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PICTURES OF THE OLD FRENCH COURT
PICTURES OF THE OLD FRENCH COURT
Pictures of the Old French Court Jeanne de Bourbon Isabeau de Bavière Anne de Bretagne By Catherine Bearne Author of “Lives and Times of the Early Valois Queens” ILLUSTRATED BY EDWARD H. BEARNE FROM ANCIENT PRINTS, ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, &c. NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 1900...
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PREFACE
PREFACE
In a former book I endeavoured, from information gathered out of the records of the first half of the fourteenth century, to give some idea of the court and social conditions of France at that time, and also of the first three Valois Queens, whose very existence appears unknown to the average English reader. This was no easy matter owing to the scarcity of details, which had to be carefully gleaned from amongst masses of histories and chronicles of battles, sieges, conspiracies, general councils
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REIGN OF CHARLES V. AND JEANNE DE BOURBON CHAPTER I 1332–1356
REIGN OF CHARLES V. AND JEANNE DE BOURBON CHAPTER I 1332–1356
The House of Bourbon—Marriage of Pierre de Bourbon and Isabelle de Valois—Birth of their children—Betrothal of Jeanne to the Comte de Savoie—To the Dauphin Humbert—Her marriage with the heir of France—Character of Charles—Death of Philippe VI.—Coronation of King and Queen—Charles invested with Duchy of Normandy—Marriage of the Queen of Spain—Pedro el Cruel—Marriage of the Comtesse de Savoie—Death of the Duc de Bourbon at Poitiers. The royal house of Bourbon descends from Saint Louis through his
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CHAPTER II 1356–1358
CHAPTER II 1356–1358
France after the battle of Poitiers—The Jacquerie—The Marché de Meaux—The Comte de Foix and the Captal de Buch—Rescue of the Dauphine—Vengeance of the nobles. The captivity of the King and the flight of the Queen, who took refuge with her two children in her son’s duchy of Burgundy, placed Charles and Jeanne at the head of the court and kingdom. The Dauphin, or, as he preferred to call himself, the Duc de Normandie, assumed the government, and, in consideration of his youth, a council was appoin
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CHAPTER III 1358–1361
CHAPTER III 1358–1361
Return of Charles and Jeanne to Paris—Marriage of Catherine de Bourbon to the Comte de Harcourt—The Céléstins—The Treaty of Bretigny—Marriage of Isabelle de France to Giovanni Visconti—Return of the King—Death of the children of the Dauphine—The plague—The Duchy of Burgundy. The Duchess of Normandy and her friends were now free, after the horrible experience of the last few days. The enemy was destroyed, the revolt quelled, and the town, at which they could hardly have looked without shuddering,
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CHAPTER IV 1364–1367
CHAPTER IV 1364–1367
King Jean returns to England—His death—Coronation of Charles V. and Jeanne de Bourbon—Murder of Blanche, Queen of Spain—The Céléstine Church—The Abbey of Chelles—The King’s library—Magnificence of the Court—Birth and death of the second Princess Jeanne. Four years had passed away: years a little less unfortunate for France, as although Jean was still upon the throne and passed his time in travelling about his kingdom in search of amusement instead of giving serious attention to the affairs of th
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CHAPTER V 1368–1373
CHAPTER V 1368–1373
Comet—Meeting of Parliament—Marriage of the Queen’s sister—The Louvre and its gardens—Christine de Pisan—The Dauphin—His christening—War—French victories—Prosperity of France—Hôtel St. Paul—Birth of Marie de France—Capture and liberation of the Queen’s mother—Bonne, Comtesse de Savoie—Birth of Louis and Isabelle de France—Louis, Duc de Bourbon. A French historian assures us that in this, the year before the war began again, “the presage of it was seen in the heavens, that is to say in the Holy W
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CHAPTER VI 1373–1380
CHAPTER VI 1373–1380
Illness of the Queen—Her recovery—Floods in Paris—Death of several princesses of the Royal Family—Bertrand du Guesclin—The Court of Charles V. and Jeanne de Bourbon—The peers of France—The King’s will—Betrothal of his daughters—Visit of the Emperor Charles IV.—The Emperor and the Duchess-dowager de Bourbon—Birth of the Princess Catherine—Death of the Queen—Of the Princess Isabelle—Grief of the King—His death. The beds used at this time were enormous. If only six feet square they were considered
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CHAPTER I 1375–1385
CHAPTER I 1375–1385
The House of Wittelsbach—Stephan von Wittelsbach and Taddea Visconti—Birth of Isabeau—Negotiations for her marriage—Her journey to Brussels—The fair of Amiens—Her interview with the King—Her wedding—Charles and Louis de France. During several years after the death of Jeanne de Bourbon no Queen sat on the throne of France, for her son succeeded as a child of twelve years old. And it would have been difficult to find two kings and queens more totally unlike each other in every respect than Charles
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CHAPTER II 1385–1389
CHAPTER II 1385–1389
The Royal Family and Court of France—Birth and death of Charles and Jeanne de France—Dress and amusements—The Abbey of St. Denis—Knighthood of the King of Sicily—The ball—The Duchesse de Berry—Valentine Visconti. When Isabeau arrived at the French court the chief members of the royal family were the King, his brother Louis, Comte de Valois, and Duc de Touraine, who, though only fourteen, was already a soldier, having fought at the King’s side in the battle of Rosebecques, in Flanders, when he wa
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CHAPTER III 1389–1392
CHAPTER III 1389–1392
State entry of Isabeau into Paris—Magnificent fêtes—Southern tour of Charles and Louis—Bad health of Charles—Bonne d’Artois and Jean de Clermont—Dreadful storm—Birth of Dauphin—Death of Blanche, Duchesse d’Orléans—Pierre de Craon and the Constable de Clisson—Madness of the King. Although it was now four years since her marriage with Charles VI., Isabeau had never been crowned; and although she had of course often been in Paris, she had not made any ceremonial entry into that city. But she had no
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CHAPTER IV 1392–1398
CHAPTER IV 1392–1398
Tyranny of Duchess of Burgundy—Birth of Marie de France—Duchesse de Berry saves La Rivière—Doctor Hassely—King recovers—The masquerade—Dreadful fire—King ill—The sorcerers—King recovers—Dr. Fréron—King ill again—Accusations against Louis and Valentine—Birth of Louis de France—Betrothal of Isabelle de France to Richard II. of England—Their marriage—Disastrous crusade—Marriage of Jeanne de France to Duc de Bretagne—Marie de France takes the veil. The consternation of everybody and the confusion in
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CHAPTER V 1398–1400
CHAPTER V 1398–1400
Illness of the King—Execution of sorcerers—Birth of Jean de France—Death of Queen Blanche de Navarre—Household of Isabeau—Ludwig of Bavaria—Ancient Paris—The Queen’s châteaux—Burgundy and Orléans—Henry of Lancaster—The plague—Revolution in England—The Dauphin Charles. In 1398 things did not improve. The King had fewer lucid intervals, during one of which, however, he went to Reims and entertained with lavish hospitality the Emperor Wenceslas. The two monks were still at the Bastille occupied wit
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CHAPTER VI 1400–1409
CHAPTER VI 1400–1409
Courage of the young Queen of England—Death of the Dauphin—Birth of Catherine de France—Intrigues of Louis d’Orléans, and quarrels at court—Return of the Queen of England—Burgundians and Orléanists—Birth of Charles de France—Dreadful storms—Death of Burgundy—Illness of Duc de Berry—Conduct of Savoisy—Frère Jacques Legrand—The Princess Marie’s choice—Accident in the forest—The King and the Dauphin—Jean Sans-peur—King ill—Eclipse—Royal weddings—The great winter—Murder of Louis d’Orléans. “The marr
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CHAPTER VII 1407–1412
CHAPTER VII 1407–1412
Departure of royal family—Hundred Years’ War—Valentine d’Orléans—Queen returns to Louvre—Death of Valentine—Forced reconciliation—Philippe de Bourgogne and Michelle de France—Misconduct of the Duc de Bretagne—Death of Isabelle de France—Of the Duc de Bourbon—Quarrels of the Duke and Duchess of Aquitaine—Of the princes. Never did there appear to be a more conspicuous example of successful crime than the one recorded in the last chapter. Jean Sans-peur had satisfied his vengeance and got rid of hi
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CHAPTER VIII 1413–1435
CHAPTER VIII 1413–1435
Riots led by Burgundy—The Duc d’Aquitaine’s ball—His quarrels with Burgundy—The Comte de Charolais—Battle of Azincourt—Death of Aquitaine—The Dauphin Jean—His court—His death—Imprisonment of the Queen—Jean Sans-peur rescues her—Enters Paris by night—Massacre of Armagnacs—The Dauphin Charles—Murder of Jean Sans-peur—Marriage of Catherine de France to Henry V.—Departure for England—Birth of a son—Return to Paris—Festivities—Death of Henry V.—Death of Charles VI.—Retirement of the Queen—Henry VI. e
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MARIE D’ANJOU, WIFE OF CHARLES VII. CHARLOTTE DE SAVOIE, WIFE OF LOUIS XI. 1413
MARIE D’ANJOU, WIFE OF CHARLES VII. CHARLOTTE DE SAVOIE, WIFE OF LOUIS XI. 1413
Round Marie d’Anjou and Charlotte de Savoie, wives of Charles VII. and Louis XI., partly from their own personality and partly from the circumstances amidst which they were placed, so much less interest gathers than around the two Queens who precede or the one who follows them, that I have preferred to pass over their reigns, and to conclude this volume with a sketch of the more interesting character and eventful life of Anne de Bretagne, whose death closes the annals of the early Queens of the
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CHAPTER I 1476–1491
CHAPTER I 1476–1491
Birth of Anne and Isabelle—Their childhood—Louis d’Orléans—Alain d’Albret—Death of François II.—First Council—French war—Marriage ceremony—Siege of Rennes. Anne, eldest daughter of François II., Duc de Bretagne, and his second wife, Marguérite de Foix, was born at Nantes, January 26, 1476, 278 and her sister, Isabelle, four or five years after. Their mother died in 1485, leaving the children under the care of Françoise de Dinan, Dame de Laval, a member of one of the greatest families of Bretagne
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CHAPTER II 1491–1498
CHAPTER II 1491–1498
Joustes before Rennes—Death of Isabelle—Betrothal of Anne—Marguérite of Austria—Marriage of Anne—Charles VIII.—Birth of Dauphin—Italian War—Return of King—Death of Dauphin—Birth and death of other children—Death of Charles VIII. The French army lay encamped before Rennes. Hostilities began by the Bastard de Foix dressed as St. George, riding up to the walls and challenging any knight to come out and break a lance with him in honour of the ladies. A Breton noble in complete armour at once appeare
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CHAPTER III 1498–1501
CHAPTER III 1498–1501
Despair of the Queen—Resumes duchy—Friendship with Louis XII.—Returns to Bretagne—King’s divorce—Charlotte d’Aragon—Marriage of Anne and Louis XII.—Italian war—Birth of Claude de France—Splendour of Court—Hôtel des Tournelles—Maids of honour—Disaster in Italy. Charles VIII. died at dawn on Palm Sunday. 299 The Queen, who was only two and twenty, had now lost her mother, father, sister, children, and husband. In a frenzy of grief and despair she shut herself up in her own rooms where she remained
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CHAPTER IV 1501–1506
CHAPTER IV 1501–1506
Ludovico Sforza—Shipbuilding—Queen’s gardens—Library—Treasures—Dress—Betrothal of Claude de France—Archduke and Archduchess—Illness of King—Maréchal de Gié—Second illness of King—Queen in Bretagne—Second betrothal of Princess Claude. Ludovico Sforza was imprisoned at Loches, at first rigorously, but afterwards with indulgence, being allowed books, paper, ink, cards, paume , &c. He died in captivity. Louis had a project for the conquest of Naples, which displeased the Queen, by whom he wa
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CHAPTER V 1503–1514
CHAPTER V 1503–1514
Story of Anne de Graville—Illness of Claude—Court of Anne de Bretagne—Italian war—Marriage of Marguérite d’Angoulême—Dress and customs at Court—Birth of Renée de France—The Prince de Chalais—The Queen ill—Birth and death of a son—League of Cambrai—Sea-fight—Death of Queen. Though much vexed at her daughter’s engagement the Queen still hoped something might happen to prevent the marriage; meanwhile she formed the household of the Princess, and amongst others she placed in it Anne de Graville, one
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