- ARCHIVE - Royal Court of Lotharingia [Burgundy]

[AugCaesar]

An Ambassador from Morbihan Arrives

A large, rather portly man in grand attire of silver and black hobbles before the Duchess seated on her throne

Noble and Pious Marrie de Berry, Queen of Lotharingia; Duchesse of Burgundy,

I am Pierre Villemont, Royal Ambassador of his highness John VI Montford, Duke of all Brittany sent to represent our great lands in your court. With me I bring the best wishes of my lord as well as a fine collection of spices imported from the Levant.

shifting laboriously unto his left hip and breathing heavily, like a rough ridden horse he continued...

As well his higness entreats you to bring to his attention any fairs you feel of important in our shared regions and offers any all assistance that you may have need of. As well he hopes that you would offer such Christian benevolence if ever he were to need it. I should like to begin the work of establishing my embassy here in your kingdom...that is if you have no need of me Duchess?

Sweaty and exhausted, as if from a days labor Villemont awaits the Duchesses response, hoping to have his leave so that he may procure a little something to eat

 

[unmerged(10971)]

To the noble Marie de Berry, Duchess of Burgundy,

Greetings.

I send this letter, and the ambassador who carries it, one Ludwig von Pforzheim, as a token of goodwill between the two houses of de Berry and Zähringen. May both reign long over their respective lands.

Jakob Zähringen, Markgraf von Baden

 

[BusterBunny]

At the Château de Dijon

The cold air of January, coming through the mountains of Bern to the walls of Dijon, was simply too much for André de Laurendeau. His days as the representative of Burgundy in the Imperial Diet were long gone, and a more important duty for him was taking all of his time: managing the country.

The regency of the Regency Myriam had told him. Every day, nobles and diplomats came to Dijon, even more so since the taking of Château Guyon at the border of Champagne.

News from the front were good. The Armée Royale de Bourgogne were meeting some resistance, but the troops were moving north, liberating cities after cities.

Parallel to this, the Baron of Leclerc was sweeping through the east, near the border of the Empire, making sure no rebels would flee elsewhere.

André de Laurendeau shifted through the irrelevant correspondance from low ranking nobles, swearing allegiance to the King, and his regent. Nothing out of the ordinary, if not this strange letter from a covenant saying that prayers and food would come to the troops of Burgundy if they were to spare the covenant of Artois.

The castle was cold, and the fire in each chimneys didn't really heat up the place. Hot water was served from the kitchen and bread. Old were the days when this castle would serve whatever Philippe le Bon would like. Years of war had depleted Burgundy's chests, and the few remaining ducats were used to pay the army.

In front of him stood a men, in line for representation in the court. He stood up and nodded to the announcer.

Monsieur, may I present Pierre Villemont, Ambassador of his highness John VI Montford

The Breton man walked forward and presented himself. During his speech, a few things seemed odd.

1- Royal Ambassador: Bretagne is not a kingdom. How could there be a royal ambassdor without a royaume?
2- highness John VI Montford: Again, title reserved for kings, not dukes. He hoped that calling the Duke of Montford "His Grace" would not be a diplomatic incident.
3- Marie de Berry: Ah, if her Majesty Marie de Berry was still here today. But she had died now more than 6 or 7 years ago. But who could blame this ambassador? Paitings of her are all over the walls in this castle!

He stood up and answered the Breton.

Monsieur de Villemont,

Bretagne and Bourgogne do share a deal of history together. We are united, and divided, by our own houses, and yet we are all part of Gallia.

May your presence within these wall bind our nations in mutual understanding, trust and prosperity.

I will be sure to transmit to her Grace Myriam de Montainblanc, regent of these lands, your hommage, and hope that when this civil war is over, the relations between our both nations will prosper.

 

[AugCaesar]

exceedingly embarrased the Ambassador from Brittany again presents himself to the court

Your Grace Myriam de Montainblanc,

I pray that you may forgive my unending ineptitude and hold none of it against my noble and pious lord. I must admit this is my first journey as any sort of ambassador and out of desire to awe and impress your great court I spoke improperly...possibly a result also of my lack of proper eating on my journey to your land.

As sweat poured from Villemont's quickly reddening and bulbous face he continued exhaustingly

In light of my folly his Grace, Duke John, as well has offered that if I have offended thy noble Duchess in any way he can replace me with a man more to your liking.

As well on a more official note his grace asks you to remember that he offers any help that may assist in bringing peace again to these lands, and that you need not hesitate to ask.

I once again proclaim my deepest sorrow over my lack of grace and capability and pray I can serve my lord and your court better in the future.

Looking as if he may soon explode and drenched in his own sweat an exasperated Villemont, upon signal from the court attendants, waddled off to find his next meal.

 

[BusterBunny]

André de Laurendeau speaks up:

"Relieve you of your duties? Not in a thousand years! You will do just fine! As I told you, her Grace Myriam the Montainblanc is NOT in Dijon, she is campaining in the north, to reclaim Artois. But you ARE welcome in this castle, were a decent meal and a comfortable bed will be shown to you.
Part of being an ambassador is learning the nation you are in. And for some, this learning starts from farther than others, yes?


I thank you for your proposal of help. I will transmit your offer to her Grace."

 

[unmerged(10498)]

A Messenger from Bourbonnais enters the court!

Your Majasty

I convey good health to you from the Duchess of Bourbonnais and that she wishes to inform your grace that the Duchess wishes to visit Burgandy after she finishes her visit to Scotland where she currently is. She asks that your Grace replies to the Regent in Bourbonnnais her third cousin.

My ladyship awaits your reply oh noble lady of Burgandy.

With this the messenger takes his leave.

 

[unmerged(9313)]

The citizens of Dijon noticed the tall Italian as he rode through the city streets in his black stallion, escorted by two heavily armed horsemen. Silvio Girobandini was wearing a dark purple coat with silver ornamentations, and a great black hat with strong red feathers rested on top of his head. A luxurious golden sword rested on his left side, and similar dagger on his right.
As he entered the court of the Burgundian André de Laurendeau, he looked around. Their was a bussing activity, and the poor chancellor regent looked very tired. And now Silvio would burden him even further, but such was the work as diplomats and rulers. Silvio took of his black leather gloves and swurling his hat around in the air, he bowed before the Burgundian.

"Most excellent lord de Laurendeau, the Doge of Genoa greets Burgundy and wishes her all the luck and success in the current fight in the north. I am the most humble servant of the Doge, and my name is Silvio Girobandini, newly appointed ambassador to Dijon. I know the Duchess is busy crushing resistance in the north, and that you are the man currently taking care of things here.
Genoa wishes to reestablish contact after our... hmm, somewhat not so glorious past history together, and reassure you, that times have changed in Genoa. Our days of flamboyant military endeavours are over, and we now fully concentrate on trade. And trade is by the nature of my republic the main reason why I am here, lord de Laurendeau.
You may be aware of the recent success of the Genoese trade, maybe you are not. But Genoa has crushed Venetian supremacy in the Mediterranean, and we have gained control almost absolute control with the silk and ivory trade in the Mediterranean, and defeated the Aragonese monopoly on spice trade from Egypt, plus many, many other commercial gains won in these regions. Naturally, with such an amount of trade commodities now available, we seek to sell them to increasingly bigger markets, and Burgundy falls under such a category. We know you also have many goods to sell to us, and therefore my main purpose here will be to oversee that our mutual trade goes along nicely and without too much trouble. We trade in Burgundy on a grand scale already, but we feel it could become even greater.
A trade agreement would be in our mutual interest, but we can only suggest such a thing, you or the Duchess naturally have to accept it. But for now, I would just like to point out my arrival here, lord de Laurendeau."

The Italian bows again.

 

[BusterBunny]

The Gates of Hell

The History of Europe shows us that wherever you go and whatever you do, Germans and Frenchmen will be involved...
- Burgundian Regent Alexandre de Beaufort, in a letter to Queen Eleanor of England, before his death at the battle of Sournay in 1431.


-------------------------
October 5th, Year of our Lord 1436

We have won at Chateau Guyon. But at what cost? Who am I to order 2000 men to their death? People were cheering "She has come, the Maid of Lorraine is our saviour!" And yet I managed to kill 2000 of them.

This bloodshed HAS to stop. Next time I meet the Count's army, I should at least give them a choice. At least give them time to think about the next battle, and its consequences.

Yesterday, the french prince Phillipe de Valois, duke of Grenoble, came to me and offered himself to accompany me in this campaign. How can I refuse? The most noble House of Valois, for who I am fighting to reclaim their God Given Right to rule over this nation, are more than welcomed. His Grace Phillipe has brought with him a few Chevaliers, and surely they will be able to help my own knights to fight more efficiently.

-------------------------
November 25th, Year of our Lord 1436

Winter and low supplies our slowing our advance through Champagne. We've had a few skirmishes with the ennemy. We simply don't know where they'll come from next, and the size of the attack. Yet, my men are keeping good morale. My troops seems to hope that I will save Burgundy. They call me the Savior of Gaullia now. I'm not even sure what that means. Burgundy is in peril, but Gaullia is not. I am but a simple women, thrown in the middle of a civil war.

Duke de Châteaupers, my general, advised me to stop in Rethel, in order to let winter pass. The nights are cold... We can't go on like this.

-------------------------

January 15th, Year of our Lord 1437

We haven't been able to reach Rethel yet, so we've had to stop near the frontier of Brabant. We've been here for almost two months now. I feel my men are getting idle a little too easily, and I have asked the French to train more knights. Horse training is quite difficult in the snow, however, so for now, they train as foot knights.

Duke de Châteaupers has made contact with a Pommeranian representative, which I will meet in a few days.

-------------------------
February 2nd, Year of our Lord 1437

News from Dijon keep on coming, and keep me warm in these cold days. It seems that the different duchies of Gaullia are waking up again, and managing to send ambassadors to Dijon. I'm glad they believe I will win this war. I am, however, far from certain of victory, for I have seen the Count's troops, and their tactics are becoming more ruthless everyday.

And ruthless tactics ask for ruthless men. That is why I have met with a man named Rokosinski, sent to me from the House of the Greif. Burgundy has had a precious relation with Pommerania, and I am very confident in this man's ability to help us in our campaign. He spoke well for a rogue, but I could see in his eye that bloodlust was what was motivating him. So, I have accepted the help of this Band of the Hawk. I have no idea what is the size of this band... a few hundred people, I would figure. But one thing is for certain, with the French rigurous knight training, and the Pommeranian ruthelessness, we've just leveled a little the field between the Armée Royale de Bourgogne and the Armée Libre d'Artois.

-------------------------

March 15th, Year of our Lord 1437

Every day, the snow melts a little more, and scouts have just announced that the road to Artois is free of snow.

I have announced to Phoebus de Châteaupers that I wanted our troops ready to move in 10 days.

By the Grace of God, we have to win this war!

 

[Longinus]

The Hawks​

"Life of mercenary is simple as it is for we are all simple men. We have our shields and swords and we use them just like peasants use their plows. However, our corps are different and the risk of taking them is much higher.”

• - Magnus of Greifswald, one of the capitans of the Band of the Hawk in response to countness Ingrid von Lovenberg taken as prisoner during the fights in Austria in 1433.

February 20th, Year of our Lord 1437

Hans Wickelbruch Yon Koln, leader of the Band of the Hawk, veteran of uncounted campaigns, great tactician, skilled fencer and victor of many fields, sneezed laudly. The weather was indeed poor in Burgundy. Snows and rains, rains and snows unfinished symphony of poor weather. However, his men knew even worse conditions, additionally they were well paid and could afford supplies and their conditions were good. The Greifs’ monies were not wasted. Hans had over 1500 soldiers with him, a huge number consisted of mainly light cavalry and footmen, huge diversity of human types, nationalities, styles of fighting etc. etc.

However The Haws were like one fist, most of the soldiers were skilled veterans, fierce in fighting not giving a damn to their adversaries. Their equipment was also of highest quality since they were dependent of it. They were a group of professionals who treated their job very seriously.

Their fame was just about to enter Burgundy.

Hans sneezed again. A large map was before him, around him his capitans.

• “Gentlemen, the weather is poor, we all know that regular fighting is out of the question however we also all know that surprise is one of the prime factors of taking the field.”

They all nodded since they knew the art of war by heart.

• ”That is why my fellow captains I have decided to strike those rebels now, we will use our usual guerilla tactics, we will bite and doge, burn and pillage, take out small garrisons and cut the supplies routes of the larger ones. We should expect them to be unprepared but still everything is possible.
  
  Magnus of Greifswald will take the lead of our cavalry as usual, I know it will be a pain Magnus to ride in this rain and snow but on the other hand we all know that most spoils will be yours.
  
  Your route will begin here, this small castle, you should take it by surprise, then…

*****​

February 28th, Year of our Lord 1437

And so it has begun, the famous or rather infamous Band of the Hawk started their reign of terror in the southern Burgundy.

Magnus of Greifswald was leading the avant-garde of the Band, he was leading most of the Hawk’s cavalery. He was striking where the defense was weak, his trump cards were surprise, speed. His route was marked with burned villages and dead bodies rotting in the mud.

One day after a fierce fight with the Count’s patrol he shouted laughing like a devil.

• “Bwahahaha, my fellow companions! It was said that Count's troops, and their tactics are becoming more ruthless everyday! Somebody replied that ruthless tactics ask for ruthless men.
  
  Then here we are!!!
  
  For the Hawks, spoils and sacred Maid of Lorraine!!!
  
  Bwahahahaha."

The blood of his enemies was still on his face when Magnus shouted once again swinging with his fist to the North.

• “Devils themselves came to your help Maiden!!! Ain’t that funny milady!?!"

A burst of laughter replied to him.

 

[Lord E]

The Training of the Chevaliers​

Phillipe de Valois, Duke of Grenoble, was walking around the camp of the Burgundian army with his adjutant, Mathieu de Durfort Marques d Brion.

The long winter was over and more and more snow where melting each day, and now it looked like spring had come to Burgundy at last.

Everywhere the to men saw they could see men making preparations to go to war once again. The to men where walking towards the training fields of the knights in the one end of the camp. They stopped, at the top of a hill looking down towards the training area. There they could see hundreds of knights training to battle, and the knights where improving each day.

"Well my lord, I must say they look much better now than when we where asked to start training them."

"Yes, your are very right, my dear de Durfort. Now the men are acting liked true Chevaliers now, you know de Durfort it really pleases me to see that our effort has proven important, and that we have managed to train this fine knights. Now I only hope they prove them self as great as I hope they will in combat."

"Yes, I hope they do, I am actually pretty sure they will, my lord. I think they will!"

They continued to walk down towards the training area, and stopped to look at two knights fighting each other on the ground.

The Duke smile as the walked on from the two, and on to some mounted knights, where the one was giving instructions to the other.

They stood still watching as all the young Chevaliers where training everywhere around the field, then de Durfort turned to the Duke.


"You know my lord, I know they will show everyone that they are up to the challenge, and I know they will win. They are ready!"

"Indeed they are ready, my friend, now all we can do is to hope, but one thing is sure, they have got the best training any one could give them. So now they are ready to fight!"

 

[AugCaesar]

A sealed letter arrives at court bearing the mark of the Montford Family of Brittany

 

[BusterBunny]

Behind the scene...

Aim for their heads!

- General Phoebus de Châteaupers, duke of Auvergne, to his archers.


------------------------

Young Jean II du Berry, king of Lotharingia, was trying to remember the proper way to address the count of Meuse. He looked at his private teacher, Monsieur Languin.

"Oh, he is a count, so I call him majesty."

The tall monsieur Languin looked at his king.

"No, your majesty. He is not a king, he is a count. You can call him "Your grace", or simply "Count". "

The kid slapped his forehead. He was 7 years old now, and felt the burden of power was heavy. He wasn't governing the country yet, but all those titles... that was more than enough for him.

"Your majesty, the count is waiting for your answer...."

"Oh, yes, yes. Hum, I..."

"Your majesty... WE."

"Oh, right Monsieur Languin. We are very please to meet you Count of Moose!"

"Your majesty should concentrate. His Grace is count of Meuse. Not Moose."

A young girl could be heard giggling in the background. Princess Eleanor was probably more interested in learning all of this, which would explain why she had already finished with her own private tutor.

The young Jean II turned to her, and laughed.

"Don't make it harder than it is, sister"

She came out from the back of the room. She had her mother's red hair, and her father's eyes. Already a princess, in all style and grace. She bowed slightly.

"Maybe his Majesty, my brother, would prefer to come and play in the garden with me and your cousin."

"Oh, I'm THERE!"

Monsieur Languin saluted the count of Meuse.

"Your grace, I am affraid that the king doesn't really want to continue his lessons... I am very sorry."

The Count smiled, and left the room quietly.

Monsieur Languin turned to the king and his sister, shaking his head. Both were sitting in a corner. He left them alone. He knew there was something missing there. Their brother, Philippe du Berry, was still in the hands of the Count of Artois, and though they never grown up with him, they knew he was still alive. Somewhere, up north, probably. But he was still alive.

Jean looked at her sister's eyes. She smiled back and said:

"You know, Myriam has been gone for a year now. I miss her..."

Her brother stood up and looked out the window, in a very noble way.

"Myriam is a brave woman. One day, when I will have learned the art of the sword, I will go fight along her side, to liberate my country."

She started to laugh, and he blushed a little: "What?"

"Oh, you just look very noble like. Almost like a king..."

"Leanoo, I have something to give you. It's a necklace. I've found it in mother's chest, and I think it would go to you nicely."

She held the necklace in her hand. She did receive many necklace in her young life, but this one had a strange glow to it. And a most pleasing form. This necklace was somewhat familliar. She closed her small hands on it, as if to show that nothing would seperate her from it.

Jean then took out a small knife.

"This, I'm keeping for myself. This is father's dagger, recently found on a soldier's corpse at Chateau Guyon."

He looked at his sister. "Dad must have loved you very much, for on the side of the blade is written your name, Eleanor. "

She looked surprised. "GIVE ME THAT!" The small details in the blade still had dried blood in them. "Father's blood" she whispered. And most of the dried blood was incrusted in the engraved name "Eleanor".

Jean raised his head to look at the castle's roof.

"You see, this will always remind me for who I'm doing this. I will defend these lands for your, Leanoo."

They both looked outside, Eleanor holding both the blade and the cross in her hands.



She looked on the floor, and behind the silk windows curtain, she could see two feet. She didn't immediatly make the connection and then realised someone was behind the curtains.

She quickly stood up, and screamed with a high pitch.

The man behind the windows curtain jumped out from his location, and got a hold of Jean, who was immediatly muted by the man's hand. Wearing all black, and with a leather mask, the man looked at Eleanor with very dark eyes.

"Your king is dead!"

The man took out a small blade, and put it against the throat of the young king. Eleanor screamed again and suddenly stopped as she saw the man's blade slowly slit the young king's throat very slowly, as if to engrave this atrocious moment in the young girls memory. With the young boys blood slowly flowing down his body, the dark man dipped his finger in the blood, and slowly marked a cross on Eleanor's forehead.

"THIS is what your country is all about!"

Eleanor couldn't make any sense of what was happening. Her left hand, carrying the cross, opened, and the necklace fell on the ground. She took a firm grip on what was in her right hand, closed her eyes, and with anger, slached the blade in the air. The dark man screamed, as he felt the blade cuting his cheek and then his very own left eye. He turned back, as the sound of gards could be heard everywhere. He jumped out the window, got on his horse, and rode away with Jean's cold body.

Eleanor simply looked at the blood on the blade, and sat on the ground. She dropped the blade, took the cross with her and began to cry, asking God for forgiveness.

 

[unmerged(10498)]

John du Vendome enters the court with an armed guard!

Noble Lady Eleanor I heard your scream and came as soon as I could. He saw the blood on the floor and asked her what had happened. After calming her and listening to her tale he took the young women into his arms and said.

'Our Cousin the Duchess of Bourbonnais will be here within the hour I shall take you to your room and send her to you when se arrives that is with your permission.

The Comte suddenly registers what has happened here and as he looks to the Door His cousin The Duchess of Bourbonnais enters the room.

Noble lady I have heard that your brother King Jean II is dead that would make you Queen of Burgundy. She looks at her distant cousin and in her long gown of ivory and gold she performs a courtsy, and tells all others in the room to do so also.

Long Live Eleanore du Berri, Queen Of Burgundy

 

[BusterBunny]

April 2nd, 1437

Never wait for a miracle, for even the blessed die one day.
- Bishop Jean de Montpetit, metropolitan of Burgundy, in a letter to Marie de Berry on October 6th, 1425

The winter of 1436-37 had frozen both the Armée Royale de Bourgogne and the Franche Armée of the Lower Counties. Even though the Armée Royale wasn't progressing as fast as Myriam would have wanted, the situation was a little worse for the Count of Artois, who had to reroute most of its army from the loss at Chateau Guyon. Fortunately, the armies of Flanderns and Noord Holland were almost intact, and fully equiped with arbalasters and shields.

The armies of the Count, including the armies from Noord Holland and Flanderns had time to get to Artois before winter, but had to stay there until spring. This meant a battle at Artois in spring would be innevitable. An army 3000 men strong, with its core of almost 1000 Chivalric knights, under the Count and his son.

The Royale Armée de Bourgogne didn't have as many troops, but what they lacked in quantity, they made up in quality. All knights were trained by Philippe de Valois, from France. Added to that where the troops of the Hawk, from Pommerania, whose merciless tactics were now known throughout the Empire.

Though the Count was a rebel, he knew the protocol of war, and invited the duchesse and her allies to a battle at a small town near Artois. The Count loved Artois too much to see it destroyed by heavy artillery.

The date was set: April 2nd, 1437.

--------------------------------------------

Myriam opened her eyes. It was dawn, and two silent armies
were drawn up facing one another. Myriam senses that this was going to be a blood bath that nobody wanted.

Franciscan monks moved among them, sprinkling them with
holy water in final absolution. The battle lines were too
far apart for the Count's men to see any details, but the
sight of massed soldiers kneeling before an invisible God
was an awesome spectacle.

The Royale Armée was divided in three groups, by nations. In the middle, a few horsemen stood alone. Myriam de Montainblanc, duchesse de Lorraine and regent of Lotharingian, Phoebus de Châteaupers, duke of Auvergne and commander in chief of the Royale armée de Bourgogne, Philippe de Valois, duke of Grenoble and commander of the expeditionnary French forces, and Janusz Rokosinski, leader of the Hawks, were facing the Count's army.

Philippe de Valois broke the silence. In a true noble manner, he knew the importance of meeting the ennemy leader as most modern battle would dictacte.

Well...? Shall we go?

Janusz hesitated a second, and looked at the French.

You are sure you want to meet them? We are loosing precious time, and if I had arbalasters with me, I'd kill anyone coming out from the ennemy ranks, whatever flag they'd be waving.

Myriam looked at Philippe de Valois and whispered:
Not yet.

Philippe de Valois looked at the sun. It was almost noon...
The Count of Artois won't wait.

Myriam hesitated...

I'll go.

De Châteaupers moved his horse in front of Myriam's

Myriam, no...

Philippe silenced Phoebus de Châteaupers, indicating to Janusz thay he should accompany her.

Myriam closed her eyes and answered.

... alone.

Philippe de Valois was again obliged to comply, and Janusz hung back.

Myriam moved halfway between the two armies. The Count's men soldiers watch her, mesmerized, while their captains
remain motionless.

In the middle of the field, Myriam halted. The Count Maximilien of Artois drawn up alongside his Captains,
watching her with grey eyes and an expression of stone.

Myriam remembered Chateau Guyon, a battle half as big as this one would be. She began to cry and rubbeds the tears
away.

I have a message for your, Count Maximilien d'Artois!
It is a message from God!

The Count stood silent.

Go home... Go now, in peace. If you don't go now, you will be buried in this field. I've seen enough blood for today, but if you want more, I can't stop you. I can only warn you that it will be your blood, not ours!

Maximilien d'Artois whispered something to one of his Captains. He withdrew to pass the message on. Myriam -- and her
captains -- tried to gauge the English mood.

I'm waiting for your answer.

The Count's Captains started moving along their flanks.
Something was about to happen. Janusz, Philippe and the Burgundians watched in dismay as the English flanks move aside, exposing their dreaded arbalesters. Myriam closeed her eyes, tears brimming. She whispered to herself.

Please, Lord... don't... don't let this happen... don't leave me...

The Count's arbalesters took a step back, their cavalry move
slowly forward, then turned to their right, the men letting
them through. Philippe turns to Janusz...

Never wait for miracles. Stand by to attack...

Pheobus, Janusz and Philippe whipped their horse furiously, and rode to their respective army groups.

Myriam simply stood there.

to be continued....

 

[unmerged(10498)]

A letter from The Duchess of Bourbonnais arrives at the battle of Artois

Noble Lady.

As cousin of the royal family I feel it my duity to inform you that the King is dead!!! My cousin was murdered shortly before my arrival. As I have noticed the young prince Phillippe is no where to be seen and with this in mind have Proclaimed Princess Eleanore Queen of Burgundy. I shall remain here untill you as regent of the realm dictate otherwise although I ask that you show me hospitality as I will show you when or if you visit Bourbonnais. I have taken up residance at the Palace and the man before you is my Cousin John Comte du Vendome I have sent him to you to use as you will in the field of battle. He is a very distinguished fighter and know the field of battle like the back of his hand....

Your friend

Geneveive du Bourbon.

Duchess of Bourbonnais.

 

[BusterBunny]

Unfortunately, as a battle is going on at that same moment, the letter is put aside....

 

[AugCaesar]

An ornately decorated envelope arrives from Brittany, it is decorated with the Arms of the Montfords of Brittany and the Duchess of Bourbannais. Inside is an invitation to the wedding of Francois du Montford to Eleonore du Bourbannais...

 

[BusterBunny]

April 2nd, 1437 (...continued)

We all know that forgiveness is found through love. Isn't it ironic that revenge is found through lost love?

- Bishop Jean de Montpetit, metropolitan of Burgundy, in a letter to Marie de Berry on October 6th, 1425

-------------------------------------

Philippe de Valois, in front of his mounted knights, looked at the lonely figure in the middle of the field. On each side, some of the largest armies ever seen on the fields of Europe. He ordered:

Present weapons!

And the French mounted knights took out their swords. Philippe wasn't too sure if Myriam's gamble was going to work, but he couldn't take any chance. On his right, the large Burgundian army seemed unorganized.

He knew, however, that Phoebus de Chateaupers would quickly organise his troops, for they were agile and fast to adapt. In a way, they were the image of the last few years of attacks and counter-attacks in Burgundy. This would probably give the Burgundian army an edge in the years to come... if they would survive this battle.

On his left, the Pommeranian rogues. On the sea, these men would be pirates: few in number, strong, ruthless....

Maximilien d'Artois came to meet Myriam in the center of the field, with him a wet bag of some sort. Myriam stood still, and when the Count's horse stopped, she closed her eyes. The count looked at her and turned to throw the bag at her feet.

The bag fell right next to Myriam, revealing its content.

Inside, the rotten head of young King Jean II du Berry.

The Count shouted "This is what you a defending! A DEAD KING!"

Myriam couldn't believe what her eyes was showing her. She shook her head, then turned away and fell from her horse. She took the head into her hands, and remembered the promise she had made to herself and God, to protect the King and his nation from evil. And now, she had fail. She couldn't believe that this young boy, who she saw growing up in Dijon, learning the ways of nobility, was not part of this world anymore.

Another horse came to the center of the field, from the Count's army. The tall man had a patched eye and a large cut going from his throat to his forehead.

Father, our troops are ready!

Look, son, look at the regent of Lotharingia. This is the blessed of Lorraine, the Maid of Burgundy. This women, hugging the rotten head of a dead king... she is the one sent by "GOD" to win back this land of ours. THIS is what we have fought against.

You would think that with the death of the former regent, Alexandre de Beaufort, they would have understood that the Lower Counties was ours...

They will, my son. As soon as we kill this group of pirates and peasants...

He spit on the dead king's head. Myriam, crying to her heart about the loss of her king, almost her child, couldn't bear the pain. Phoebus de Châteaupers moved forward to meet Myriam. He helped her back to her horse, and turned to the Count.

Prepare your troops, Count. And wish for God's mercy.

The Count smiled, and turned away. His son smiled in the same way and said:

The last one to wish for God's mercy is in Myriam's hands right now...

Myriam became furious, whipped her horse and screamed. She rode frantically to her troops, passed in front of the French and Pommeranians troops, waving her sword in the air. Every men could feel her pain and anger, and they all took out their swords and weapons.

The battle would now begin...

At the top of the hill, the flag of Flandern could be seen, and rows of arbalesters and footmen were defending near the windmill.

Nothing more could be seen from there, but everyone knew that more troops laid on the other side of that hill. The Count was rumored to have amassed a terrible force of mounted knights, and more troops had been spotted bearing the flag of Noord-Holland.

The tactic was simple: divide the Count's troops in two, with the heavy blow of the French cavalry right in the middle. Then, the Pommeranian and Burgundian would take the flanks, from each side of the hills. The arbalester would be a problem, though their firing rate would allow for the French knights to quickly dispose of them. Depending on the troop structure on the other side of the hill, the French would assist the Burgundians or Pommeranians to finish the battle. A simple tactic, that would require to quickly adapt to whatever the Count could come up with.

Philippe de Valois announced the charge.
One after the other, the lines of mounted knights ran to the center of the Count's army, riding up the hill.

The Flander Arbalasters were firing and rewinding their weapons, and some arrows crashed into the incoming French army. Some knights fell, but most remained on their horse, each focusing on a certain individual in the opposite army. The first clash could be heard from miles around, as the screams of the dying defensless arbalesters cut through the damp morning. Philippe concentrated on the different footmen defending the arbalesters, hacking and slashing without remorse. He lowered his head, and saw the full opposing army. In the small village, the Count's flag could be seen and with it, 300 mounted men.

On the other side, the Count son's troops, the rebels of Noord-Holland, countless rows of armed men, ready to flank the French knights.

He looked behind him, hoping for the flanking support to come soon enough...

 

[BusterBunny]

Luckily for Philippe de Valois, the Burgundian troops were behind, slowly advancing into position. Phoebus de Châteaupers ordered an offensive formations, that cut through the defensive Noord-Holland line one after the other.

On the left flank, the Pommeranians were making even better progress, encountering heavy resistance, but using tactics rarely seen in battle to isolate large groups of footmen divisions, and quickly eliminating resistance.

As Janusz troops dissolved any opposition, the ennemy troop positions became clearer, and what he saw wasn't reassuring. The quickly moving Count's mounted knight divisions were riding to the center of the battle, compromising the dividing offense of the French. Janusz yelled "FALL TO CENTER!" and his troops began to slowly move toward the French to assist.

The Count's main army rushed to the center, and the move resulted in mayhem and carnage.

The Burgundian army slowly moved to the flank of the main defense position, and began to even move to the back. Cut off, the Count's army focused it's attention to the center, to finally break the weak point of the offense the French army had become. Suffering heavy loss, Philippe de Valois reached for his horn to sound the retreat when suddenly, he witnessed the Burgundian troops using the same tactic as the Pommeranian around a small group waving a leader's flag, the one of Count Maximilen d'Artois. He could also see the white horse of Myriam.

Myriam quickly nodded and hit her horse to go faster. In front of her, less than 20 men were defending the Count. She drew her sword high in the air, and with all the power of revenge she had in her, hit the count's shield as hard as she could. The shield broke in two, and she hit again, and again. After a while, every soldier were looking at her, slashing the dead corpse of the fallen Count Maximilien d'Artois.

In silence, people looked at Myriam, her mad laughter at the sight of the dead count could be heard to the other side of the battlefield, were only covered by the cheers of the Burgundian army, noticing the retreat of the Count's armies.

The Count's armies seemed to have been as strong as its leader, and with it dead, the rebellion was over... Still, some questions remained. Where was the Count's son, Jean d'Artois dit le Jeune? Where was Philippe de Berry, third son of Marie de Berry? With Jean II du Berry dead, one could argue that Philippe was now king, not necesseraly Eleanor. Myriam had too many questions left to be satisfied, and with a last attempt to solve all the unresolved issues, threw her sword at the count's dead corpse.

Your armies are dead... and you now have our king. This is a stalemate...

-----------------------------------------

The battle of Artois was the last battle of the first civil war of Burgundy. The lower counties were soon brought back in the favors of Lotharingia, with appointments of pro-Berry barons, counts and dukes at the head of different cities and regions. The issue of control of the House of Berry was left unresolved, but most accepted Eleanor as Lotharingia's queen in the absence of Philippe, her younger brother. The council of dukes recognised her as such, and with the support in Bourbonnais and France of the houses of Valois, the issue was settled for now.

The bitter sweet victory of the Armée Royale de Bourgogne paved the way to a slow reconstruction of Burgundy, but had pushed the military expertise of the country through the learnings of France and Pommerania. To this day, the Burgundian army was second only to England's army, and some might even say that the knowledge from this civil war had pushed Burgundy's army 30 years ahead, technology wise.

 

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A letter arrived in Dijon.

Dear Myriam,

As my brother was the last ruler of France, I have the best claim. My nephew is not capable of doing such a job as ruling France. He hides behind his throne which should be rightfully mine.

As I am his Uncle, an insult upon my family is an insult upon The 'King's' family.

I bid you to stay out of this struggle, it is between me and him, not Burgundy. As cowardly as he is, he asks everyone to protect him. He hides behind his soldiers. Surely, this man is not capable of Ruling France.

Charles I, Duc d'Orléans, true King of France.