Charles the Bold

(1433-1467) (Charles le Téméraire)

   duke of Burgundy

   Born in Dijon, Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, was the son of philippe III the good, duke of Burgundy, and Isabelle of Portugal. He took part in the ligue du bien public (League of public welfare) against the king of France, louis xi and, after the indecisive battle of Montlhéry, obtained the restoration of the towns of the Somme through the Treaty of Conflans (1465). All his policy was an attempt to unify his estates through a strong administrative structure and to assume a connection between the two parts of the Burgundian territory (Flanders and Burgundy). This constituted a grave menace to the French monarchy and its neighbors (Lorraine, Switzerland). The inhabitants of Liège, supported by louis xi, had revolted against their bishop, who was Charles's ally. Charles, in turn, obliged the king to help him repress the revolt and to sign the Treaty of Peronne (1468). Charles then invaded picardy but was stopped at Beauvais (see jeanne hachette), then again at Rouen (1472). He conquered Lorraine but was defeated at Grandson and at Morat by the Swiss supplied by Louis xi (1476). He died at the siege of Nancy.