The Rapondi were Philip the Bold and John the Fearless' favorite bankers. They funded everything from the day-to-day operations of the Burgundian Court to the Nicopolis Crusade to John's armies in the Civil War.

For more on the Rapondi Company check out Bart Lambert's Book The City, The Duke, and Their Banker.

Christine de Pizan was the favorite court writer of many of the most important Lords and Ladies of France in the early 1400s. She started her career writing Love Poetry before expanding to writing treatises on Politics, History, Gender, and Theology. In this episode I'll trace her political thought as the Armagnac-Burgundian civil war rages by focusing on three of her writings: The Book of the Body Politic, The Lament on the Evils of Civil War, and The Book of Peace.

Check out this episode's page on granddukesofthewest.com for a list of my sources and to read De Pizan's writings for yourself.

I've been saying for a while that the Burgundians used propaganda and public relations much more effectively than their opponents. In this episode I'll explore how they did that and what it meant.

For more on Burgundian Propaganda check out the work of Dr. Emily J. Hutchison.

Time Period Covered: 1401-1419

After years of Civil War John the Fearless and Dauphin Charles met on a bridge over the Yonne River to make peace...

Time Period Covered: 1418-1419

Notable People: John the Fearless, Charles VII of France, Henry V of England, Tanneguy du Chastel, Lady of Giac, Queen Isabeau, Jean Louvet, Nicolas Rolin

Notable Events/Developments: English Conquest of Rouen, Treaty of Pouilly-le-Fort, Assassination of John the Fearless

The Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War is at a fever pitch yet again. John the Fearless has launched a major expedition into the Ile de France while the Count of Armagnac struggles to maintain Armagnac control of Paris. Meanwhile, King Henry V of England has taken advantage of the chaos in France and launched another invasion of Normandy.

Time Period Covered: 1417-1418

Notable People: John the Fearless, Bernard VII Count of Armagnac, Charles VII of France, Henry V of England, Tanneguy du Chastel, Queen Isabeau

Notable Events/Developments: Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War, Burgundian Seizure of Paris, John the Fearless' Hesdin Manifesto, English Invasion of Normandy

Get tickets to the Intelligent Speech Conference on November 4 at intelligentspeechonline.com

The Battle of Agincourt and death of Dauphin Louis upended many of the political arrangements of the past few years. The conflict between the Armagnacs and Burgundians continues, now without Louis of Guyenne to keep them in check. All the while the kings of England and Germany conspire to make their own advances at France's expense.

Time Period Covered: 1416-1417

Notable People: John the Fearless, Sigismund of Luxembourg, Bernard VII Count of Armagnac, William of Bavaria Count of Hainault-Holland-Zeeland, John of Touraine, Henry V of England

Notable Events/Developments: The Council of Constance, Death of John of Barry, Death of Louis II of Anjou, Death of William of Bavaria

After years of rising tension between England and France, the ambitious new English King Henry V decided that an expedition to Normandy was the panacea for his domestic troubles. Meanwhile in France, the squabbles between Dauphin, the Armagnacs, and the Burgundians hamstrung efforts for a united defense of the kingdom.

Time Period Covered: 1415

Notable People: John the Fearless, Louis of Guyenne, Henry V of England, John Duke of Berry, Anthony of Burgundy Duke of Brabant, Philip of Burgundy Count of Nevers, Charles Duke of Orleans, Charles d'Albret Constable of France, Marshall Boucicaut, Bernard VII of Armagnac

Notable Events/Developments: Siege of Harcourt, Battle of Agincourt, Death of Louis of Guyenne

Check out Battle Royale's Regency of Madness!

After the fall of the Cabochiens, John the Fearless fled Paris and left the city wide open for the Armagnacs to return. Now at the helm of government, the Armagnacs work to use France's resources to settle their scores with the Duke of Burgundy.

Time Period Covered: 1413-1415

Notable People: John the Fearless, Louis of Guyenne, John Duke of Berry, Anthony of Burgundy Duke of Brabant, Margaret of Burgundy Countess of Hainault-Holland-Zeeland, Philip the Good, Louis de Chalon Count of Tonnerre

Notable Events/Developments: Armagnac Campaign into Picardy and Artois, Treaty of Arras (1414)

John the Fearless continues to be dominant in Paris, but with the Peace of Auxerre coming into effect, the Armagnacs are attempting to share in the Government of France once more. To ensure his power, John the Fearless courts the radicals of Paris and the Estates General, but soon the radicals develop a mind of their own and a medieval French Revolution might be in the making.

Time Period Covered: 1413

Notable People: John the Fearless, Louis of Guyenne, John Duke of Berry, Waleran of Luxembourg Count of Saint-Pol, Jean de Troyes, Simon Caboche, Pierre Des Essarts, Eustache de Pavilly, Jean Jouvenal

Notable Events/Developments: Peace of Auxerre, The Cabochien Uprising, The Ordonnance Cabochienne, The Estates General of 1413

After the first showdown with the League of Gien, John the Fearless managed to maintain his grip on power. But the Armagnacs are regrouping and the war is about to escalate as both parties court support from the King of England.

Time Period Covered: 1410 - 1412

Notable People: John the Fearless, John Duke of Berry, Charles Duke of Orleans, John V Duke of Brittany, Charles d'Albret Constable of France, Bernard VII Count of Armagnac, Louis II Duke of Anjou, Charles III King of Navarre, Queen Isabeau, Waleran of Luxembourg Count of Saint-Pol, Henry IV of England, Henry V of England

Notable Events/Developments: Burgundian Armagnac Civil War, First Armagnac Campaign into Picardy, War for Tonnerre, 1412 Siege of Bourges