Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
correction: Mary was born of Isabeau de Bourbon |
||
Line 22:
Some days later, however, he was attacked before Granson by the confederate army and suffered a shamful defeat, being compelled to fly with a handful of attendants, and leaving his artillery and an immense booty in the hands of the allies (February [[1476]]). He succeeded in raising a fresh army of 30,000 men, with which he attacked [[Morat]], but he was again defeated by the Swiss army, assisted by the cavalry of [[René II, Duke of Lorraine]] ([[June 22]], [[1476]]). On [[October 6]] Charles lost Nancy, which was re-entered by René. Making a last effort, Charles formed a new army and arrived in. the depth of winter before the walls of Nancy. Having lost many of his troops through the severe cold, it was with only a few thousand men that he met the joint forces of the Lorrainers and the Swiss, who had come to the relief of the town ([[January 6]], [[1477]]). He himself perished in the fight, his mutilated body being discovered some days afterwards.
Charles the Bold has often been regarded as the last representative of the feudal spirit--a man who possessed no other quality than a blind bravery--and accordingly has often been contrasted with his rival Louis XI as representing modern politics. In reality, he was a prince of wide knowledge and culture, knowing several languages and austere in morals; and although he cannot be acquitted of occasional harshness, he had the secret of winning the hearts of his subjects, who never refused him their support in times of difficulty. He was thrice married--to Catherine (d, [[1446]]), daughter of [[Charles VII of France]]; to Isabella (d. [[1465]]), daughter of Charles I, duke of Bourbon, by whom he had one daughter, [[Mary of Burgundy|Mary]], afterwards the wife of the Emperor [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]]
'''See also:''' [[Dukes of Burgundy family tree]]
| |||