine scholar and ecumenic chaplain Lukas Angelopoulos, sent by the Byzantine Emperor to represent him, also stayed, documenting everything he saw and debating some issues they would encounter with Louis XI.
Still, the Kingdom of France is not completely safe : the King of England did not renounce the throne of France, and Charles the Bold will come back when he inherits the Duchy of Burgundy, and it would not be pretty. It is not even possible for the King to ally with one of them, since the Count of Charolais only has a daughter, and the bonds between the royal families if France and England don’t avoid any wars. He thinks in a first time about marrying his daughter Jeanne with François Phoebus de Foix-Béarn, son of Gaston de Foix Béarn, but another occasion appears to him: Frédéric III, Archduke of Austria, needs help against Mattias Corvin and the hussite King of Bohemia George Podebrady. After long negotiations, the young Maximilian of Austria will be engaged with Jeanne of France, despite her being five years younger, in exchange of military support from France.
Here it is, i hope you are not experiencing eye bleeding while in contact with my language skills x3
oh, and I am working on a Gimp map by the way, to be able to show you how France looks at this point in the scenario, and to makek you able to locate all the places
Here is the map, I colored all the realms under a same ruler in the same color, left the least important ones in white for simplicity's sake, and the pink parts are Church's property. Golden yellow (the two points and Roussillon) are the places under the Charte of Fontaine. The boundary in black is the France-Empire boundary
The support sent to Austria will be mainly composed of mercenaries, the King prefering to keep his armies in case of new civil war or English attack. The King still sends some of his most trained general to support Austria, who will engage in the Conquest of Bohemia with the rest of the Austrian armies and mercenary troops. The goal of this invasion is mainly to keep Mattias Corvin out of the Holy Roman Empire, since George Podebrady has been excomunnicated. Frédéric III also starts tightening the relationships between Poland and Austria, in case of Hungarian intervention.
The King René of Naples-Lorraine, feeling his last days coming after a major injury during a hunting party, calls his ally Louis XI, as well as his vassals and his children Yolande and Jean, the first in the succession, and the most competent ones. He will ask his wife to keep traces of everything said during this council, and to lead it. The Treaty of the Crown of Lorraine details the territories included in the Kingdom as well as the succession laws and the indivisible nature of the Kingdom of Lorraine. The Kingdom includes : the whole Duchies of Bar and Lorraine, several bits of the Royal Domain necessary to link all of the Duchies, and the Principality of Cannes, to give the Kingdom an access to the sea.
These territories will be transmitted to the oldest child of the Royal Couple, with no agnatic preference, and women are authorized to full coats of arms if they own lands in the Kingdom. In exchange of the full sovereignity over the Duchy of Bar and the new territories added to it, the County of Provence, the Duchy of Anjou and the Castle of Châtelleraut will be separated from the Kingdom. A never ending alliance is concluded between Lorraine and France, to give Lorraine an access to the sea. Jean inherits from the French possessions of the King René, to avoid a succession crisis with the County of Vaudémont, and Yolande will be crowned Queen of Lorraine at the death of her father, she also receives the claims on the thrones of Naples and Jerusalem. Yolande and her son are the first members of the De Lorraine dynasty, even though her son is often called René de Lorraine-Vaudémont.
To link between them all the territories of Lorraine, the King René also buys at an expensive price Kingship over the Abbay of Gorze and the Church of Saint Avold, ruled by a Cardinal close to Louis XI : Jean Jouffroy. The new Kingdom of Lorraine has a poorly defined soveriengity : very close and dependant of the Kingdom of France, this state is still a Princedom of the Holy Roman Empire. However, the Emperor Frédéric III, cautious about the Peace at the West, accepts the Treaty a posteriori at the condition that the Kingdom never expends further inside of the Empire.
In April 1467, the Kingdom learns about not only one but two great landlords of France : René de Lorraine and Philippe III died. The King learns about the death of René first, and rushes to Bar-le-Duc with Jean d'Anjou, to be part of the assistance around Yolande as she gets crowned Yolande Ist of Lorraine, Queen of Naples, Lorraine and Jérusalem. Jean d'Anjou is also crowned in the same chapel, as Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence. He receives from his sister one of the two Rings of the Two Houses, symbols of the ever lasting alliance between the De Lorraine and the D'Anjou, evern after the separation of the two dynasties.
The death of Philippe III is really bad news for Louis XI : instead of this reasonnable prince able to keep a statu quo situation to avoid a war, his son is far more impulsive and bold, and after the revision of the Trial of Burgundy, Louis XI couldn't keep Mary of Burgundy as a hostage. The only good news concerning Burgundy is that Charlotte de Svoie is pregnant, and is the child is a boy, the French crown will have a heir, and this heir will be engaged with Mary of Burgundy. Until this day, the King Louis must be prepared in case of war against Burgundy, and none of Louis XI's allies can help him : Frédéric III is completing his preparations for the war against the King of Bohemia, ad calling to arms the brand new Queen of Lorraine would only give an occasion for Charles to link his territories.
The "Universal Spider" starts weaving his web all around Burgundy : he needs to support the independance of the Bishopric of Liege, to separate Luxemburg from the Netherlands, defend Lorraine against the burgundese ambitions, support Sigismong von Hapsburg against Charles the Bold, the list of the ways to attack the powerful Burgundy was long. The Duke of Hapsburg had been forced to give the County of Ferette to repay his debts, and Louis XI wanted to use this bitterness. A meeting was organized with Sigismond to convince him to side with France. The King couldn't go all weapons out and invade Burgundy, it would be horribly long and expensive, the King of England could backstab France, and the General Estates would never tolerate it.
Only good news : the newborn of the royal family is a boy, Charles. The engagement with Mary of Burgundy, already 13 at this moment, were assured through the Trial of Burgundy, and they would at least give an occasion for Louis XI to meet Charles the Bold and try something, either diplomacy or intrigue. The King offers a meeting in Genova, to reach an agreement concerning the engagement. The Republic prosperated under French tutelage, and was now completely past the Black Week, that caused may destructions. The interview between Charles and Louis, including papal legates and emissaries from Frédéric III, leaded to a very limited agreement. The two heirs will marry when Charles will be 14, everything is negociated harshly : the place of the wedding, the date, ... neither the King or the Duke are ready to give anything. The greatest treaty, in fact, was between the Papal delegation signed with Louis XI the agreements of Bogliasco, confirming most of the Pragmatique Sanction de Bourges.
Two of the five projects that Louis XI decided at the beginning of his reign were reached : Charles, his brother, was under control, and the Pope confirmed the Pragmatique Sanction. Since he was in the city, Louis XI decided to visit the city and meet all the important people : he notices with great satisfaction that Genoese poeple are now used to French influence, and that the Palaiologos family is now influent in the city, especially through their prestige in the Genoese colonies. The Kingd signs with the Doge Giovannie Doria the agreements of 1467, that offer to Genova a more extended autonomy, in exchange of a contribution to the Royal finances through tributes at Genoese tolls. Louis XI also convinces the Doge to add it's city to the Royal Post, at the condition that money transferred to France sevres in priority to establish the link between Genova and the rest of the Postal network.
During the travel back to Amboise, Louis Xi decides to make a small detour at Grenoble, where he didn't went until his coronation, except a few days during his Grand Tour. If the Dauphiné didn't change a lot, Grenoble and Fontaine did a lot : the Saint-David Bridge has been enlarged through new techniques in architecture and engineering. In fact, a Royal and Imperial College had been inaugurated in Fontaine, with the support of Louis XI, mostly focused on engineering and construction. This College is also where the experiments on the Greek Fire take place, which interests Louis XI greatly. This College, strong of it's links with her Genoese twin, develops a secret project that not even Louis XI heard about : the College is planning a journey to proove the spheric shape of Earth. A new artistic school also developped, inspired by Greek and Roman Antiquity : the Eastern School.
Crossing the County of Forez and the Duchy of Bourbon to return to Amboise, King Louis XI stops at Montpensier to ensure the support of the Duke of Bourbon against Charles the Bold. The King promises him Semur if war breaks out against the Duke of Burgundy, and Bresse if it is also to undergo the assaults of the Duke of Savoy. He also buys the loyalty of the Count of Sancerre, then finally returns to Amboise, to prepare his new project: the extension of the Royal Post to Navarre and Lorraine. The King also invests part of his personal fortune in the purchase of mills and land in both states. This reinforcement of the influence of France on its two allies is explained by the Burgundian threat as well as by the project of Isabella the Catholic, potential heiress to the throne of Castile and Leon, to marry with the heir to the throne of Aragon. Such an alliance must imperatively be allied to France, or must not be at all: the King knows how fragile peace is for France, located at the crossroads of Europe.
The Archduke of Austria enters Moravia with his armies and the mercenaries paid by the King of France, not even having to besiege Olomouc and Brno, Catholics. The Gentiléen general, Irénos Bitsakis, who leads the sieges, and as good strategist as a good negotiator, which makes it easy to obtain the surrender of besieged cities, without too much loss. After having seized Moravia and Budweis in a few weeks, Frederick III obtained the surrender of George Podebrady, who was exiled from his lands and whose Archduke usurped the Crown. The Hussites, fearing for their survival, end up negotiating with Frederick III to obtain an Imperial Charter, the Compactata, authorizing the Hussites to practice their faith in the city of Prague, if they pay a low tax
Here is the Map of Lorraine after the Treaty. The small pink parts included in the Kingdom are the Abbays of Gorze and Saint Avold. Yeah, there are several states completely surrounded by Lorraine, but that are part of the HRE.
Oh and, do you guys think I should post smaller posts ? I have to translate the whole thing every times, so I am not sure I will be able to keep up to this rythm when class starts again ...
The King René of Naples-Lorraine, feeling his last days coming after a major injury during a hunting party, calls his ally Louis XI, as well as his vassals and his children Yolande and Jean, the first in the succession, and the most competent ones. He will ask his wife to keep traces of everything said during this council, and to lead it. The Treaty of the Crown of Lorraine details the territories included in the Kingdom as well as the succession laws and the indivisible nature of the Kingdom of Lorraine. The Kingdom includes : the whole Duchies of Bar and Lorraine, several bits of the Royal Domain necessary to link all of the Duchies, and the Principality of Cannes, to give the Kingdom an access to the sea.
These territories will be transmitted to the oldest child of the Royal Couple, with no agnatic preference, and women are authorized to full coats of arms if they own lands in the Kingdom. In exchange of the full sovereignity over the Duchy of Bar and the new territories added to it, the County of Provence, the Duchy of Anjou and the Castle of Châtelleraut will be separated from the Kingdom. A never ending alliance is concluded between Lorraine and France, to give Lorraine an access to the sea. Jean inherits from the French possessions of the King René, to avoid a succession crisis with the County of Vaudémont, and Yolande will be crowned Queen of Lorraine at the death of her father, she also receives the claims on the thrones of Naples and Jerusalem. Yolande and her son are the first members of the De Lorraine dynasty, even though her son is often called René de Lorraine-Vaudémont.
To link between them all the territories of Lorraine, the King René also buys at an expensive price Kingship over the Abbay of Gorze and the Church of Saint Avold, ruled by a Cardinal close to Louis XI : Jean Jouffroy. The new Kingdom of Lorraine has a poorly defined soveriengity : very close and dependant of the Kingdom of France, this state is still a Princedom of the Holy Roman Empire. However, the Emperor Frédéric III, cautious about the Peace at the West, accepts the Treaty a posteriori at the condition that the Kingdom never expends further inside of the Empire.
In April 1467, the Kingdom learns about not only one but two great landlords of France : René de Lorraine and Philippe III died. The King learns about the death of René first, and rushes to Bar-le-Duc with Jean d'Anjou, to be part of the assistance around Yolande as she gets crowned Yolande Ist of Lorraine, Queen of Naples, Lorraine and Jérusalem. Jean d'Anjou is also crowned in the same chapel, as Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence. He receives from his sister one of the two Rings of the Two Houses, symbols of the ever lasting alliance between the De Lorraine and the D'Anjou, evern after the separation of the two dynasties.
The death of Philippe III is really bad news for Louis XI : instead of this reasonnable prince able to keep a statu quo situation to avoid a war, his son is far more impulsive and bold, and after the revision of the Trial of Burgundy, Louis XI couldn't keep Mary of Burgundy as a hostage. The only good news concerning Burgundy is that Charlotte de Svoie is pregnant, and is the child is a boy, the French crown will have a heir, and this heir will be engaged with Mary of Burgundy. Until this day, the King Louis must be prepared in case of war against Burgundy, and none of Louis XI's allies can help him : Frédéric III is completing his preparations for the war against the King of Bohemia, ad calling to arms the brand new Queen of Lorraine would only give an occasion for Charles to link his territories.
The "Universal Spider" starts weaving his web all around Burgundy : he needs to support the independance of the Bishopric of Liege, to separate Luxemburg from the Netherlands, defend Lorraine against the burgundese ambitions, support Sigismong von Hapsburg against Charles the Bold, the list of the ways to attack the powerful Burgundy was long. The Duke of Hapsburg had been forced to give the County of Ferette to repay his debts, and Louis XI wanted to use this bitterness. A meeting was organized with Sigismond to convince him to side with France. The King couldn't go all weapons out and invade Burgundy, it would be horribly long and expensive, the King of England could backstab France, and the General Estates would never tolerate it.
Only good news : the newborn of the royal family is a boy, Charles. The engagement with Mary of Burgundy, already 13 at this moment, were assured through the Trial of Burgundy, and they would at least give an occasion for Louis XI to meet Charles the Bold and try something, either diplomacy or intrigue. The King offers a meeting in Genova, to reach an agreement concerning the engagement. The Republic prosperated under French tutelage, and was now completely past the Black Week, that caused may destructions. The interview between Charles and Louis, including papal legates and emissaries from Frédéric III, leaded to a very limited agreement. The two heirs will marry when Charles will be 14, everything is negociated harshly : the place of the wedding, the date, ... neither the King or the Duke are ready to give anything. The greatest treaty, in fact, was between the Papal delegation signed with Louis XI the agreements of Bogliasco, confirming most of the Pragmatique Sanction de Bourges.
Two of the five projects that Louis XI decided at the beginning of his reign were reached : Charles, his brother, was under control, and the Pope confirmed the Pragmatique Sanction. Since he was in the city, Louis XI decided to visit the city and meet all the important people : he notices with great satisfaction that Genoese poeple are now used to French influence, and that the Palaiologos family is now influent in the city, especially through their prestige in the Genoese colonies. The Kingd signs with the Doge Giovannie Doria the agreements of 1467, that offer to Genova a more extended autonomy, in exchange of a contribution to the Royal finances through tributes at Genoese tolls. Louis XI also convinces the Doge to add it's city to the Royal Post, at the condition that money transferred to France sevres in priority to establish the link between Genova and the rest of the Postal network.
During the travel back to Amboise, Louis Xi decides to make a small detour at Grenoble, where he didn't went until his coronation, except a few days during his Grand Tour. If the Dauphiné didn't change a lot, Grenoble and Fontaine did a lot : the Saint-David Bridge has been enlarged through new techniques in architecture and engineering. In fact, a Royal and Imperial College had been inaugurated in Fontaine, with the support of Louis XI, mostly focused on engineering and construction. This College is also where the experiments on the Greek Fire take place, which interests Louis XI greatly. This College, strong of it's links with her Genoese twin, develops a secret project that not even Louis XI heard about : the College is planning a journey to proove the spheric shape of Earth. A new artistic school also developped, inspired by Greek and Roman Antiquity : the Eastern School.
Crossing the County of Forez and the Duchy of Bourbon to return to Amboise, King Louis XI stops at Montpensier to ensure the support of the Duke of Bourbon against Charles the Bold. The King promises him Semur if war breaks out against the Duke of Burgundy, and Bresse if it is also to undergo the assaults of the Duke of Savoy. He also buys the loyalty of the Count of Sancerre, then finally returns to Amboise, to prepare his new project: the extension of the Royal Post to Navarre and Lorraine. The King also invests part of his personal fortune in the purchase of mills and land in both states. This reinforcement of the influence of France on its two allies is explained by the Burgundian threat as well as by the project of Isabella the Catholic, potential heiress to the throne of Castile and Leon, to marry with the heir to the throne of Aragon. Such an alliance must imperatively be allied to France, or must not be at all: the King knows how fragile peace is for France, located at the crossroads of Europe.
The Archduke of Austria enters Moravia with his armies and the mercenaries paid by the King of France, not even having to besiege Olomouc and Brno, Catholics. The Gentiléen general, Irénos Bitsakis, who leads the sieges, and as good strategist as a good negotiator, which makes it easy to obtain the surrender of besieged cities, without too much loss. After having seized Moravia and Budweis in a few weeks, Frederick III obtained the surrender of George Podebrady, who was exiled from his lands and whose Archduke usurped the Crown. The Hussites, fearing for their survival, end up negotiating with Frederick III to obtain an Imperial Charter, the Compactata, authorizing the Hussites to practice their faith in the city of Prague, if they pay a low tax
Here is the Map of Lorraine after the Treaty. The small pink parts included in the Kingdom are the Abbays of Gorze and Saint Avold. Yeah, there are several states completely surrounded by Lorraine, but that are part of the HRE.
Oh and, do you guys think I should post smaller posts ? I have to translate the whole thing every times, so I am not sure I will be able to keep up to this rythm when class starts again ...
It's really interesting, you made a great TL, thanks for your works.
And i like your idea of PoD, especially the idea to include the Jew, France,especially in this period, had an ambivalent policy with them, I have always found it unfortunate that the kings of France especially Louis XI and Charles VIII (a kabbalist even called him "le Roi du Septentrion", king of the North), didn't enforce their view of them to the Kingdom, it could have a great effect on the development of France and in their daily live.
With this PoD you could even change deeply the religious and spiritual french system especcially with Charles VIII, i'm curious to see the next chapter.
And i like your idea of PoD, especially the idea to include the Jew, France,especially in this period, had an ambivalent policy with them, I have always found it unfortunate that the kings of France especially Louis XI and Charles VIII (a kabbalist even called him "le Roi du Septentrion", king of the North), didn't enforce their view of them to the Kingdom, it could have a great effect on the development of France and in their daily live.
With this PoD you could even change deeply the religious and spiritual french system especcially with Charles VIII, i'm curious to see the next chapter
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With this PoD you could even change deeply the religious and spiritual french system especcially with Charles VIII, i'm curious to see the next chapter
That was my point ^^ this is probably going to be a looooong TL (especially since I am in highschool so I can work hard on vacations but it's slowlier during class) because I want to see how such a change can impact the world
Anyway, I am glad people appreciate my work !
In the rest of Europe, the situation is also changing slowly: Hungary is being harassed at its borders by Moldovan and Polish mercenaries paid to terrorize the Kingdom and make it unstable. Muscovy suffered numerous military setbacks against the Novgorod Republic and the Great Horde, which were gradually catholicizing for the help of the Hanseatic League and the Swedish King. Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella the Catholic marry with the support of the King of France, who arrives with the two other monarchs to convince the Pope to let them get married. England, finally, begins to feel more and more weary of the Hundred Years War. The English nobles propose a final assault on France, passing through Picardy with the support of Charles the Bold.
This tense situation in Europe encourages several monarchs to form an alliance to break up Hungary as quickly as possible: the King of Poland and his ally Stephen the Great of Moldova, allying with the Archduke of Austria to share Hungary and get rid of it. Stephen the Great claims the title of King of Transylvania, King Kazimierz Jagellon, meanwhile, wants to take over the throne of Ladislaus III of Hungary, and is ready to break Hungary. Frederick III is ready to leave Hungary to Ladislaus, on one condition: the western border of it will be fixed where the Archduke wants it. This is a real conspiracy to dismember the Hungarian that is being built : we know that Mattias Corvin has no heir, and that the Hungarian Diet is frustrated by the limitations imposed by Mattias Corvin. It does not matter to Louis XI what Austria does in the East, as long as she does not try to spread to the West.
The spies of King Louis XI inform him of English projects, but also of a conspiracy led by Marguerite d'Anjou. Perhaps the King can take advantage of these dissensions at the London Court to provoke a new War of the Roses? In order to more effectively prepare a possible defense of Normandy in the event of an English landing, he granted the city of Harfleur a Royal Chart comparable to that of Fontaine and Gentilly, and he formed the project of a French Arsenal, inspired by the Arsenal of Venice, with the secret weapon of the French, greek fire, and French, Norman and Greek knowledge of fleets. However, this project will take time and especially money. Thus, the customs duties collected by the King will go into the financing of this Arsenal of France.
However, the King already has another business to deal with: the Duke of Burgundy, the center of all interests, must be reduced to docility until the inevitable marriage takes place, but this marriage is too long to wait, especially since the Duke attacked the Duchy of Gelderland and continues to strengthen his Burgundian State. The King of France fortifies the Cities of the Somme to allow them to resist longer against the Picardy armies, approaches the Swiss Confederates in order to attack Burgundy on two fronts, advances to Sigismund of Habsburg money so that he could buy the Sundgau from Charles the Bold, and attract the favors of the Free Cities of the Empire. The revolt that the king and the princes of Liège are making boil underground is ready. When the armies of Burgundy will be focused on Gelderland, the allies of the King of France will weaken the Duchy. They can seize all the territories they want, anyway the King knows that only the territories included in the Empire interest his allies.
The Warwick plot, as it is called, includes the participation of Marguerite d'Anjou, Georges Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, Edward of Westminster, heir to Henry VI, and the Earl of Warwick. This faction demanding the return of Henry VI has the support of Louis XI provided that the King of England renounces the throne of France and abandons the Channel Islands and the stronghold of Calais in Flanders. The conspiracy is established as follows: the French armies will prepare to invest Calais and the Islands, while various nobles won over to the Lancastrian cause will invest the Windsor Castle to capture Edward IV and force him to abdicate. Marguerite d'Anjou and her son Edward of Westminster will then sail to London and take charge of the Regency with Warwick after the liberation of Henry VI.
Edward IV, forced to abdicate by this coup, took refuge in Flanders while Louis XI invaded the lands that were promised him. Several nobles revolt against this Coup d'Etat, supporting the York camp: the Earl of Northumberland and Richard of Gloucester support Edward IV and take up arms against the new Regency. However, the main support of Edward IV still remains Charles the Bold, who despite his military commitment in Gelderland still decided to declare war on Henry VI, certain to quickly defeat Gelderland. Jumping on the occasion, the Swiss Confederates and the Duke Sigismond, helped by the cities of Besançon and Strasbourg, as well as Liege which raises itself jointly.
Queen Yolande, feeling that the War rumbled at its doors, began to negotiate a treaty of Alliance with the Bishops of Toul, Metz and Verdun, in order to protect themselves from Burgundy. She calls to arms her brother Jean, Count of Provence and Duke of Anjou, in order to protect herself from the Burgundian assaults. The Duke of Bourbon, with the support of the King, also attacks Burgundy, remembering the promise of Semur. Charles the Bold, relying more on his personal strategist abilities than on a good organization of his armies, is distraught by this war on all fronts. Frederick III, due to his alliance with Louis XI, does not intervene, judging the behavior of Charles the Bold much more damaging to the Empire than these attacks and revolts.
Louis XI is now nicknamed "the Provider of Revolts" or "Universal Spider", because of its networks throughout the Christian world and its politics, oscillating between innovation and the total lack of scruples. He sends troops to England as well as to Picardy, where he protects his cities of the Somme. Indeed, because of the engagement between Mary of Burgundy and the Dauphin, it can not directly invade Burgundy. However, as the supervisor of the assaults against Burgundy, he always manages to preserve his interests: his grandson will inherit Burgundy, thus, it is not necessary to finish it now. Just reduce it enough so that the King comes out as winner.
The third plot of the moment is also in this vein of pragmatic plots: the Breton succession is a disaster, the Duke of Brittany Francis II is overwhelmed by his nobles face whom he does not dare to impose, and his daughters Anne and Isabeau are competing for the succession by two powerful rivals. Nicole de Châtillon, Countess of Penthievre, whose family was to receive the Crown in case of lack of male heir of the house of Dreux, argues that there was no mention of a ban on a Penthièvre woman to inherit from Brittany. Jean II de Rohan, he claims the lineage of the former Kings of Brittany, and is ready to fight to assert his rights. The powerful city of Saint-Malo, even, tries to evict the ducal authority to establish itself as a Free City.
In this unrestful situation, the King of France offers the Duke of Brittany the support of France to his daughter Anne of Brittany, provided that she recognizes herself as a vassal in the Kingdom of France. These unacceptable conditions for the Duke lead the King of France to offer the same alliance to Nicole de Châtillon, which she accepts without flinching, realizing that she does not have many other choices. The secret treaty of Loudéac, signed on February 7, 1470, institutes Nicole de Penthièvre as the only Duchess of Brittany, vassal of the King of France, and establishes the obligation of the King of France to support the Duchess if it sees its throne usurped.
This tense situation in Europe encourages several monarchs to form an alliance to break up Hungary as quickly as possible: the King of Poland and his ally Stephen the Great of Moldova, allying with the Archduke of Austria to share Hungary and get rid of it. Stephen the Great claims the title of King of Transylvania, King Kazimierz Jagellon, meanwhile, wants to take over the throne of Ladislaus III of Hungary, and is ready to break Hungary. Frederick III is ready to leave Hungary to Ladislaus, on one condition: the western border of it will be fixed where the Archduke wants it. This is a real conspiracy to dismember the Hungarian that is being built : we know that Mattias Corvin has no heir, and that the Hungarian Diet is frustrated by the limitations imposed by Mattias Corvin. It does not matter to Louis XI what Austria does in the East, as long as she does not try to spread to the West.
The spies of King Louis XI inform him of English projects, but also of a conspiracy led by Marguerite d'Anjou. Perhaps the King can take advantage of these dissensions at the London Court to provoke a new War of the Roses? In order to more effectively prepare a possible defense of Normandy in the event of an English landing, he granted the city of Harfleur a Royal Chart comparable to that of Fontaine and Gentilly, and he formed the project of a French Arsenal, inspired by the Arsenal of Venice, with the secret weapon of the French, greek fire, and French, Norman and Greek knowledge of fleets. However, this project will take time and especially money. Thus, the customs duties collected by the King will go into the financing of this Arsenal of France.
However, the King already has another business to deal with: the Duke of Burgundy, the center of all interests, must be reduced to docility until the inevitable marriage takes place, but this marriage is too long to wait, especially since the Duke attacked the Duchy of Gelderland and continues to strengthen his Burgundian State. The King of France fortifies the Cities of the Somme to allow them to resist longer against the Picardy armies, approaches the Swiss Confederates in order to attack Burgundy on two fronts, advances to Sigismund of Habsburg money so that he could buy the Sundgau from Charles the Bold, and attract the favors of the Free Cities of the Empire. The revolt that the king and the princes of Liège are making boil underground is ready. When the armies of Burgundy will be focused on Gelderland, the allies of the King of France will weaken the Duchy. They can seize all the territories they want, anyway the King knows that only the territories included in the Empire interest his allies.
The Warwick plot, as it is called, includes the participation of Marguerite d'Anjou, Georges Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, Edward of Westminster, heir to Henry VI, and the Earl of Warwick. This faction demanding the return of Henry VI has the support of Louis XI provided that the King of England renounces the throne of France and abandons the Channel Islands and the stronghold of Calais in Flanders. The conspiracy is established as follows: the French armies will prepare to invest Calais and the Islands, while various nobles won over to the Lancastrian cause will invest the Windsor Castle to capture Edward IV and force him to abdicate. Marguerite d'Anjou and her son Edward of Westminster will then sail to London and take charge of the Regency with Warwick after the liberation of Henry VI.
Edward IV, forced to abdicate by this coup, took refuge in Flanders while Louis XI invaded the lands that were promised him. Several nobles revolt against this Coup d'Etat, supporting the York camp: the Earl of Northumberland and Richard of Gloucester support Edward IV and take up arms against the new Regency. However, the main support of Edward IV still remains Charles the Bold, who despite his military commitment in Gelderland still decided to declare war on Henry VI, certain to quickly defeat Gelderland. Jumping on the occasion, the Swiss Confederates and the Duke Sigismond, helped by the cities of Besançon and Strasbourg, as well as Liege which raises itself jointly.
Queen Yolande, feeling that the War rumbled at its doors, began to negotiate a treaty of Alliance with the Bishops of Toul, Metz and Verdun, in order to protect themselves from Burgundy. She calls to arms her brother Jean, Count of Provence and Duke of Anjou, in order to protect herself from the Burgundian assaults. The Duke of Bourbon, with the support of the King, also attacks Burgundy, remembering the promise of Semur. Charles the Bold, relying more on his personal strategist abilities than on a good organization of his armies, is distraught by this war on all fronts. Frederick III, due to his alliance with Louis XI, does not intervene, judging the behavior of Charles the Bold much more damaging to the Empire than these attacks and revolts.
Louis XI is now nicknamed "the Provider of Revolts" or "Universal Spider", because of its networks throughout the Christian world and its politics, oscillating between innovation and the total lack of scruples. He sends troops to England as well as to Picardy, where he protects his cities of the Somme. Indeed, because of the engagement between Mary of Burgundy and the Dauphin, it can not directly invade Burgundy. However, as the supervisor of the assaults against Burgundy, he always manages to preserve his interests: his grandson will inherit Burgundy, thus, it is not necessary to finish it now. Just reduce it enough so that the King comes out as winner.
The third plot of the moment is also in this vein of pragmatic plots: the Breton succession is a disaster, the Duke of Brittany Francis II is overwhelmed by his nobles face whom he does not dare to impose, and his daughters Anne and Isabeau are competing for the succession by two powerful rivals. Nicole de Châtillon, Countess of Penthievre, whose family was to receive the Crown in case of lack of male heir of the house of Dreux, argues that there was no mention of a ban on a Penthièvre woman to inherit from Brittany. Jean II de Rohan, he claims the lineage of the former Kings of Brittany, and is ready to fight to assert his rights. The powerful city of Saint-Malo, even, tries to evict the ducal authority to establish itself as a Free City.
In this unrestful situation, the King of France offers the Duke of Brittany the support of France to his daughter Anne of Brittany, provided that she recognizes herself as a vassal in the Kingdom of France. These unacceptable conditions for the Duke lead the King of France to offer the same alliance to Nicole de Châtillon, which she accepts without flinching, realizing that she does not have many other choices. The secret treaty of Loudéac, signed on February 7, 1470, institutes Nicole de Penthièvre as the only Duchess of Brittany, vassal of the King of France, and establishes the obligation of the King of France to support the Duchess if it sees its throne usurped.
The King of France has thus secured its margins: the King of Navarre and the Queen of Lorraine are allies, the Duke of Burgundy is at his ruin, the City of Genoa is fully capable of protecting the Mediterranean trade, the Emperor is in good terms, and now the Duchy of Brittany is like a fruit ready to be picked. The only worries of the King rests in his mortality: if his son is too nice ? Too easy-going ? Will his heir know how to defend his lands by trickery? Or is the French hegemony destined to collapse with its father ? The King of France is thus aware of the importance of raising his own child. His decision is made: his children will accompany him in his traveling court, on the roads of France, he will teach his son to fight, to defend himself, why one must know to be both Aragne and Lion, when the situation requires it.
Back in Amboise, he warns his wife of his decision, and he tries to teach his three-year-old son to read and write. Never seen in the history of the kingdom: the King educates himself his heir. To ensure that he knows how to reign, Louis XI also begins writing a book for his son: "The King" by Louis Capet. In this book, King Louis XI summarizes his reign to his son by commenting on each of his decisions, good or bad, to teach him the arts of politics. He tells him about the need for a strong state, the importance of knowing how to seize opportunities, and the power of diplomacy and innovation. He also shares his doubts.
The King also receives the visit of Charlotte Lusignan and barons loyalists, who ask, if not a support against Jacques de Lusignan, at least asylum. Louis XI grants them and offers them to stay in Roussillon. Roussillon, which is becoming more and more French in mind and culture, and is developing more and more as a center of commerce. The Great City of Perpignan has indeed bought the King of Navarre suzerainty over the Viscounty of Narbonne. Many Druze and Maronite Christians from the East join the Republic, as well as many Sephardic Jews. Perpignan already has more inhabitants than Toulouse, and the grouping of all these different faiths in a single city has indeed a very interesting influence on the different communities: the Druze gradually open their community, the Maronites are interested in the Unionism practiced by the Orthodox of France.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Burgundy began to yield to the combined assaults of the coalition against Burgundy, which now also includes the Duke of Orleans and the Count of Neuchâtel. The Duke, after losing control of the South of the Netherlands, the majority of Burgundy and Picardy, tries to take over Compiegne. After an unsuccessful attempt to siege the city, the Duke dies while trying to cross the Somme on a bridge that collapses when his troop passes. The Duke dies drowned and thus lets his state collapse, leaving as inheritance to his daughter of thirteen years a collapsing state. Sensing that she does not make the weight, Mary asks Louis XI, resignated, to help her to stop the hostilities.
Louis XI summoned the belligerents to Péronne, a symbolic city, and began to distribute the territories of Mary to the victorious parts. Marie signs, she complains, she gets angry, but she signs. Next to her, a small child of 3 years wonders what makes the lady cry. This is his first meeting with the Dauphin, and this little child will be the only person to care about it during the preparation of this treaty. The County of Semur and the fortress of Bourbon-Lancy go to the Duke of Bourbon; the Bishopric of Liège is released from any obligation towards Mary of Burgundy and obtains an important enlargement of its territories; Duke Sigismund enlarges the Sundgau by taking all the territories situated between the County of Montbeliard, the bishopric of Basel, and the Doubs; the Count of Neuchâtel extends his frontiers to the Doubs and seizes Pontarlier; the city of Besançon extends the territory under its direct control; the Duke of Valois and Orleans seized the County of Compiegne; an agreement between the Duke of Anjou and the Queen of Lorraine allows her to administer in the name of her brother a part of northern Burgundy.
The Duchess is unwelcome at her return to Dijon, where the whispers around her call her the "Bradeuse de Duché", Duchy seller. A plot even begins to form around her, wanting to dethrone her and replace her by her great-uncle John III of Nevers. She has lost her parents, can not trust a possible Regency Council, and does not even have the choice of her marriage. Her only ally, Louis XI, would have no interest in helping her, but in desperation, she wrote him a letter, which will remain in history under the name "Letter of 1471". In this letter, she offers Louis XI Picardy and Artois in exchange for unlimited support from the King against all revolts that may occur against her, in all her territories, vassals of France or of the Empire. She offers her full support, proposes to extend the Royal Mail to Burgundy, and suggests a system of fires allowing the King and the Duchess to know when their ally needs help.
When he receives the letter, the King, very surprised, offers the Duchess to meet at Langres. The Duchess declines the proposal, explaining that she feels dying inside, which is reflected on her health. The Queen takes pity on her and asks the King to help "the poor child", King who, very surprised at the turn of events, decides to go to Dijon itself, accompanied by all his followers. When he arrives in Dijon in November, the Duchess seems very diminished, the emotional shock and the general feeling of loneliness having done their job. The Count of Nevers more and more openly demands the Duchy, and Mary of Burgundy is not in a position to defend herself. The King does not dare to negciate more than what Mary offers, affraid she would do something stupid, and offer her full support. He proposes that she could be part of the traveling Court, in order to get her away from this evil court of Dijon, and to form a Council of Regency formed of intendants loyal to the King. Marie accepts this proposal, provided she can take power whenever she wants.
King Louis XI takes the decision to go to Paris and install his court in the Hotel Saint-Paul, to meet the people of his capital. Louis XI intends to reaffirm the royal authority over the city, and wants to move closer to the center of the royal administration, the Palais de la Cité, to facilitate the modernization of the Kingdom he intends to undertake. It is also a way to reaffirm the power and prestige of the King facing Gentilly, at the gates of the capital, which benefits from the presence of Genoese and Byzantine merchants. The City of Gentilly knows a boom all the more important that Charlotte de Lusignan, whose previous husbands died, remarried with a wealthy Byzantine merchant. This event, which earned Queen Charlotte the nickname "La Banquière", resulted in a pregnancy of the Queen, who was desperate to have an heir. The Queen created the "Fondation de Lusignan" which includes all her possessions as well as those of her husband, offering to reign, if not on a Kingdom, at least on a flourishing Society.
Kingdom of France in January 1472. The land with two different greens is the shared part between Lorraine and Anjou
Back in Amboise, he warns his wife of his decision, and he tries to teach his three-year-old son to read and write. Never seen in the history of the kingdom: the King educates himself his heir. To ensure that he knows how to reign, Louis XI also begins writing a book for his son: "The King" by Louis Capet. In this book, King Louis XI summarizes his reign to his son by commenting on each of his decisions, good or bad, to teach him the arts of politics. He tells him about the need for a strong state, the importance of knowing how to seize opportunities, and the power of diplomacy and innovation. He also shares his doubts.
The King also receives the visit of Charlotte Lusignan and barons loyalists, who ask, if not a support against Jacques de Lusignan, at least asylum. Louis XI grants them and offers them to stay in Roussillon. Roussillon, which is becoming more and more French in mind and culture, and is developing more and more as a center of commerce. The Great City of Perpignan has indeed bought the King of Navarre suzerainty over the Viscounty of Narbonne. Many Druze and Maronite Christians from the East join the Republic, as well as many Sephardic Jews. Perpignan already has more inhabitants than Toulouse, and the grouping of all these different faiths in a single city has indeed a very interesting influence on the different communities: the Druze gradually open their community, the Maronites are interested in the Unionism practiced by the Orthodox of France.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Burgundy began to yield to the combined assaults of the coalition against Burgundy, which now also includes the Duke of Orleans and the Count of Neuchâtel. The Duke, after losing control of the South of the Netherlands, the majority of Burgundy and Picardy, tries to take over Compiegne. After an unsuccessful attempt to siege the city, the Duke dies while trying to cross the Somme on a bridge that collapses when his troop passes. The Duke dies drowned and thus lets his state collapse, leaving as inheritance to his daughter of thirteen years a collapsing state. Sensing that she does not make the weight, Mary asks Louis XI, resignated, to help her to stop the hostilities.
Louis XI summoned the belligerents to Péronne, a symbolic city, and began to distribute the territories of Mary to the victorious parts. Marie signs, she complains, she gets angry, but she signs. Next to her, a small child of 3 years wonders what makes the lady cry. This is his first meeting with the Dauphin, and this little child will be the only person to care about it during the preparation of this treaty. The County of Semur and the fortress of Bourbon-Lancy go to the Duke of Bourbon; the Bishopric of Liège is released from any obligation towards Mary of Burgundy and obtains an important enlargement of its territories; Duke Sigismund enlarges the Sundgau by taking all the territories situated between the County of Montbeliard, the bishopric of Basel, and the Doubs; the Count of Neuchâtel extends his frontiers to the Doubs and seizes Pontarlier; the city of Besançon extends the territory under its direct control; the Duke of Valois and Orleans seized the County of Compiegne; an agreement between the Duke of Anjou and the Queen of Lorraine allows her to administer in the name of her brother a part of northern Burgundy.
The Duchess is unwelcome at her return to Dijon, where the whispers around her call her the "Bradeuse de Duché", Duchy seller. A plot even begins to form around her, wanting to dethrone her and replace her by her great-uncle John III of Nevers. She has lost her parents, can not trust a possible Regency Council, and does not even have the choice of her marriage. Her only ally, Louis XI, would have no interest in helping her, but in desperation, she wrote him a letter, which will remain in history under the name "Letter of 1471". In this letter, she offers Louis XI Picardy and Artois in exchange for unlimited support from the King against all revolts that may occur against her, in all her territories, vassals of France or of the Empire. She offers her full support, proposes to extend the Royal Mail to Burgundy, and suggests a system of fires allowing the King and the Duchess to know when their ally needs help.
When he receives the letter, the King, very surprised, offers the Duchess to meet at Langres. The Duchess declines the proposal, explaining that she feels dying inside, which is reflected on her health. The Queen takes pity on her and asks the King to help "the poor child", King who, very surprised at the turn of events, decides to go to Dijon itself, accompanied by all his followers. When he arrives in Dijon in November, the Duchess seems very diminished, the emotional shock and the general feeling of loneliness having done their job. The Count of Nevers more and more openly demands the Duchy, and Mary of Burgundy is not in a position to defend herself. The King does not dare to negciate more than what Mary offers, affraid she would do something stupid, and offer her full support. He proposes that she could be part of the traveling Court, in order to get her away from this evil court of Dijon, and to form a Council of Regency formed of intendants loyal to the King. Marie accepts this proposal, provided she can take power whenever she wants.
King Louis XI takes the decision to go to Paris and install his court in the Hotel Saint-Paul, to meet the people of his capital. Louis XI intends to reaffirm the royal authority over the city, and wants to move closer to the center of the royal administration, the Palais de la Cité, to facilitate the modernization of the Kingdom he intends to undertake. It is also a way to reaffirm the power and prestige of the King facing Gentilly, at the gates of the capital, which benefits from the presence of Genoese and Byzantine merchants. The City of Gentilly knows a boom all the more important that Charlotte de Lusignan, whose previous husbands died, remarried with a wealthy Byzantine merchant. This event, which earned Queen Charlotte the nickname "La Banquière", resulted in a pregnancy of the Queen, who was desperate to have an heir. The Queen created the "Fondation de Lusignan" which includes all her possessions as well as those of her husband, offering to reign, if not on a Kingdom, at least on a flourishing Society.
Kingdom of France in January 1472. The land with two different greens is the shared part between Lorraine and Anjou
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Catharism was already dead in this period, they were all exterminated and they were portrayed and perceived negatively, so the Royal Charter would never supported them.
The Royal Chart authorizes every belief, there are Muslims in Roussillon, so why not Catharists. But, I didn't know they had all been exterminated at this time. My bad, I will remove it ^^
Edward IV was captured in Flanders by the armies of the King of France, despite the protests of the Flemish bourgeoisie, who were not so much opposed to the capture of Edward IV as to the intervention of the armies of the King of France. King Henry VI organizes a meeting in Calais with Louis XI, to sign the final peace treaty of the Hundred Years War. The Treaty of Calais was signed May 3, 1472 between the King of France and the King of England, confirming the capture of Calais and the Channel Islands by King Louis XI and the renunciation of King Henry VI to the throne of France. The Valois have therefore won the victory against the Plantagenets, and have even managed not to worry about mortal enemies.
The future of the kingdom of France seems assured: the King has three robust children, although his youngest daughter Jeanne seems to have troubles walking. Hélène, his eldest daughter, 11, is engaged to Prince Ludovikos Palaiologos. She is fluent in French, Latin, Greek and Italian, and is interested in history and sciences. Her youngest daughter, Jeanne de France, is 8 years old. Betrothed to the heir to the throne of Austria and the anticipated heir of the Roman Empire, she has a religious vocation since her childhood and tries to learn Latin, Hebrew, and Greek in order to discover the Bible. His youngest son is five years old. He gets on well with Marie de Bourgogne who does not want to spend too much time with him for fear of "having the impression of marrying my little brother," she says. This is the beginning of a few years long apeasment in the reign of Louis XI.
The Queen Charlotte of Savoy, exhausted by the pregancies and the travels, shares her time between her children and literature. She met and attracted to Paris several authors of which she formed a small circle, such as Jeanne Filleul, Philippe de Commynes and Jean Molinet. She is also interested in music, painting and architecture, and her enthusiasm reaches her husband and eldest daughter. The royal family also meets the Parisian people, Louis XI insisting on the importance of seeing and being seen. "Printing salons" are also emerging in Paris, but also Lyon and Bordeaux, some controlled by the King and his stewardship, other by literary associations or trading companies.
The King, noticing the positive influence of the Cities of Chartes on the economy and innovations throughout the Kingdom, he promulgated the Charter of the Grave, turning the Parish of Ambès into the City of La Grave, between the Garonne and the Dordogne. Not corresponding to any exiled kingdom, the city attracted some Jews but was not as successful as Gentilly or Fontaine. The City of Clermont, independent of the will of the King, also decides to try the Chartes to attract favors of the Byzantines. A wedding is celebrated between Catherine of the Tower of Auvergne, daughter of the Viscount of Turenne, and the Mystic of Fountain Elisée Ioannis, son of Military Captain Lukas Ioannis, having served during the War of the Public Good, first marriage between a Byzantine notable and a noble from great ancestry.
The Duke of Brittany François II is assassinated on October 15, 1475 without one can find the sponsor. The young Vicomte de Rohan demands the throne both in the name of his wife Marie de Bretagne that he supports as Duchess and in his name, proclaiming himself King of Brittany in the name of alleged ascendants with the Kings of Brittany. Nicole de Châtillon calls for help the King of France and raises his armies. Three parties are formed: the Duchesses Party supports the daughters of Duke Francis II, led by Pierre Landais; the Royal Party which supports the pretensions of Jean de Rohan as King, including also the Marshal of Rieux and the high Breton aristocracy; and the Penthièvre Party, supporting Nicole. This last party is not very popular in Brittany, because Nicole de Penthievre, although having the right with her, is not seen as legitimate by the nobles and the bourgeoisie.
The King of France intervenes by sending armies from Poitou and Normandy. The armies thus sent do not represent by far all the military capacities of Louis XI, but he does'nt want to risk too strong altercations with Brittany. The King therefore sends 4,000 men to support Nicole de Penthievre, as well as Irénos Bitsakis, to whom he gives the right to use the Fire Potion. Indeed, even if it is less effective than its model the Greek fire, the scientists of the King obtained a highly flammable mixture capable and rather liquid. The General thus invaded the Pays de Rennes together with Nicole de Penthièvre, taking Rennes by lighting a fire that burned the stocks of crops. The pretender of Rohan having set himself the goal of capturing Nantes, thinking to win the war by taking the capital, is surprised and encircled by the armies of the Penthievre Party in Vannes, where the boats were inflamed to cut off any retreat at the Viscount. This one is captured with the Marshal of Rieux and is forced to give up his pretensions on the Crown.
The Duchess Anne of Brittany, learning the capture of Vicomte de Rohan, realizes that she will not be able to defend herself against this coalition, and decides to capitulate, on the condition of preserving the territories of her Domain as Countess of Nantes. A compromise was found at La-Trinité-sur-Mer on January 12, 1476, making Anne de Dreux the Countess of Quimper and Isabeau de Dreux the Countess of Vannes. Nicole de Châtillon becomes Duchess of Brittany and she pays homage to the King of France as a vassal of it. The Kingdom of France annexes Brittany in 1476 and thus secures its borders to the West.
The future of the kingdom of France seems assured: the King has three robust children, although his youngest daughter Jeanne seems to have troubles walking. Hélène, his eldest daughter, 11, is engaged to Prince Ludovikos Palaiologos. She is fluent in French, Latin, Greek and Italian, and is interested in history and sciences. Her youngest daughter, Jeanne de France, is 8 years old. Betrothed to the heir to the throne of Austria and the anticipated heir of the Roman Empire, she has a religious vocation since her childhood and tries to learn Latin, Hebrew, and Greek in order to discover the Bible. His youngest son is five years old. He gets on well with Marie de Bourgogne who does not want to spend too much time with him for fear of "having the impression of marrying my little brother," she says. This is the beginning of a few years long apeasment in the reign of Louis XI.
The Queen Charlotte of Savoy, exhausted by the pregancies and the travels, shares her time between her children and literature. She met and attracted to Paris several authors of which she formed a small circle, such as Jeanne Filleul, Philippe de Commynes and Jean Molinet. She is also interested in music, painting and architecture, and her enthusiasm reaches her husband and eldest daughter. The royal family also meets the Parisian people, Louis XI insisting on the importance of seeing and being seen. "Printing salons" are also emerging in Paris, but also Lyon and Bordeaux, some controlled by the King and his stewardship, other by literary associations or trading companies.
The King, noticing the positive influence of the Cities of Chartes on the economy and innovations throughout the Kingdom, he promulgated the Charter of the Grave, turning the Parish of Ambès into the City of La Grave, between the Garonne and the Dordogne. Not corresponding to any exiled kingdom, the city attracted some Jews but was not as successful as Gentilly or Fontaine. The City of Clermont, independent of the will of the King, also decides to try the Chartes to attract favors of the Byzantines. A wedding is celebrated between Catherine of the Tower of Auvergne, daughter of the Viscount of Turenne, and the Mystic of Fountain Elisée Ioannis, son of Military Captain Lukas Ioannis, having served during the War of the Public Good, first marriage between a Byzantine notable and a noble from great ancestry.
The Duke of Brittany François II is assassinated on October 15, 1475 without one can find the sponsor. The young Vicomte de Rohan demands the throne both in the name of his wife Marie de Bretagne that he supports as Duchess and in his name, proclaiming himself King of Brittany in the name of alleged ascendants with the Kings of Brittany. Nicole de Châtillon calls for help the King of France and raises his armies. Three parties are formed: the Duchesses Party supports the daughters of Duke Francis II, led by Pierre Landais; the Royal Party which supports the pretensions of Jean de Rohan as King, including also the Marshal of Rieux and the high Breton aristocracy; and the Penthièvre Party, supporting Nicole. This last party is not very popular in Brittany, because Nicole de Penthievre, although having the right with her, is not seen as legitimate by the nobles and the bourgeoisie.
The King of France intervenes by sending armies from Poitou and Normandy. The armies thus sent do not represent by far all the military capacities of Louis XI, but he does'nt want to risk too strong altercations with Brittany. The King therefore sends 4,000 men to support Nicole de Penthievre, as well as Irénos Bitsakis, to whom he gives the right to use the Fire Potion. Indeed, even if it is less effective than its model the Greek fire, the scientists of the King obtained a highly flammable mixture capable and rather liquid. The General thus invaded the Pays de Rennes together with Nicole de Penthièvre, taking Rennes by lighting a fire that burned the stocks of crops. The pretender of Rohan having set himself the goal of capturing Nantes, thinking to win the war by taking the capital, is surprised and encircled by the armies of the Penthievre Party in Vannes, where the boats were inflamed to cut off any retreat at the Viscount. This one is captured with the Marshal of Rieux and is forced to give up his pretensions on the Crown.
The Duchess Anne of Brittany, learning the capture of Vicomte de Rohan, realizes that she will not be able to defend herself against this coalition, and decides to capitulate, on the condition of preserving the territories of her Domain as Countess of Nantes. A compromise was found at La-Trinité-sur-Mer on January 12, 1476, making Anne de Dreux the Countess of Quimper and Isabeau de Dreux the Countess of Vannes. Nicole de Châtillon becomes Duchess of Brittany and she pays homage to the King of France as a vassal of it. The Kingdom of France annexes Brittany in 1476 and thus secures its borders to the West.
During the three years between the installation of the Court in Paris and the Breton Civil War, the Kingdom has recovered from the various clashes between the King and his unruly vassals. The King, inspired by the "bankerism" of Charlotte de Lusignan, and with the support of his stewardship, bought farmland and opened workshops through his royal domain and that of his allies. Since the King's finances can be attributed to other things than war, he can afford to spend large sums to acquire many fields and workshops. This policy, coupled with the efficient administration permitted by the Royal Mail and the integration of the printing press, significantly increases the revenues of the crown.
Thanks to these investments of the King, France increases its economic weight across Europe and its influence on its allies. The trade, slowed thirty years ago by the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans, starts again, with the creation of new fairs such as the fairs of Perpignan. This growth of commerce greatly benefits Genoa, whose different families found, inspired by what are now called the "Lusignane Societies", Patrician Societies. These rely on the ability to produce the products they exchange instead of buying them expensively. The King is also beginning renovations of the most degraded buildings in Paris, in order to embellish the City and to satisfy the people, and begins to negotiate with the Churches and vassals with land in Paris to negotiate their redemption.
Thus, work begins in the neighborhoods of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, the Marais and La Cité, demolishing the houses falling into ruins and setting up a more efficient sewer system to eliminate the stench escaping from blocked sewers. On the other side of the walls, the City of Gentilly, having built from a few things, had from its foundation a more efficient system than that of Paris, so it was a question of competing with the Cité de la "Banquière". King Louis XI founded a City Council rendering justice throughout Paris, claiming that renovations required such an organization. Paris, under the influence of Orthodox, Jews and thinkers, is becoming better and better off minorities and is experiencing a cultural and artistic boom. Private gardens take shape in Paris, so that the nobles can return to Paris without having to constantly suffer the dirt of the city.
The King of France embarked on a policy of rapprochement with the Italian states: it brings him closer to Laurent de Medici, who sees in France an allied potential in the pacification of Italy. Indeed, Louis XI had participated in the general stability of Italy by putting under guardianship of Genoa and the resolution of the conflict over the Neapolitan succession. Politeness is also exchanged with the Venetian Government and the Duke of Lombardy, who are less enthusiastic but still lend themselves to diplomatic correspondence. Gradually, through delegations and diplomatic gifts, the King acquires a solid reputation and forms a network of acquaintances throughout Italy, and brings to France perfumes and some Italian foods such as lasagna.
Diplomatic efforts also target the Iberian Peninsula, King Louis XI offers his support to Isabella of Castile in the Spanish Civil War, approaches the King of Aragon and Sicily Ferdinand II and begins a diplomatic correspondence with Alfonso V of Portugal. He invited the Catholic Kings to let the Moors convert to Christianity when Grenada was captured, rather than kill them or force them into exile, and exchange with the King of Portugal regarding the lands discovered by him. Africa seems to be immense, and very long to circumvent, the Portuguese seeing only more land.
The coalition against Hungary, for its part, continues slowly but surely to mount the nobles against the King, to plunge Hungary into a civil war and to pick it as a fruit fallen to the ground. It is necessary for Poland to be able to anchor easily in Hungary, and to eliminate the Hungarian nobility to be able to reign without real opposition, that is why the track of the Civil War is envisaged. Frederick III and Ladislas of Poland agree together on the general acquisitions of Austria: it will seize the Hungarian coast, the Cities of Sopron, Presburg, Nitra, Trenčín and Györ. The more precise course of the border will be decided during the enthronement of the King. The Prince of Moldavia begins to invade, without formal declaration of war, the territories of the Prince of Wallachia, and institutes the "Oriental Romans" as an official language, in order to justify his claims on Transylvania and Wallachia, of similar languages, such as the union of the "Romans of the Danube".
Tension rises very quickly in Hungary, between the exasperated nobility of the strengthening of the monarchy and the King trying to protect his kingdom from outside influences. The Vlachs, relying on Hungarian protection, throw themselves into the arms of the Ottomans, leading to a de facto sharing of Wallachia between the County of Wallachia, included in the principality of Moldavia, and the Principality of Wallachia, vassal of the Ottomans. The Genoese Republic agrees with Prince Stephen III concerning the fate of Snake Island. A Genoese fleet is posted in a small port, built "in the Venetian", that is to say in pontoons on the water, to protect the island from an invasion. The Princely family Musat established a port in which to take refuge in case of Ottoman invasion.
Sorry, the moments between two posts will probably be much longer than two weeks ago I am back in highschool
Thanks to these investments of the King, France increases its economic weight across Europe and its influence on its allies. The trade, slowed thirty years ago by the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans, starts again, with the creation of new fairs such as the fairs of Perpignan. This growth of commerce greatly benefits Genoa, whose different families found, inspired by what are now called the "Lusignane Societies", Patrician Societies. These rely on the ability to produce the products they exchange instead of buying them expensively. The King is also beginning renovations of the most degraded buildings in Paris, in order to embellish the City and to satisfy the people, and begins to negotiate with the Churches and vassals with land in Paris to negotiate their redemption.
Thus, work begins in the neighborhoods of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, the Marais and La Cité, demolishing the houses falling into ruins and setting up a more efficient sewer system to eliminate the stench escaping from blocked sewers. On the other side of the walls, the City of Gentilly, having built from a few things, had from its foundation a more efficient system than that of Paris, so it was a question of competing with the Cité de la "Banquière". King Louis XI founded a City Council rendering justice throughout Paris, claiming that renovations required such an organization. Paris, under the influence of Orthodox, Jews and thinkers, is becoming better and better off minorities and is experiencing a cultural and artistic boom. Private gardens take shape in Paris, so that the nobles can return to Paris without having to constantly suffer the dirt of the city.
The King of France embarked on a policy of rapprochement with the Italian states: it brings him closer to Laurent de Medici, who sees in France an allied potential in the pacification of Italy. Indeed, Louis XI had participated in the general stability of Italy by putting under guardianship of Genoa and the resolution of the conflict over the Neapolitan succession. Politeness is also exchanged with the Venetian Government and the Duke of Lombardy, who are less enthusiastic but still lend themselves to diplomatic correspondence. Gradually, through delegations and diplomatic gifts, the King acquires a solid reputation and forms a network of acquaintances throughout Italy, and brings to France perfumes and some Italian foods such as lasagna.
Diplomatic efforts also target the Iberian Peninsula, King Louis XI offers his support to Isabella of Castile in the Spanish Civil War, approaches the King of Aragon and Sicily Ferdinand II and begins a diplomatic correspondence with Alfonso V of Portugal. He invited the Catholic Kings to let the Moors convert to Christianity when Grenada was captured, rather than kill them or force them into exile, and exchange with the King of Portugal regarding the lands discovered by him. Africa seems to be immense, and very long to circumvent, the Portuguese seeing only more land.
The coalition against Hungary, for its part, continues slowly but surely to mount the nobles against the King, to plunge Hungary into a civil war and to pick it as a fruit fallen to the ground. It is necessary for Poland to be able to anchor easily in Hungary, and to eliminate the Hungarian nobility to be able to reign without real opposition, that is why the track of the Civil War is envisaged. Frederick III and Ladislas of Poland agree together on the general acquisitions of Austria: it will seize the Hungarian coast, the Cities of Sopron, Presburg, Nitra, Trenčín and Györ. The more precise course of the border will be decided during the enthronement of the King. The Prince of Moldavia begins to invade, without formal declaration of war, the territories of the Prince of Wallachia, and institutes the "Oriental Romans" as an official language, in order to justify his claims on Transylvania and Wallachia, of similar languages, such as the union of the "Romans of the Danube".
Tension rises very quickly in Hungary, between the exasperated nobility of the strengthening of the monarchy and the King trying to protect his kingdom from outside influences. The Vlachs, relying on Hungarian protection, throw themselves into the arms of the Ottomans, leading to a de facto sharing of Wallachia between the County of Wallachia, included in the principality of Moldavia, and the Principality of Wallachia, vassal of the Ottomans. The Genoese Republic agrees with Prince Stephen III concerning the fate of Snake Island. A Genoese fleet is posted in a small port, built "in the Venetian", that is to say in pontoons on the water, to protect the island from an invasion. The Princely family Musat established a port in which to take refuge in case of Ottoman invasion.
Sorry, the moments between two posts will probably be much longer than two weeks ago
I am back in highschoolThe City of Perpignan and the Genoese Republic ask the King of France for help in the face of Barbary pirates, whom they suspect of support by the coastal cities-state of North Africa. Proposals are made for a donation from the royal finances to finance a large Arsenal of Narbonne, with the objective of protecting the maritime trade. However, the delegation, exchanging letters with the two Republics, increases its demands, and demands a pure and simple invasion of the City-states of the coast. The King refuses to accede to these exaggerated demands, but offers the Republics financial support if they want to carry out their project themselves. This agreement, though unrealistic, allocated Perpignan 20,000 gold crowns and Genoa 15,000 gold crowns to militarize part of the merchant navy. The King also founded the Royal Shipowners' Company, based in Harfleur and also having shipyards under construction in Montpellier, in order to offer France two marines able to intervene quickly.
Mary of Burgundy returned to take charge of governing Burgundy in July 1478, in great ceremony, after attending the official wedding of Helen of France and Ludovikos Paleologue, recorded under the name of Louis of Constantinople. Mary of Burgundy is 21, she returns to Dijon, in the Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy, with great pomp. The "French Princess," as her detractors call her, sets up a Council based on the intendants of the King of France, friends from Paris, and councilors whom she knows to be faithful, and with whom she has maintained an abundant correspondence. However, on the third day of life in Dijon, an attempt of kidnapping fomented by the Count of Nevers to take possession of Burgundy and usurp the throne.
The Duchess is saved by the heroic intervention of her valets who manage to repel the aggressor. He finally admitted the complicity of the Count of Nevers, which pushes Mary to declare war on his parent, in order to seize him. Having studied the military arts, the Duchess tries to organize her defenses, and calls her ally the King to fight at her side. King Louis XI easily invaded the little forts of the County of Eu, and sent a sizeable portion of his armies to the assault of the Nivernais and Rethel. The Count of Nevers tries to rally Brabant to his cause, as well as the Duke of Cleves. However, neither of them had faith in John of Burgundy to win this conflict.
The Duchess Marie therefore goes from one city to another of her possessions, rallying to her cause all the ones she could. The one who passed years ago for the "Duchy seller" was now ready to fight for this one, and received the support she had missed after the defeat of her father. The Burgundian armies stopped the Nivernais troops before they could cross three miles. In two battles, one of which the Duchess personally led, the Nivernais assault was repulsed. Just two weeks after the start of the conflict, the fortress of Rethel, after learning of the capture of John of Burgundy in Corbigny, surrendered.
The Count of Nevers is dispossessed of his lands, the Counties of Eu and Rethel go to the King of France, respectively attached to the provinces of Picardy and Champagne. The County of Nevers becomes direct possession of the Duchess of Champagne. The Duchess has managed to defeat her only serious competitor and extend her Duchy. It signs with the King of France a Treaty of Friendship symbolizing "the Unity of Burgundy and France", meaning both the belonging of Burgundy to France and the link between the Duchy of Burgundy and the Kingdom of France.
The Universities of Genoa and Fontaine are working together on various projects, such as the improvement of "wheel systems" for water and wind mills and various prototypes. The development of more efficient systems for water mills makes it possible to set up paper mills and sawmills around the city, which enrich the cities of Genoa and Dauphine. The project of travel around the world progresses little by little, with the installation of a small fleet to make the trip, studied in order to be able to compete with the Portuguese caravels.
Jeanne of France, having studied theology, is preparing little by little for her marriage to Frederick of Habsburg. She learned litterature from her mother, music from a teacher, and religion from nuns in a convent. She also speaks German, Italian, Greek and Latin. She studies the sacred texts herself, in addition to the teachings offered by the nuns, who are delighted by their student's interest in religion. Unlike her sister, who takes herself to the game of life in the purple of Fontaine, Jeanne prefers the sobriety of fortified castles, more sober. Since she is 14, she has one year left to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome, which she asks her father. She wants to do it on foot, Rome being only an excuse: in fact, she wants to meet the big and small people, to go through Turin to see the shroud of Christ. She also hopes to heal her lame hip, walking a lot, which the King's doctor advised.
Mary of Burgundy returned to take charge of governing Burgundy in July 1478, in great ceremony, after attending the official wedding of Helen of France and Ludovikos Paleologue, recorded under the name of Louis of Constantinople. Mary of Burgundy is 21, she returns to Dijon, in the Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy, with great pomp. The "French Princess," as her detractors call her, sets up a Council based on the intendants of the King of France, friends from Paris, and councilors whom she knows to be faithful, and with whom she has maintained an abundant correspondence. However, on the third day of life in Dijon, an attempt of kidnapping fomented by the Count of Nevers to take possession of Burgundy and usurp the throne.
The Duchess is saved by the heroic intervention of her valets who manage to repel the aggressor. He finally admitted the complicity of the Count of Nevers, which pushes Mary to declare war on his parent, in order to seize him. Having studied the military arts, the Duchess tries to organize her defenses, and calls her ally the King to fight at her side. King Louis XI easily invaded the little forts of the County of Eu, and sent a sizeable portion of his armies to the assault of the Nivernais and Rethel. The Count of Nevers tries to rally Brabant to his cause, as well as the Duke of Cleves. However, neither of them had faith in John of Burgundy to win this conflict.
The Duchess Marie therefore goes from one city to another of her possessions, rallying to her cause all the ones she could. The one who passed years ago for the "Duchy seller" was now ready to fight for this one, and received the support she had missed after the defeat of her father. The Burgundian armies stopped the Nivernais troops before they could cross three miles. In two battles, one of which the Duchess personally led, the Nivernais assault was repulsed. Just two weeks after the start of the conflict, the fortress of Rethel, after learning of the capture of John of Burgundy in Corbigny, surrendered.
The Count of Nevers is dispossessed of his lands, the Counties of Eu and Rethel go to the King of France, respectively attached to the provinces of Picardy and Champagne. The County of Nevers becomes direct possession of the Duchess of Champagne. The Duchess has managed to defeat her only serious competitor and extend her Duchy. It signs with the King of France a Treaty of Friendship symbolizing "the Unity of Burgundy and France", meaning both the belonging of Burgundy to France and the link between the Duchy of Burgundy and the Kingdom of France.
The Universities of Genoa and Fontaine are working together on various projects, such as the improvement of "wheel systems" for water and wind mills and various prototypes. The development of more efficient systems for water mills makes it possible to set up paper mills and sawmills around the city, which enrich the cities of Genoa and Dauphine. The project of travel around the world progresses little by little, with the installation of a small fleet to make the trip, studied in order to be able to compete with the Portuguese caravels.
Jeanne of France, having studied theology, is preparing little by little for her marriage to Frederick of Habsburg. She learned litterature from her mother, music from a teacher, and religion from nuns in a convent. She also speaks German, Italian, Greek and Latin. She studies the sacred texts herself, in addition to the teachings offered by the nuns, who are delighted by their student's interest in religion. Unlike her sister, who takes herself to the game of life in the purple of Fontaine, Jeanne prefers the sobriety of fortified castles, more sober. Since she is 14, she has one year left to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome, which she asks her father. She wants to do it on foot, Rome being only an excuse: in fact, she wants to meet the big and small people, to go through Turin to see the shroud of Christ. She also hopes to heal her lame hip, walking a lot, which the King's doctor advised.