"Louis XI of France only had two allies. The count of Charolais and the Duke of Milan that should speak to his genius in politics. He fought off English, Berry, Brittany, Bourbon, Lorraine, Nemours, Armagnac, Orleans, Albret, and Anjou. He fought them to a standstill then broke up the entire thing within a couple of years." -Paul Murray Kendall (He wrote about Louis the Spider. Great read y'all should read it)
February 21 1465, Paris, France
Louis was now deeply concerned with his affairs of state. Charles his brother, Duke of Berry was demanding the duchy of Normandy or Aquitaine. Brittany, Bourbon, Lorraine, Armagnac simply wished to expand, while Nemours wanted a seat in government. His centralization reforms were working but now he must crush the rebellious nobles and to solidify his kingdom. How lucky he was when he negotiated the marriage between Anne and Philip. Charles demanded the complete independence of Burgundy for his assistance in the upcoming war but he was brilliant and increased the dowry price in crowns. (400,000 crowns for the marriage) and a promise of land after the defeat of the rebellious nobles. Charles who was cautious in his negotiations decided to accept reasoning that he was more powerful than the King and could extract land confessions later. He also secured an alliance with Milan when the war was to come.
Charles, Duke of Berry was in Bourges talking to the various nobles he was hosting. "Gentlemen, good afternoon, as you all know 4 years ago in this city our glorious king. Charles VII passed away. My elder brother Louis XI seized the throne claiming his birthright. Gentlemen, I am here to dispute that with all of you. Your rights and privileges have been seized by this false king! My father, exiled Louis and banished him from court. HE HAS NO RIGHT TO CLAIM THE THRONE. I ASK ALL OF YOU TO FOLLOW ME, YOUR RIGHTFUL KING CHARLES VIII!" A cheer began amongst the nobility however, quickly they began to disperse and head back to their own lands.
A month afterwards, the French nobility called Louis XI an impostor and demanded he give up the throne to his brother Charles VIII. Louis XI by the betrothal contract called Charles, count of Charolais, Milan and his remaining loyal nobles and his royal army and went to war. The English, under Edward IV began to secretly fund Charles giving money and arms to him in order to see his victory. Louis began to march south in order to stop the southern nobles under John II of Bourbon or known as the Scourge of the English. Charles who was in Bruges when he heard the news began to gather his forces and march south. Philip and Isabella asked him not to lead his armies personally as they have been travelling between the two Burgundies for quite a while. "I must do what is necessary to save you idiotic godfather." He simply replied to Isabella's and Philip's pleading.
His army began to march towards Nancy and faced off against John II of Lorraine. Both of their armies divided in three, Charles leading the left flank ordered a mass charge towards the Lorrainian right. The astonishing speed of both the arrival and charge threw Lorraine off balance in the right flank as its subsequent collapse. The centre and left who were disoriented at the speed of the charge began to collapse and flee. John sued for peace shortly after, and Louis gave him nothing but forced him out of the war. Charles seeing this victory and got no compensation was angry and told his confidante, "He better give me Champagne for saving his arse."
Charles of Berry, hearing news of the lightning quick defeat of Lorraine marched north from Bourges and met Charles, at Chatres. Charles looked at the battlefield knew the conditions were not favourable for a fight. A couple hundred kilometres away lies the Breton armies, they were exhausted and he knew he could crush them just as he had done in Lorraine but to his front lies Charles' armies fresh and ready to fight. If they united his forces would lose by numbers. Stupid Louis he thought, how could he miss the armies of the leader. He slammed his fist on the table in front of the map in front of his generals. We crush Charles and capture him immediately. We must end this rebellion now.
The battle began to ensue as the veteran Burgundian/Royalist army slammed into Charles' center. The fighting was fierce as both Charles were in the meat of it. The fighting quickly devolved into an all out slaughter. As the rebels slowly gave in to the Burgundians, a horn sounded signalling the arrival of the Breton armies. Francis II seeing that the battle already started shouted, "WE SHALL PROTECT THE KING! CHARGE!" The bretons eagerly rushed towards the Burgundian right flank. The Burgundian's believed that due to the war cry it was Louis's armies. How wrong they were. The Burgundian/Royalist army collapsed and fled. Charles riding away with no guard and a sole horse northwards towards Paris.
In the south, Louis XI had much more success defeating John at Roanne and then decisively crushed the Armagnac's near Brive-la-Galliarde. His royalist army which he remarked, "If there was one thing my father did correctly, it was the institution of a standing royalist army." He eventually forced a peace in the south forcing armagnac to give up Fezensac and Bourbon to cede Beaujeu. He also forced royalist officers to help "govern" the remaining counties and duchies. This complete victory was turned sour when he received news of the battle of Chatres. Hearing the news he angrily stated, "What use do I have for a powerful duke who could do nothing except lose?" He returned to Paris in a couple of months and negotiated the treaty of Conflans in which Charles would acknowledge Louis as King, Charles would exchange Berry for Normandy and Alencon. Francis would regain the royalist possessions in Brittany finally, Anjou would be granted Touraine.
Louis XI of France smiled at Charles' anger as he realized the dowry that Anne would receive. "BEAUJEU?!? YOU WOULD HAND ME BEAUJEU AFTER ALL I HAVE DONE FOR YOU?!?" Charles yelled in anger. "Do not disrespect your king, I have already given the 400,000 crowns and you gain Beaujeu. You cost me Normandy, Brittany, Anjou, Touraine and Alencon. If I wasn't as nice I wouldn't have given you any land at all." Louis replied coldly with a smile that showed no warmth. "And I have given you Nemours and Lorraine. I saved Paris from you by defending it until your army arrived!" Charles replied in anger. "I set the dowry, Charles. Per the treaty of Arras and our promise in Brussels you are obliged to accept. If you do not I will revoke Ponthieu from you and all the lands you have gained under that treaty." Louis replied with an even deadlier voice signalling his guards in case Charles drew his sword. Charles seeing the writing on the wall signed off on the paper confirming Anne and Philip's engagement and setting the marriage in 1476. Charles asked immediately to leave and return to his county and Louis granted it but not without one final remark, "You are a count, Charles be grateful that I granted you another lordship." Before beckoning his hand and forcing him to leave.
Teaser: "Look grandma! You look so pretty in this picture. Did you really look like this?" Philip eagerly asked.
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