Isabel of Burgundy

256 Pages·2002·7.436 MB·English

by  Aline S. Taylor

Isabel o f Burgundy

Isabel o f Burgundy
The Duchess W ho Played Politics
in the Age of Joan of Arc,
I397-I47I
Aline S. Taylor
Madison Books
Lanham New York Oxford
• •
First Madison Books Edition 2001
This hardcover edition of Isabel of Burgundy is an original publication. It is published by
arrangement with the author.
Copyright © 2001 by Aline S. Taylor
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical
means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission
from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.
Published by Madison Books
4720 Boston Way
Lanham, Maryland 20706
12 Hid’s Copse Road
Cumnor Hill, Oxford OX2 9JJ, England
Distributed by National Book Network
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Taylor, Aline S.
Isabel of Burgundy : the duchess who played politics in the age of Joan of Arc,
1397-1471/Aline S. Taylor,
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56833-227-0 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Isabelle de Portugal, duchesse de Bourgogne, 1397-1471 2. Burgundy (France)—
Kings and rulers—Biography. 3. Burgundy (France)—History—House of Valois,
1363-1477.1. Tide.
DC611.B78T39 2001
944,.41025,092—dc21
[B] 2001034561
“ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
For those who helped me bring Label back to life:
,
my husband', Allen whose photographs called her back to us,
and Clifford and Leslie, whose support joined his and never wavered

Contents
Illustrations, Maps, and Genealogical Tables ix
Preface xi
One Flashpoint: Isabel in Jeopardy: 1457 1
Two The Renaissance Princess, the Medieval Bride,
1397-1431 23
Three A Diplomatic Education, 1432—1435 47
Four The Duchess at the Negotiating Table at Home
and Abroad, 1435—1445 72
Five Dual Challenges from France and England, 1446-1453 103
Six The Eclipse of Isabel, 1454—1456 125
Seven Retreat, Reconciliation, and Renewed Challenge,
1457_1460 145
Eight The Changing Cast of Royal Players, 1461—1466 165
Nine Madame La Grande, 1467—1470 187
Ten The Death of Isabel: Danger for Burgundy, 1471 207
Epilogue
219
Index
224
About the A.uthor
232
Illustrations, Maps,
and Genealogical Tables
1. Isabel of Portugal, by Jan van Eyck Xvii
2. Inauguration of the Order of the Golden Fleece at the Marriage xviii
of Philip the Good and Isabel of Portugal, January 10,1430
3 Philip the Good, by Roger Van der Weyden (?) xix
4. Charles the Bold, by Roger Van der Weyden (?) xx
5. Isabel, Duchess of Burgundy, by Roger Van der Weyden xxi
6. Isabel of Portugal Kneeling xxii
7. Philip the Good Entering into Ghent xxiii
8. Charles the Bold with Marie, his daughter and heiress xxiv
9. Map of Europe around 1450 xv
10. Map of Burgundy and France xvi
11. Map of Burgundy under Philip the Good 21
12. Genealogy of the Dukes of Burgundy 22
13. Genealogy of the English Connections of Isabel of Burgundy 102
IX