Geoffroi Tête-Noire

Geoffroi Tête-Noire, a famous Breton mercenary.

Geoffroi Tête-Noire

Geoffroi Tête-Noire, a famous Breton mercenary.

Flanders

County of Flanders, a historical region in the Low Countries.

Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy (d. 1404)

Philippe, known as 'the Bold', duke of Burgundy (1342 - 1404), fourth son of Jean II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg. The duke of Burgundy was a prominent figure in the government of France during the reign of his nephew Charles VI, especially after 1392 when the king began to suffer from recurring bouts of insanity that gave the dukes of Berry and Burgundy the opportunity to seize power from Charles VI's trusted administrators, known as the Marmousets. Philippe married Margaret de Male, countess of Flanders, and this marriage eventually not only reunited the duchy of Burgundy with the 'free' counties of Burgundy and Artois, but also brought the wealthy counties of Flanders, Nevers and Rethel under the control of the duke of Burgundy. Thus this marriage alliance, and the consequent marriages of the duke of Burgundy's children, created the basis for the Grand Duchy of the West, a quasi-independent state rather than a mere fief of the French crown.

Ghenters

Tournai

Tournai (Hainault), Belgium

Guelders

Gueldres, a historical duchy in the Low Countries.

Brabant

Historical principality (duchy) in the Low Countries.

Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy (d. 1404)

Philippe, known as 'the Bold', duke of Burgundy (1342 - 1404), fourth son of Jean II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg. The duke of Burgundy was a prominent figure in the government of France during the reign of his nephew Charles VI, especially after 1392 when the king began to suffer from recurring bouts of insanity that gave the dukes of Berry and Burgundy the opportunity to seize power from Charles VI's trusted administrators, known as the Marmousets. Philippe married Margaret de Male, countess of Flanders, and this marriage eventually not only reunited the duchy of Burgundy with the 'free' counties of Burgundy and Artois, but also brought the wealthy counties of Flanders, Nevers and Rethel under the control of the duke of Burgundy. Thus this marriage alliance, and the consequent marriages of the duke of Burgundy's children, created the basis for the Grand Duchy of the West, a quasi-independent state rather than a mere fief of the French crown.

Dukes of Brabant and Guelders

See duke of Brabant, duke of Guelders.

Sophie of Mechelen

Daughter of Floris Berthout, lord of Mechelen, who was married to Reginald II, count of Guelders in 1311. In Book III of the Chronicles Froissart seems to give her name erroneously as Mary. Sophie had several children from her husband, but only two are mentioned by Froissart: her elder daugher Mathilde, whom Froissart called ‘Isabella’ in Book III, was married to John II of Blois and claimed the duchy of Guelders after the death of her half-brothers; a younger daughter Marie, whom Froissart called ‘Jeanne’ in Book III, was married to William VI of Juliers and also claimed the duchy. Sophie died in 1329.

Floris Berthout, lord of Mechelen

Brabantine nobleman, who was lord of Mechelen from 1310 until his death in 1331. Froissart states that Floris Berthout amassed a fortune by engaging in long-distance trade, but this claim does not seem to have any basis in the facts, although Floris must have benefited indirectly from the commercial activity in Mechelen, which at the time was one of the richest cities in Brabant. As the last remaining male heir of the main branch of the Berthout family, Floris held a large number of lordships, including the urban lordship of Mechelen and many rural domains. He also received several substantial fief-rents. All of this made him one of the richest non-princely aristocrats in the Low Countries, with an estimated annual income of 9,000 lb. tournois.

Brabanters

People of Gueldres

Brabanters

Grave

Duke of Guelders

Brabanters

Grave

River Meuse

Brabant

Historical principality (duchy) in the Low Countries.

People of Gueldres

People of Gueldres

Brabanters

Gangelt

Waldfeucht

Millen

Wenceslas I, duke of Luxemburg and Brabant (d. 1383)

Wenceslas I of Luxemburg (133? - 1383), duke of Luxemburg and Brabant, as a consort to Joanna, duchess of Brabant. Son of John 'the Blind', king of Bohemia, and Beatrix of Bourbon. He became the duke of Brabant through his wife Jeanne, who inherited the duchy of Brabant after her father's death in 1355. He was one of Froissart's patrons. He contributed to Froissart's Meliador through his lyric poetry, inserted at intervals throughout this long Arthurian romance. He died in 1383.

Brabant

Historical principality (duchy) in the Low Countries.

Guelders

Gueldres, a historical duchy in the Low Countries.

Edward, duke of Guelders (d. 1371)

Edward, duke of Gueldres (1336 - 1371) count of Gueldres; second son of Reginald II of Gueldres and Eleanor of Woodstock. He married Katherine of Bavaria. He and his brother, Reinaud III of Gueldres, both sons of Reinald II, duke of Gueldres, and Eleanor Plantagenet, princess of England. He died on 24 August 1371 in the battle of Baesweiler, leaving their sister, Marie of Gueldres, as the heir to the dukedom. Therefore Froissart must be referring to William of Juliers, the husband of Marie of Gueldres as the duke of Gueldres.

Battle of Baesweiler

Wenceslas I, duke of Luxemburg and Brabant (d. 1383)

Wenceslas I of Luxemburg (133? - 1383), duke of Luxemburg and Brabant, as a consort to Joanna, duchess of Brabant. Son of John 'the Blind', king of Bohemia, and Beatrix of Bourbon. He became the duke of Brabant through his wife Jeanne, who inherited the duchy of Brabant after her father's death in 1355. He was one of Froissart's patrons. He contributed to Froissart's Meliador through his lyric poetry, inserted at intervals throughout this long Arthurian romance. He died in 1383.

Brabanters

Manuscript reading: ce

Emended reading: se

Manuscript reading: que que

Emended reading: que

Manuscript reading: avcques

Emended reading: avecques

Manuscript reading: ses

Emended reading: ces