v56_0275 - DUCHY OF BURGUNDY - PHILIPPE LE BON Grand blanc aux écus

BURGUNDY - DUCHY OF BURGUNDY - PHILIP THE GOOD

(1419-1467)

Philip the Good (1396-1467) was the son of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria. He succeeded his father after the assassination of Montereau in 1419. He allied himself with Henry V of England to oppose the dauphin whom he considered responsible for the death of his father. He is the instigator of the Treaty of Troyes of 1420. He married in 1409 Michelle de France, assassinated in 1422, then Bonne d'Artois in 1424 who died the following year, finally Isabella of Portugal (1397-1472) in 1429 After the death of Henry V and Charles VI in 1422, he recognized Henry VI as King of France and England. Thanks to a skilful policy, he united the county of Flanders and the duchy of Burgundy, the county of Namur in 1429, the duchies of Brabant and Limburg in 1430, the counties of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland in 1433, the duchy of Luxembourg in 1462. He reformed, for his own benefit, part of the former Lotharingia. He founded the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1430. He was reconciled with Charles VII in 1435 who further enlarged his possessions in Artois. He died in 1467, the richest lord in Europe.