Product Description

John the Fearless, second Duke of Burgundy, is one of the more dramatic and puzzling characters among medieval rulers. He inherited the newly created duchy from his father, and defended and developed its power ruthlessly during his ducal reign (1404-1419). In the process, he allied himself with the English party in France, with whom he was supposed to have made an 'infernal pact', and came to dominate French politics; his manoeuvres led directly to his assassination on the bridge of Montereau in the presence of Charles, dauphin of France, who may have been personally involved. Indeed, the main theme of the book is John the Fearless's activities in France, which are seen in the light of the continued need to exploit French resources for the benefit of Burgundy. John also continued to build on the administrative and financial structures created by his father, which were the mainstay of the ducal power, and he had to deal with the restlessness of the Flemish towns, only recently made part of the Burgundian state.More than any other Burgundian ruler, it is John's personality which determines the course of events: violent and unscrupulous, one quality which John the Fearless completely lacked was prudence. He was a masterful opportunist, who acted impulsively with speed and decision, on the spur of the moment. In the end it was one of his own favoured weapons, political assassination, which was turned against him.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102234 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 354 pages

Review
This reissue of Vaughan's seminal series is welcome indeed. Nothing of this scale has been written before or since...on the Burgundian state.... Erudite but highly readable.... An attractive and timely repackaging of an unrivalled classic of Burgundian studies. MEDIUM AEVUM

English Historical Review
On series: "A major achievement in European historiography."

Customer Reviews

A fine series of the great Dukes of Burgundy - part two : the murdered Duke - Jean the Fearless
This is part 2 of the reissue in a condensed manner of Richard Vaughan's seminal 1962-73 Dukes of Burgundy the most complete study of the Valois Duchy of Burgundy.



John (1371 - 1419) was the second Valois Duke of Burgundy and ruled since 1404. When heir to Burgundy he was one of the leaders of the French forces sent to aid King Sigismund of Hungary in his war against the. When fighting in the battle of Nicopolis (1396) with great bravery the was given the nickname of Fearless (Sans-Peur).

His rule was dominated by the already existing conflict with his first cousin Louis of Orléans, younger brother of the increasingly mad King Charles VI, over the control of France. It was an ugly civil war, finally erupting when Duke Johan ordered the murder of his cousin Louis of Orleans in 1407. Peace was sworn and broken shortly afterwards. The English invasion brought furhter chaos to France. Ant one of his mighty magnate did not do anything to help: his troops took no part in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The French crown grew more and more helpless. The heir of France, the future Charles VII, tried to bring the Duke on his side, who occupied his capital Paris. On the grounds that peace was not sufficiently assured by the Pouilly meeting, a fresh interview was proposed by the Dauphin to take place on September 10, 1419 on the bridge at Montereau. John of Burgundy was present with his escort for what he considered a diplomatic meeting. He was, however, assassinated by the Dauphin's companions. So ended the all mighty Duke of Burgundy by the same method as he had used against his cousin.

It is a monumental struggle, showing the ugly sides of feudel society and magnates and kings not devoted to the common good. A family struglle pulling down the whole country. It is a fascianting but ugly read. John is properly the least likeable of the Valois Dukes of Burgundy. A great historcial study.