October 13, 2025

MAP95: John the Fearless and the Bloody Fight for France

29 minutes

🇫🇷 John the Fearless and the Bloody Fight for France 🇫🇷

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John the Fearless (1371-1419)

14th century France was in utter turmoil, torn apart by an insane king, multiple assassinations, a failed Crusade, a brutal civil war, and a new, devastating phase of the Hundred Years' War. The country was on the brink of collapse.

At the center of it all stood one man: John the Fearless, a prince of the blood with a legitimate claim to the throne, a crusader who battled the Turks in the Balkans, and a powerful duke who shaped the destiny of an entire nation.

John earned his name 'the Fearless' at the Battle of Nicopolis fighting the Ottoman Turks. Sultan Bayezid I gave him the name after witnessing John's fierce nature in battle. John was captured at Nicopolis and remained a prisoner for two years.

After returning to France and becoming the Duke of Burgundy he looked to expand his power and influence, ultimately assassinating the Duke of Orleans leading to the Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War.

John the Fearless' story is a wild tale of ambition, betrayal, and bloodshed. So, get ready to explore a pivotal chapter of French history.

Get all the links and see the bibliography in the show notes on Medieval Archives!

Grab a free copy of A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

Other episodes mentioned:
Ep. 31 - Mad Monarchs of the Middle Ages
Ep. 44 - The Battle of Agincourt (1415)

(00:00) - Welcom to Medieval Archives

(00:23) - Heading to Medieval France

(00:57) - Thank you to all the producers!

(01:38) - Early life of John the Fearless

(03:22) - John on Crusade

(07:17) - Battle of Nocopolis 1396

(12:44) - John, Duke of Burgundy

(16:31) - Assassination of Louis of Orleans

(18:00) - Burgundian- Armagnac Civil War

(21:30) - Treaty of Pouilly-le-Fort with Dauphin Charles

(22:42) - Assassination of John the Fearless

(24:17) - Aftermath & The Treaty of Troyes

(26:51) - Catherine of Valois & the Tudor Dynasty

(27:08) - John the Fearless conlcusion

(28:27) - Shownotes & Bibliography

(28:39) - Send in comments or leave a voicemail

(28:49) - Share with your friends!

(28:56) - Become an Executive Producer!

(29:17) - We have a website!

(29:21) - THANK YOU for your support!

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