[MR] Wikipedia: John, Duke de Berry

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this day in 1340 John, Duke de Berry was born in Vincennes, France:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John,_Duke_of_Berry .

John was third among the four sons of King John II of France. Duke
John was a major player in French politics of the time, several times
acting as co-regent of France during his nephew Charles VI's madness.
John was more interested in collecting art and illuminated
manuscripts. He is best known for commissioning the Très Riches
Heures, a lavishly illustrated book of hours. Somewhat immodestly,
John appears in many of the plates, but when you are a Duke you are
expected to show off a bit. Consequently, his likeness is quite well
known.

John was married to Joanna of Armagnac, and generally supported the
Armagnac cause during the civil war between that faction and the Dukes
of Burgundy (a wise decision for the sake of his marriage and domestic
peace). John tried hard to bring the two sides to a compromise, but
the war ground on for many years, paralyzing French resistance to
England during the Hundred Years War.

For more about the famous Très Riches Heures see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Très_Riches_Heures_du_Duc_de_Berry .
There have been many reproductions of this famous work (whole or in
part), and they are easy to find on the used book market. A copy
belongs in every Scadian's library.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge