Grand Dukes of the West: A History of Valois Burgundy

Tournaments were more than an excuse for knights to whack each other with sticks, they were elaborate court events filled with splendor, ritual, and the careful exercise of violence. Perhaps nobody in Burgundy exemplified the Tournament as much as Jacques de Lalaing; through his skill in the lists, Jacques won fame on par with modern star athletes.Time Period Covered: 1430-1453Notable People: Jacques de Lalaing, Philip the Good, Rene of Anjou, Pierre de Bauffremont Count of Charny, Philippe de Ternant, Jean de Boniface, Juan de Merlo, Galeotto BalthazarNotable Events/Developments: Rise of Pas d'Armes, Pas of Charlemagne's Tree (1443), Tournament of Nancy (1444), Pas of the Fountain of Tears (1449-1450)

Susan Abernethy, who you might also know as the Freelance History Writer, has recently put out her second book, The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe, which dives into the biographies of over 40 women whose lives intersected with Burgundy in some way or another and adds rich context to the Burgundian Story.The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe is out now, and I highly recommend checking it out. It is available through the publisher, Pen and Sword, and is also on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwell's and more.

The Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles is a collection of 100 Stories told at the Burgundian Court compiled around 1450. In this episode some of my fellow History Podcasters will relate 10 of these stories (see timestamps below). An English Translation of the Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles by Robert B. Douglas can be found on Project Guteburg if you would like to follow along or read the rest of the stories.3:36 - Story 1 - The Reverse of the Medal - Read By Jerry from Presidencies of the United States19:51 - Story 5 - The Duel with the Buckle Strap - Read by David from The Siecle28:09 - Story 6 - The Drunkard in Paradise - Read by Fry from Pontifacts35:08 - Story 15 - The Clever Nun - Read by Bry from Pontifacts41:26 - Story 21 - The Abbess Cured - Read by Ethan from The History of How We Play51:15 - Story 46 - How the Nun Paid for the Pears - Read by Theresa from Attack of the Final Girls and No Time To Bleed57:11 - Story 58 - Scorn for Scorn - Read by David from Tudoriferous1:01:32 - Story 71 — The Considerate Cuckold - Read by Jane (My Fiance)1:05:38 - Story 96 - A Good Dog - Read by Joe from Prime Factors1:09:37 - Story 99 - The Metamorphosis - Read by Roberto from Tsar Power and A History of Saqartvelo Georgia

Philip the Good was known to suffer from the 'weakness of the flesh.' The Duke of Burgundy had dozens of mistresses and bastards throughout his life, so while we're exploring the Burgundian Court, why not take a moment to explore Philip's illegitimate family.Check out intelligentspeechonline.com for more information on the upcoming Intelligent Speech Conference, and use my promo code BOLD for 10% off!Notable People: Philip the Good, Cornille of Burgundy, Anthony of Burgundy, David of Burgundy, Anne of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal, Catherine Scaers

Although the Dukes of Burgundy were not kings, they sure acted like they were. The Burgundian Court was one of the largest, most extravagant, and most magnificent in all of Europe. It was a center of artistic patronage, elaborate events, and grand displays. In fact, the Burgundian Court was so central to the identity of the Dukes and the administration of their lands, that some historians have claimed that Burgundy was a Theater State.Check out intelligentspeechonline.com for more information on the upcoming Intelligent Speech Conference, and use my promo code BOLD for 10% off!