Biography of Charles "Bold" Valois Duke Burgundy 1433-1477

Chronicle of Gregory [1400-1467]. 12th October 1459. Ande this same year there was a grete afray at Lodlowe by twyne the King (age 37) and the Duke of Yorke (age 48), the Erle of Salusbury (age 59), the Erle of Warwyke (age 30), the [his future brother-in-law] Erle of Marche (age 17). The Duke of Yorke lete make a grete depe dyche and fortefyde it with gonnys, cartys, and stakys, but his party was ovyr weke, for the kyng was mo then xxxM [Note. 3000] of harneysyd men, by-syde nakyd men that were compellyd for to come with the King. And thenne the duke fledde fro place to place in Walys, and breke downe the bryggys aftyr him that the kyngys mayny schulde not come aftyr hym. And he wente unto Monde. And there he taryd tylle the jornay was endyd at Northehampton. And he made newe grotys of a newe kune in Irlonde; in on syde of the grote was a crowne and in that othyr syde a crosse. And there he made many newe statutys, and his yong sonys [[his future brother-in-law] George York 1st Duke of Clarence (age 9) and [his future brother-in-law] King Richard III of England (age 7)] were sende by yende the see unto the Duke of Burgayne (age 25) [Note. Husband of Edward's sister [his future wife] Margaret of York Duchess of Burgundy (age 13)], and they were full welle ande worschypfully ressayvyd.

Memoirs of Philip de Commines Book 1 Chapter 5. July 1465. In his [Charles "Bold" Valois Duke Burgundy (age 31)] private instruction, lie had orders to propose a marriage with [his future wife] Margaret (age 19)¹, the King of England's sister; but to treat only and negotiate, without coming to any conclusion: for the Count of Charolois, who knew how desirous the King of England was of this match, believed by this means, either to bring him over to his side, if he should have any occasion for his assistance, or at least to hinder him from attempting anything against him. However, though he had no real intention at first to consummate the marriage, upon account of his inveterate hatred to the house of York, yet affairs were so managed, that several years after, the match was concluded; and he moreover accepted the order of the garter², and wore it to his death.

Note 1. Margaret of York married Charles of Burgundy, in pursuance of a treaty signed at Brussels on the 16th of February, 1467 (O. S.); and the marriage was celebrated at Dan, on the 3rd of July, 1468. She died on the 28th of November, 1503. Unless Commines is in error with regard to the time at which William of Cluny was despatched on his mission, the Count of Charolois contemplated this new alhance whilst his second wife Avas still living; for Isabella of Bourbon did not die until the 26th of September, 1465, two months after the battle of Montlhery.

Note 2. In Rymer, vol, v. part ii. p. 1 73., is a letter from Duke Charles, acknowledging the receipt of the garter from the English ambassadors.

On 3rd July 1468 Charles "Bold" Valois Duke Burgundy (age 34) and Margaret of York Duchess of Burgundy (age 22) were married at Bruges [Map]. She the daughter of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 53). He the son of Philip "Good" Valois III Duke Burgundy and Isabella Aviz Duchess Burgundy (age 71). They were half second cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

John Paston (age 24) and John Scott (age 45) travelled with Margaret. The marriage re-enforced King Edward IV's connection with the Low Countries.

A Brief Latin Chronicle. In this year, around the feast of Saint John the Baptist [24th June 1468], [his future wife] Margaret (age 22), sister of King Edward, crossed the sea and became the wife of the Duke of Burgundy (age 34).

Hoc anno, circiter festum Sancti Johannis Baptiste, transfretavit Margareta soror Regis Edwardi et uxor ducis Burgundie effecta est.

On 17th January 1469 Warwick's supporters were executed in Salisbury Marketplace [Map] in the presence of [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 26):

Thomas Hungerford was beheaded. His father Robert Hungerford 3rd Baron Hungerford 1st Baron Moleyns had been executed five years previously after the Battle of Hexham.

Henry Courtenay was beheaded.

On 11th July 1469 [his brother-in-law] George York 1st Duke of Clarence (age 19) and Isabel Neville Duchess Clarence (age 17) were married by Archbishop George Neville (age 37) at the Église Notre-Dame de Calais [Map] witnessed by Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 40). She by marriage Duchess Clarence. She the daughter of Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury and Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess Warwick (age 42). He the son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and [his mother-in-law] Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 54). They were first cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 29th September 1469 brothers Humphrey Neville of Brancepeth (age 30) and Charles Neville of Brancepeth were beheaded at York [Map] in the presence of [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 27) and Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 40) bringing to an end the Neville-Neville feud that arose as a consequence of the senior line being dis-inherited.

On 12th March 1470 [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 27) commanded at the Battle of Losecoat Field (Empingham).

Thomas Dymoke (age 42) and Richard Welles 7th Baron Welles, Baron Willoughby (age 42) were beheaded at Queen's Cross, Stamford before the battle¹. His son Robert succeeded 8th Baron Welles.

The name 'Losecoat' not contemporary, and its meaning of men "losing their coats" may have been invented in the 19th Century. The name Losecoat appears to be first used in the 16th Century Hall's and Holinshed's Chronicles.

The 1475 attainder of Richard and Robert Welles refers to the battle having taken place "in a field called 'Hornefeld' in Empyngham",

Note 1. Some sources say on battlefield immediately prior to the battle, some after the batte

On 19th March 1470 Robert Welles 8th Baron Willoughby 8th Baron Welles was beheaded at Doncaster [Map]. He was buried at Whitefriars Doncaster [Map]. Baron Welles forfeit. His sister Joan succeeded 9th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. Richard Hastings Baron Willoughby (age 37) by marriage Baron Willoughby de Eresby. He, Hastings, a favourite of [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 27), younger brother of Edward's great friend William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings (age 39).

On 27th March 1470 George Neville 1st Duke Bedford (age 9) was created 1st Duke Bedford by [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 27) in preparation for his marriage to Elizabeth York Queen Consort England (age 4) which didn't, in the end, take place. He, George, was nephew to Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 41) whose defection to the Lancastrian side may have caused the King to change his mind about his daughter's marriage.

On 2nd October 1470 [his brother-in-law] King Edward IV of England (age 28) fled from King's Lynn, Norfolk [Map] to the court of Charles the Bold (age 36) who married to his sister [his wife] Margaret (age 24) two years earlier. His brother [his brother-in-law] Richard (age 18) travelled with him; it was his eighteenth birthday.

Gilbert Debenham (age 38) travelled with King Edward IV of England.

Warkworth's Chronicle. 2nd October 1470. But anone one of the oste went oute frome the fellawschippe, and tolde Kynge Edwarde alle manere of thynge, and bade hym avoyde, for he was not strong enoghe to gyff batayle to Markes Montagu (age 39); and then anone Kynge Edwarde haysted hym in alle that he might to the towne of Lynne, and ther he toke schyppynge one Michaelmesse day, in the x. yere of his regne, with Lorde Hastynges, that was the Kynges Chambearlyne, Lorde Say, withe dyverse other knyghtes and squires, passed and saylede overe the see into Flaunders, to his brother-in-lawe¹ the Duke of Burgeyne², for socoure and helpe, &c.

Note 1. The Harl. MS. 7353, is a most curious roll on vellum, containing pictures on one side representing parts of scripture history, and on the other assumed similar transactions in the life of Edward IV. We have, 1. The King on his throne. 2. The King encouraging his soldiers. 3. The King with a triple sun shining upon him through three golden crowns, and saying "Domine! quid vis me facere? [Lord! What do you want me to do?]" 4. Pardoning Henry after the battle of Northampton. 5. Setting sail for Calais. At the bottom is a genealogical tree, with portraits of all the members of the houses of York and Lancaster, very fantastically arranged.

Note 2. Duke of Burgeyne. Charles the Bold (age 36), Duke of Burgundy, married Edward's sister on the 18th of June, 1467 [1468?]. It was to this marriage that Edward owed his preservation abroad, and the final recovery of his kingdom. An account of the marriage, with the reception of the Princess in Flanders, may be seen in MS. Cotton. Nero, C. IX. Cf. Cart. Antiq. Mus. Brit. XI. 54.

On 12th July 1472 [his brother-in-law] Richard Duke of Gloucester (age 19) and Anne Neville (age 16) were married at St Stephen's Chapel, Westminster Palace [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Gloucester. She the daughter of Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury and Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess Warwick (age 45). He the son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and [his mother-in-law] Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 57). They were first cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 5th January 1477 Charles "Bold" Valois Duke Burgundy (age 43) was killed at the Battle of Nancy. His daughter [his daughter] Mary (age 19) succeeded Duchess Burgundy.