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The world we live in was shaped by war.
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For hundreds of years, power -hungry
families fought for the right to rule,
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and Europe transformed.
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For the glory of England!
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I, Philip de Valois, am the only king of
France.
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These rivalries shifted borders.
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Curse me, the French king!
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...destroyed cities and brought
populations to their knees.
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A war of thrones, a tale of murder, sex,
and betrayal.
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Greatness, madam, that is what France
needs.
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Those not crowned in glory were brutally
slaughtered or condemned to rot in the
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shadows.
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the heretic and must perish in the
flames.
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Guards! Guards!
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In the merciless game of war and
ambition, anything goes.
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In the second half of the 15th century,
a perfidious king was crowned in France.
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But its throne was threatened.
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Battles were being prepared.
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From England to Austria, throughout
Europe, marriages were arranged.
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But one enemy would prove more
formidable than the others.
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The Kingdom of France would have a hard
time retaining its power.
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On August 15, 1461, beneath the great
vaulted roof of Reims Cathedral, where
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all the kings of France had been crowned
since the ninth century, the dauphin
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Louis de Valois was crowned Louis XI.
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At 38 years old, it was hard for him to
conceal his pride, for he had always
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been impatient to reign.
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Twenty years earlier, Louis had tried to
overthrow his father, Charles VII,
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determined to take his place on the
throne of France.
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You are no longer worthy of the kingdom
of France.
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And you dare to show yourself with this
harlot?
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In those days, he was ashamed of his
father, Charles VII.
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He thought him more inclined towards the
pleasures of the court than for war
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against the enemies of the kingdom.
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Charles appeared everywhere with his
favorite, the beautiful Agnès Sorel.
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Cease this foolishness immediately.
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Do not take the risk of losing the
throne before you've even been crowned.
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But Charles VII would not be
intimidated.
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The arrogant Dauphin was finally forced
to ask the king's pardon.
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This challenge that history has labeled
the Praguerie is remembered as a failed
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coup d 'etat.
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Louis XI was spared, but as a reprisal.
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One of the revolt's leaders was put to
death.
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He was tied up in a sack and thrown
alive into the river.
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From
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this
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error of his youth, Louis XI would
always remain fearful of plots against
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More than 20 years after this revolt, on
the day of his coronation, many of the
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great lords attending feared this new
king.
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Because everyone there had always taken
the father's side against the son.
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May the messenger of God and of men make
you the mediator of the clergy and the
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people.
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When the coronation was over, many of
the nobility threw themselves at his
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trying to get into his good graces.
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But Louis XI made no promises.
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Barely had he been crowned, then he made
some decisions that were to surprise
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them.
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The new king decided to remove the
nobles from power and surround himself
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common people.
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This was betrayal for his ministers, all
born into the nobility and who had
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faithfully served his father.
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Come, my friend.
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Take your place.
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At the first council, they reacted
violently against the newcomer.
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I shall decide who sits among us.
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Louis XI decided to remove his enemies
from power.
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In their places, he put friends in the
key posts of the kingdom. The barber
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fit at the council.
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His barber became an ambassador, his
tailor a herald of arms, and his doctor
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chancellor.
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For Louis had learned to trust the
common people, where he grew up, at the
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Château de Loche in Turin.
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His father, King Charles VII, had wanted
his son to spend his childhood here,
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far away from the court at Bourges, in
order to protect him from the English,
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who still occupied a large part of
France.
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The Dauphin's upbringing was entrusted
to nurses and tutors.
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He was a pious child who was given a
well -rounded education.
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Knee.
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Arm. But his solitude and the rather
austere atmosphere at court turned him
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a secretive prince, sometimes cruel and
already distrustful. Turn around.
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Faster. Turn again.
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Arm again.
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Arm again.
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Arm.
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would turn the chateau of his childhood
into a prison where prisoners were
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locked in iron cages.
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Because once crowned, he would mistrust
everyone.
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Particularly the King of England, Edward
IV of York, who could very easily have
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restarted the Hundred Years' War.
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This courageous warrior had taken the
English throne by force and had not
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up the hope of wearing the crown of
France.
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But Louis XI was equally suspicious of
the nobility of France, whose fiefs
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up the kingdom, such as Brittany, the
men Anjou, the Orléans, and Burgundy.
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Rather than wage war against them, the
universal spider, as he was already
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known, was to play the marriage game.
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To control the towns of Orléans and
Blois, Louis XI married his second
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Jeanne de France, to young Louis d
'Orléans, who was only 14 years old.
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The 12 -year -old princess was not ugly,
but she had been deformed and lame.
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When Marie de Cleves, the young groom's
mother, saw her, she almost fainted.
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But the marriage took place.
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But this marriage game was soon to turn
against the King of France.
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Many thought that Louis XI was leading
France to its downfall, beginning with
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his younger brother, Charles de France.
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In February 1465, during a royal haunt,
he slipped away.
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He had a secret meeting in Paris.
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Like him, the Dukes of Brittany,
Bourbon, Lorraine, and others had been
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from power by Louis XI.
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To avenge themselves, they formed a
movement.
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known as the League for the Public
Wheel.
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At the head of this revolt was the son
of the Duke of Burgundy, soon to be
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as Charles the Bold.
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My dear friends, the kingdom is being
driven into the ground.
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Like Louis XI, Charles the Bold
descended from a king of France, John II
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Good. They were first cousins and had
the same determination to fight.
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With this pledge, let it be known that
we, princes of the blood, barons... The
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bold was intelligent, proud, and brutal,
and like all lords of the League, was
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ready to do anything to overthrow Louis
XI.
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We pledge to seat a just man on the
throne of France.
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His idea was to appoint the king's
younger brother, Charles de Fonf, as
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Let us swear, my friends.
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We swear!
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In the name of the League of the Wheel,
the bold declared war on the King of
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France.
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On May the 10th, 1465, with more than 10
,000 men, he headed towards Paris.
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Immediately, Louis XI left Tours with an
army of around 7 ,000 soldiers.
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On the evening of July the 15th, the two
sides met.
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The following day at dawn, Louis gave
the order to attack.
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The battle was very disorganized. It was
total
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chaos.
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The Burgundians penetrated the French
rank.
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The Royal Army pretended to retreat and
then disperse.
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By the middle of the morning, the battle
had started up again in small
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skirmishing groups.
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Louis XI was himself attacked by a
warrior nicknamed the great bastard of
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Burgundy, half -brother of the bull.
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Louis XI was wounded and fell to the
ground.
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Believing himself victorious, Charles
the Bold went to take possession.
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of the Chateau of Monnery.
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Suddenly, he was attacked by the king's
men.
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His equerry was killed outright.
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The bold was wounded in the throat, but
managed to escape.
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On the battlefield, the king's soldiers
rushed to Louis XI, who lay on the
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ground.
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God has spared me.
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The king was safe, but both the French
and Burgundian armies were exhausted and
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withdrew.
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More than 2 ,000 men on each side had
lost their lives.
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No one really knew who had won the
Battle of Montlhéry. Both sides claimed
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victory.
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Louis XI returned to Paris.
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But his enemies did not give up.
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With other lords of the League, the bold
besieged the capital, hoping to weaken
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the king.
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But the monarch waited patiently for the
coalition troops to become exhausted
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and starved before he agreed to
negotiate.
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After about three weeks of siege, Louis
XI, almost unescorted, met the bold at
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Conflon. The king did not underestimate
his enemy.
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My cousin.
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My cousin.
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I know you are a gentleman of the House
of France.
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A skilled strategist. He started by
flattering the bold.
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I have not forgotten that we were once
allies.
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In return, I will reward you by granting
you that which you have asked.
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Louis XI granted fiefs to his enemies.
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To his brother went Normandy, to the
bold the towns of the Somme and the
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of Boulogne in Picardy.
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The king knew that the Treaty of
Conflans would stir up discord among the
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coalition.
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And he was right.
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Barely a month later, some dukes grew
envious of the territories that others
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received. The League of the Public Wheel
shattered, and Louis quickly retook
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Normandy and wanted to win back the
towns in the sum that had been given to
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bold.
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But rather than to go to war again, the
enemies decided to negotiate.
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On October 9th, 1468, the King of
France, responding to Charles the Bold's
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invitation, arrived at the Chateau of
Perron in Picardy.
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Agreed. All this park will remain with
the Forest of Coulee.
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For five days, The King of France and
the Duke of Burgundy argued bitterly.
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So, let us agree to keep this part
upstream.
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Eventually, they managed to agree to the
terms of the Treaty of Perron.
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By way of agreement, they both swore on
the cross.
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Neither of us will go to war with the
other, nor cover the other's lands or
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subjects.
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The borders are clearly to point.
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The ink on the Treaty of Peronne was
hardly dry before Charles the Bold
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he had already been betrayed.
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He soon received a message informing him
that the town of Liège, one of his
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fiefs, was in full revolt.
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While he was making a pact with Louis
XI, The king had sent agents to Flanders
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in the bold territory to stir up a
rebellion.
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Greta, arrest that man!
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The bold immediately wanted to make
Louis XI pay for his betrayal.
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He closed all the gates of Peron and
doubled the guard.
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Louis XI was a prisoner and had to
follow the Duke of Burgundy and his
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to Liège.
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On October 27, 1468, the Bold's army
besieged the city of Liège.
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Louis XI, held prisoner, had to watch
the destruction of the city which had
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risen up for him.
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Over four days, 4 ,000 Liégeois were put
to the sword.
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When the massacre was over, Louis XI
went home, where more bad news awaited
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Despite their defeat at the Battle of
Castillon 15 years earlier, the English
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had never stopped aspiring to the French
throne.
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And to get it, they had a new ally.
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On July the 3rd, in Bruges, Margaret of
York, the twenty -year -old sister of
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King Edward IV of England, was waiting
for her husband on their nuptial night.
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You're my most beautiful jewel, madam.
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That very morning, during a lavish
celebration through the Flemish town,
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said yes to Charles the Bold.
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But the young bride knew that her brutal
husband did not really love her.
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She was merely the object of a pact
between England and Burgundy to
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their common enemy, Louis XI.
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It was also through the help of a woman
that the King of France retaliated,
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through his cousin, the former Queen of
England, Marguerite of Anjou.
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And so he revived what came to be called
the War of the Roses.
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In those days in England, two branches
of the royal family claimed the throne.
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On one side, the House of Lancaster,
whose symbol was a red rose. On the
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the House of York, with a white rose.
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Since 1422, Henry VI of Lancaster was
King of England, but suffering from
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schizophrenia, he had to yield the
regency to his wife, Queen Marguerite of
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Anjou, Louis XI's cousin.
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Edward of York took advantage of the
king's weakness and seized power by
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In 1461, he proclaimed himself Edward IV
of England and had the Lancastrian king
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locked up in the sinister Tower of
London.
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This chaotic situation across the
channel enabled Louis XI to weaken
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Bold and his brother -in -law, Edward of
York.
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Sire. Madam. He offered his cousin
Marguerite of Anjou an army to take back
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throne of England from Edward of York.
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Come, madam.
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In exchange...
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He demanded a 30 -year truce between the
two countries that had been at war for
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over 100 years.
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The former Queen of England accepted.
232
00:23:27,090 --> 00:23:30,930
She signed a treaty promising the
English crown to Lancaster.
233
00:23:49,740 --> 00:23:54,840
Two weeks later, Louis XI's men freed
Margaret's husband from his London
234
00:23:59,220 --> 00:24:04,080
Henry of Lancaster thus took back the
crown of England from Edward of York,
235
00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:05,180
was driven into exile.
236
00:24:07,460 --> 00:24:12,720
Even though weakened after ten years of
captivity, Henry of Lancaster promised
237
00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,440
to support the King of France against
the Bulls.
238
00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,300
This time, Louis XI had won.
239
00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:27,760
Backed by his new political and military
strength, Louis XI decided to attack
240
00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:28,459
the bold.
241
00:24:28,460 --> 00:24:34,500
In 1471, the Royal Army of France
deployed its forces in Picardy, while
242
00:24:34,500 --> 00:24:37,040
unit entered Burgundy through the
Dauphiné.
243
00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,320
Louis XI wrote, I hope this is the end
of the Burgundians.
244
00:24:43,060 --> 00:24:45,760
But his optimism was to be sorely
tested.
245
00:24:50,510 --> 00:24:54,450
The news Louis XI received from England
was very bad indeed.
246
00:24:55,310 --> 00:25:01,010
Six months after being overthrown,
Edward IV had recaptured the English
247
00:25:02,030 --> 00:25:06,250
The White Rose of York was once again
flying over Westminster.
248
00:25:14,150 --> 00:25:18,650
Margaret of Anjou was captured and Henry
VI of Lancaster.
249
00:25:19,020 --> 00:25:21,560
was taken back to his role in the Tower
of London.
250
00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,460
There, he was stabbed on Edward of
York's orders.
251
00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:37,560
It's said that his ghost would forever
haunt his cell.
252
00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:54,400
France had just lost an ally, and then
the kingdom was once again infected by
253
00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:55,400
the Black Plague.
254
00:26:00,940 --> 00:26:04,560
The epidemic was to strike the royal
family at its very heart.
255
00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,320
François, one of Louis XI's young sons,
fell victim.
256
00:26:28,810 --> 00:26:32,450
the King of France was once again very
much alone to defend his throne,
257
00:26:32,710 --> 00:26:38,570
especially since his enemies had
recovered their strength.
258
00:26:40,530 --> 00:26:46,330
At the beginning of July 1475, the King
of England landed in Calais with an army
259
00:26:46,330 --> 00:26:50,770
of 1 ,500 spearmen, 1 ,000 infantry, and
a powerful artillery.
260
00:27:01,390 --> 00:27:05,730
Edward of York and his men were to have
joined up with the bold to revive the
261
00:27:05,730 --> 00:27:08,430
Hundred Years' War and take the throne
of France.
262
00:27:15,590 --> 00:27:22,270
Louis XI knew the power and
determination
263
00:27:22,270 --> 00:27:23,270
of the English.
264
00:27:23,470 --> 00:27:27,910
To stop their advance, he sent his
soldiers to burn the harvests and
265
00:27:27,910 --> 00:27:29,630
villages in the north of the kingdom.
266
00:27:38,860 --> 00:27:42,760
There was no way he would allow his
enemies to get fresh supplies before
267
00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:43,760
the Burgundians.
268
00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,320
The furious king of England was stuck in
Calais.
269
00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,240
He was waiting for his brother -in -law
Charles the Bold and his army.
270
00:27:59,860 --> 00:28:04,060
Together, they were to go to Reims,
where Edward IV would be crowned king of
271
00:28:04,060 --> 00:28:05,060
France.
272
00:28:08,270 --> 00:28:10,170
But the Bold never arrived.
273
00:28:16,430 --> 00:28:21,170
Instead of joining Edward, he decided to
embark on a military campaign in
274
00:28:21,170 --> 00:28:25,290
Germany, where he hoped to assume the
crown of the Germanic Holy Roman Empire.
275
00:28:27,230 --> 00:28:31,830
The King of England, betrayed by Charles
the Bold, knew he didn't have enough
276
00:28:31,830 --> 00:28:34,270
troops to face the Royal Army of France
alone.
277
00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:42,440
So he demand talks with Louis XI.
278
00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:51,160
The meeting took place at the Chateau de
Piquigny, north of the city of Amiens.
279
00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:09,280
For this crucial encounter on the river
Somme, A wooden grill was placed between
280
00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:13,360
the King of France and the King of
England to ward off any possible attack.
281
00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:16,100
I bid you welcome.
282
00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:18,120
Thank you, my cousin.
283
00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:24,780
After a few polite words on August the
29th, 1475, the two sovereigns exchanged
284
00:29:24,780 --> 00:29:26,000
a kiss of peace.
285
00:29:27,380 --> 00:29:31,640
A peace for which Louis XI was expecting
to pay a high price.
286
00:29:33,580 --> 00:29:35,140
Come, my friend, have a drink.
287
00:29:39,370 --> 00:29:41,710
Go on, drink, drink up, toast the
treaty.
288
00:29:41,950 --> 00:29:42,950
We fought well.
289
00:29:43,490 --> 00:29:47,850
The two monarchs and their armies then
feasted together for three days.
290
00:29:53,470 --> 00:30:00,350
Louis XI agreed to pay Edward of York 75
,000 gold crowns. He also promised an
291
00:30:00,350 --> 00:30:06,050
annuity of 50 ,000 gold crowns if Edward
stopped attacking France and gave up
292
00:30:06,050 --> 00:30:07,410
his claims to the French crown.
293
00:30:08,970 --> 00:30:13,990
and England would retain the town of
Calais as a way in to French territory.
294
00:30:16,430 --> 00:30:23,210
Without a drop of bloodshed, Louis XI
and Edward
295
00:30:23,210 --> 00:30:26,670
IV thus formally ended the Hundred
Years' War.
296
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:46,680
This is betrayal.
297
00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:53,300
Charles the Bold was furious.
298
00:30:54,540 --> 00:30:59,260
He had just lost his best ally, but not
his wild ambition.
299
00:30:59,980 --> 00:31:03,400
He wanted to overthrow Louis XI at all
costs.
300
00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,400
So he too played at the marriage game.
301
00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:11,960
Give this to Emperor Frederick III.
302
00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:13,600
Yes, my lord.
303
00:31:16,910 --> 00:31:22,090
So he then turned to the Germanic Holy
Roman Empire, whose crown he had desired
304
00:31:22,090 --> 00:31:27,590
several months earlier. The Bold hated
the Habsburg, but less so than he did
305
00:31:27,590 --> 00:31:28,590
King of France.
306
00:31:28,830 --> 00:31:35,710
So in 1475, he agreed reluctantly to
marry his only daughter Marie to
307
00:31:35,710 --> 00:31:39,310
Maximilian of Austria, son of Emperor
Frederick III.
308
00:31:41,710 --> 00:31:46,230
Burgundy would thus become a vassal
kingdom to the Empire, and Charles the
309
00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:48,320
would be crowned King of Burgundy.
310
00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:14,120
Thank you. This was the first step in
his quest for greatness.
311
00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:19,560
A year later, the betrothal of Mary of
Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria was
312
00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:20,560
made official.
313
00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:26,380
While waiting for the marriage as a
pledge, Maximilian wrote a letter to his
314
00:32:26,380 --> 00:32:28,460
fiancée and sent her a ring.
315
00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:40,340
This jewel is today considered as the
first engagement ring in the history of
316
00:32:40,340 --> 00:32:41,340
France.
317
00:32:44,590 --> 00:32:49,490
The marriage between Maximilian of
Austria and Mary of Burgundy was full of
318
00:32:49,490 --> 00:32:52,290
promise and served many strategic
interests.
319
00:32:56,050 --> 00:33:01,190
Young Maximilian's empire was facing
economic difficulties, and Mary was the
320
00:33:01,190 --> 00:33:06,330
best bet in Europe. She was rich and had
no army to defend her territories.
321
00:33:07,310 --> 00:33:12,590
Maximilian was a clever soldier, able to
supply the strength that Mary so sorely
322
00:33:12,590 --> 00:33:13,590
lacked.
323
00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:20,940
Their union was a perfect match.
324
00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:32,040
Mary of Burgundy, will you take for
husband Maximilian of Austria to love
325
00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:36,700
faithfully for as long as you live, in
happiness or in hardship?
326
00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:45,160
So the twenty -year -old Mary married
the eighteen -year -old Maximilian, who
327
00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,320
was still only Archduke of Austria.
328
00:33:47,690 --> 00:33:51,330
I declare you united in the sacred bonds
of matrimony.
329
00:33:51,530 --> 00:33:56,750
Whereas Mary had already become the
Duchess of Burgundy following a cruel
330
00:34:15,170 --> 00:34:19,989
Seven months before her marriage, A page
of the House of Burgundy made a grisly
331
00:34:19,989 --> 00:34:21,190
discovery near Nancy.
332
00:34:31,409 --> 00:34:35,130
A body mysteriously stripped lay on the
edge of a lake.
333
00:34:41,330 --> 00:34:44,590
The page immediately recognized the scar
on the corpse's neck.
334
00:34:44,949 --> 00:34:46,409
It was Charles the Bold.
335
00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,980
who had been wounded in the throat at
the Battle of Montlhéry 12 years
336
00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:57,740
Had the duke succumbed to the wounds he
had received while trying to take Nancy,
337
00:34:57,940 --> 00:34:59,860
or had he been murdered?
338
00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,980
Even today, the mystery has never been
solved.
339
00:35:09,620 --> 00:35:13,240
For Louis XI, the bold death was good
news.
340
00:35:17,670 --> 00:35:22,030
But he now must face the strength of the
new couple, Mary and Maximilian of
341
00:35:22,030 --> 00:35:23,030
Austria.
342
00:35:29,210 --> 00:35:31,250
They were both deeply in love.
343
00:35:38,610 --> 00:35:41,850
Mary and Maximilian produced two
children for the empire.
344
00:35:52,460 --> 00:35:57,020
This successful marriage personified
what the Habsburg house knew how to do
345
00:35:57,020 --> 00:36:01,880
as well as the king of France,
consolidate its power through wealthy
346
00:36:08,300 --> 00:36:13,020
The lands of the Duchy of Burgundy,
combined with those of the Germanic Holy
347
00:36:13,020 --> 00:36:17,700
Roman Empire, were even richer and more
powerful and a threat to the kingdom of
348
00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:21,660
France. So Louis XI decided to conquer
them by force.
349
00:36:29,580 --> 00:36:32,780
Without delay, he invaded Burgundy and
the county of Artois.
350
00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:38,000
He also placed an army at the gates of
Flanders.
351
00:36:42,720 --> 00:36:45,100
Maximilian's reaction was not long in
coming.
352
00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:56,700
For two years, from 1478 to 1480, French
and Austrians fought.
353
00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:05,040
Louis XI tried to conquer the
Netherlands, but Maximilian of Austria
354
00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:06,040
his wife's land.
355
00:37:09,940 --> 00:37:12,560
Until a tragedy made him lose Burgundy.
356
00:37:17,380 --> 00:37:23,260
In 1482, during a falcon hunt in the
forest of Wigendal, on her lands in
357
00:37:23,260 --> 00:37:26,880
Flanders, Mary died after falling from
her horse.
358
00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:31,840
Mary. No.
359
00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:34,780
Say something to me.
360
00:37:36,420 --> 00:37:37,940
Mary, speak to me.
361
00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:39,840
No.
362
00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:47,000
After only five years of marriage,
Maximilian had just lost the woman he
363
00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:48,120
loved so dearly.
364
00:37:50,940 --> 00:37:53,480
Maximilian was overwhelmed by grief.
365
00:38:01,130 --> 00:38:03,170
Mary's death also weakened him
politically.
366
00:38:04,430 --> 00:38:07,550
The lands of Burgundy no longer belonged
to him.
367
00:38:08,270 --> 00:38:11,050
Mary had passed them on to their young
children.
368
00:38:15,550 --> 00:38:21,050
To get his hands on them, the King of
France immediately proposed marrying his
369
00:38:21,050 --> 00:38:26,790
oldest son, the Dauphin Charles, to the
daughter of Maximilian and Mary of
370
00:38:26,790 --> 00:38:30,150
Burgundy, little Margaret of Austria,
Aerith.
371
00:38:30,490 --> 00:38:31,490
to the Duchy.
372
00:38:32,170 --> 00:38:34,470
For Louis XI, it was a certainty.
373
00:38:34,730 --> 00:38:38,790
The Duchy of Burgundy was at last to be
part of the Kingdom of France.
374
00:38:41,270 --> 00:38:46,530
But Maximilian would not hear of this
marriage.
375
00:38:47,290 --> 00:38:51,010
So, to counter, Louis XI needed support.
376
00:38:54,490 --> 00:38:59,130
He turned to England and begged Edward
of York to send him men.
377
00:39:12,540 --> 00:39:15,060
Enter. But the King of England refused.
378
00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:21,120
He had not forgotten the Treaty of
Piquigny, and he was loath to give up
379
00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:24,740
yearly pension Louis had paid him for
the last seven years in exchange for
380
00:39:24,740 --> 00:39:25,740
peace.
381
00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:27,740
Damned Englishman.
382
00:39:28,140 --> 00:39:30,260
He's going to make me lose Burgundy.
383
00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,960
The King of France's carefully woven web
was closing in around Maximilian.
384
00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:01,760
But at 55, Louis XI was more and more
weighed down by the year.
385
00:40:07,790 --> 00:40:12,710
He was regularly subject to brutal bouts
of fever, complained of painful attacks
386
00:40:12,710 --> 00:40:17,070
of gout, and suffered from a skin
disease related to shingles.
387
00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:44,620
In early March, while dining with his
eldest daughter and the Beaujeu, he
388
00:40:44,620 --> 00:40:47,280
collapsed, probably victim of a stroke.
389
00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:54,800
Father!
390
00:40:56,060 --> 00:41:01,120
That evening, the king was unable to
speak or understand anything that was
391
00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:02,120
to him.
392
00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:18,000
Three years later, at Amboise, after his
strength had slowly returned, he
393
00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:22,740
visited his twelve -year -old son, the
Dauphin Charles, future Charles VIII.
394
00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:28,660
My son, you will reign after me, so
listen carefully.
395
00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:36,000
The king knew he was seeing his son for
the last time, so he put him on his
396
00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:37,000
guard.
397
00:41:37,820 --> 00:41:39,200
God has granted us
398
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:41,940
The kingdom's highest charges.
399
00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:45,540
We must be worthy of the honor.
400
00:41:48,520 --> 00:41:51,660
But I warn you, be wary of the princes
and lords of the blood.
401
00:41:53,500 --> 00:41:58,760
Most have conspired against me, and
their betrayals have led to war.
402
00:42:00,500 --> 00:42:04,640
This truth is fragile and easily broken.
403
00:42:07,210 --> 00:42:09,870
Remember well what I have told you
today, my son.
404
00:42:11,710 --> 00:42:16,770
The conversation at Amboise is today
considered as the political testament of
405
00:42:16,770 --> 00:42:17,770
Louis XI.
406
00:42:19,170 --> 00:42:25,090
But before leaving the throne to his
son, and despite his fatigue, Louis XI
407
00:42:25,090 --> 00:42:31,670
wanted at all costs to absolutely
recover Burgundy. And to do that, he had
408
00:42:31,670 --> 00:42:34,670
marry the Dauphin Charles to Margaret of
Austria.
409
00:42:35,740 --> 00:42:39,660
Negotiations began by correspondence
with the Archduke Maximilian.
410
00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:48,720
An agreement was finally reached on
December 23, 1482.
411
00:42:55,860 --> 00:43:01,240
France and the Germanic Holy Roman
Empire would finally share the legacy of
412
00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:02,480
Charles the Bold's daughter.
413
00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:11,620
The Treaty of Arras allowed Louis XI to
recover Burgundy, while Maximilian kept
414
00:43:11,620 --> 00:43:12,620
the Netherlands.
415
00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:22,240
The agreement was sealed by the
engagement of the Dauphin Charles with
416
00:43:22,240 --> 00:43:23,360
Margaret of Austria.
417
00:43:25,380 --> 00:43:28,960
Once and for all, Louis XI had won the
game.
418
00:43:38,570 --> 00:43:43,710
Five months later, the little
archduchess, Margaret of Austria,
419
00:43:43,710 --> 00:43:44,830
Chateau of Amboise.
420
00:43:45,550 --> 00:43:48,570
This is where she was to be engaged to
the Dauphin of France.
421
00:43:49,010 --> 00:43:54,030
In the meantime, she was to be brought
up by Charles's elder sister, Anne de
422
00:43:54,030 --> 00:43:55,030
Beaujeu.
423
00:44:02,510 --> 00:44:06,090
Louis XI was never to meet the
granddaughter of the bold.
424
00:44:13,070 --> 00:44:19,230
In August 1483, the king was living his
last hours, but his son Charles was only
425
00:44:19,230 --> 00:44:21,350
13, too young to reign.
426
00:44:21,970 --> 00:44:28,610
While awaiting Charles's reign, I want
Anne to assume the duties of
427
00:44:28,610 --> 00:44:29,610
regent.
428
00:44:31,810 --> 00:44:36,190
She is the least mad woman in the world,
given that there are none that are
429
00:44:36,190 --> 00:44:37,190
wise.
430
00:44:37,450 --> 00:44:38,930
You are her husband, Pierre.
431
00:44:39,910 --> 00:44:40,950
You must help her.
432
00:44:41,490 --> 00:44:42,490
Yes, sir.
433
00:44:47,850 --> 00:44:52,010
Anne de Beaujeu firmly held the reins of
the realm for eight years, until
434
00:44:52,010 --> 00:44:53,650
Charles VIII came of age.
435
00:44:59,330 --> 00:45:04,310
Louis XI died on August 30, 1483, at the
age of 60.
436
00:45:07,330 --> 00:45:13,510
His reign had lasted for 22 years,
during which, besides politics, he had
437
00:45:13,510 --> 00:45:15,650
remodeled the architecture of many
chateaux.
438
00:45:16,120 --> 00:45:17,580
such as that of Langer.
439
00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:27,380
For a long time throughout history,
Louis XI was an unloved king.
440
00:45:27,980 --> 00:45:33,220
And yet, he had restored the public
finances, the borders, and the prestige
441
00:45:33,220 --> 00:45:35,780
the realm after 100 years of war and
chaos.
442
00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:42,640
Louis XI had fulfilled his dream, making
France the greatest power in Europe.
443
00:45:43,210 --> 00:45:46,890
And soon, one of his successors would
complete his work.
40143
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