Grand Dukes of the West: A History of Valois Burgundy

Philip the Good was a prince of a European stature, and as such he interacted with the Church in a number of ways and on a number of levels. The Duke of Burgundy did his best to control the Church in his lands, influence the Bishoprics which neighbored his territories, and make his voice heard in Rome and in the emerging Council of Basel.

Time Period Covered: 1428-1440

Notable People: Philip the Good, Pope Martin V, Pope Eugenius IV, John of Heinsberg, Rudolf von Diepholz, Guillaume Fillastre

Notable Events/Developments: Utrecht Schism, Dinant-Bouvignes Conflict, Council of Basel

1430 was a banner year for Burgundian magnificence. Philip the Good's marriage to Isabella of Portugal and his founding of the Order of the Golden Fleece demonstrated the wealth, influence, and power of Burgundy.

Time Period Covered: 1430

Notable People: Philip the Good, Isabella of Portugal, John of Luxembourg, Hugh de Lannoy, Antoine de Croy, Jan van Eyck

Notable Events/Developments: Marriage of Philip the Good and Isabella of Portugal, Founding of the Order of the Golden Fleece

The late 1420s and early 1430s saw the rapid expansion of the Burgundian State. In this episode we'll trace the course of that expansion and explore just how the Duke of Burgundy was able to unite these disparate territories.

Time Period Covered: 1430-1433

Notable People: Philip the Good, Jacqueline of Bavaria, Frank van Borselen, Philip of Saint-Pol

Notable Events/Developments: The Treaty of Delft, Mortgage of Holland and Zeeland to the Borselen, Marriage of Jacqueline of Bavaria and Frank van Borselen, Death of Philip of Saint-Pol, Burgundian acquisition of Namur

Joan of Arc is gone, but she certainly is not forgotten. In this episode we'll explore the legend of Joan of Arc as well as the legacy of the Maid.

Joan of Arc's run of uninterrupted successes stalled before the walls of Paris in September 1429. Now there were those in the Court of Charles VII who wanted to sideline the Maid, but Joan was determined to continue the fight.

Time Period Covered: 1429-1431

Notable People: Joan of Arc, Charles VII, Georges de la Tremoille, Pierre Cauchon Bishop of Beauvais, John of Luxembourg, Philip the Good

Notable Events/Developments: The Siege of La Charite (1429), The Siege of Compiegne, The Inquisition of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc had arrived at the Dauphin's court claiming that she would relieve the Siege of Orleans and lead the prince to Reims to be crowned. After successfully chasing the English away from Orleans, it was time to get Charles VII his crown.

Time Period Covered: 1429

Notable People: Joan of Arc, Charles VII, John II of Alencon, La Hire, Poton de Xaintrailles, Georges de la Tremoille, John Duke of Bedford, The Bastard of Orleans, Arthur de Richemont

Notable Events/Developments: The Loire Campaign, The Battle of Patay, The Coronation of Charles VII, The Siege of Paris (1429)

The fortunes of the Dauphin were at a low point, Brittany had capitulated to the English, Maine had been conquered, and now Orleans was under threat. The collapse of Charles' cause seemed imminent, but he would receive a second wind when a peasant girl named Joan arrived at his court claiming to be sent by God.

Time Period Covered: 1429

Notable People: Joan of Arc, Charles VII, Yolande of Aragon, The Bastard of Orleans, La Hire, Poton de Xaintrailles, John II of Alencon, Robert de Baudricourt

Notable Events/Developments: The Battle of the Herrings, Rise of Joan of Arc, Relief of Orleans

While Philip was occupied in Hainault, Holland, and Zeeland the Hundred Years War still raged in France. The steady advance of the English continues while the Dauphinists, consumed by internal conflict, attempt to stem the tide.

Time Period Covered: 1424-1429

Notable People: Arthur de Richemont, Yolande of Aragon, Charles VII, Jean Louvet, Tanneguy du Chatel, Georges de la Tremoille, John Duke of Bedford

Notable Events/Developments: Defection of Richemont to the Dauphin, Fall of Jean Louvet, Rise of Georges de la Tremoille, The Siege of Orleans

Philip the Good and his cousin Jacqueline of Bavaria are locked in a struggle for the Counties of Holland and Zeeland. But this conflict between cousins is only one part of the partisan clash between the Hook and Cod Factions which has been going on for decades. Now the dynastic and factional strife has combined and a brutal civil war is being fought for the Counties.

Time Period Covered: 1425-1428

Notable People: Philip the Good, Jaqueline of Bavaria, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, Walter Lord Fitzwalter

Notable Events/Developments: Jacqueline's flight to Holland, Hook and Cod Wars, Battle of Brouwershaven, Treaty of Delft

Jacqueline of Bavaria is back in the Low Countries with a new husband. While Philip the Good, John IV of Brabant, and John the Pitiless are all arrayed against her, the Countess of Hainaut-Holland-Zeeland is going to fight for her Counties and now she has the English backing her up...right?

Time Period Covered: 1421-1425

Notable People: Philip the Good, Jaqueline of Bavaria, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, John IV of Brabant, Philip of Saint-Pol, John Duke of Bedford, John the Pitiless

Notable Events/Developments: Marriage of Jacqueline of Bavaria and Humphrey of Gloucester, Death of John the Pitiless, The Hook and Cod Wars