[MR] Battle of Nancy 1477, Death of Charles the Bold

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Though I have commented on this before, as a Burgundy geek-extraordinaire I
couldn't pass up mentioning the Battle of Nancy and the death of Charles
the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, on this date in 1477.

In his attempted conquest of Lorraine, Charles the Bold had put the city of
Nancy under siege during the depths of winter. Though Charles' army was
depleted by disease and desertion, and he knew that René II, Duke of
Lorraine, was approaching, Charles refused to lift his siege. What was left
of the Burgundian army was caught between Swiss mercenaries who overran the
Burgundians' superb artillery park in a surprise attack from the rear, and
the main Lorraine/Swiss army from the front. In the resulting rout, Charles
was unhorsed and his skull cloven by a Swiss halberd.

Upon learning of the Burgundian defeat, the French king Louis XI quickly
sucked up the Duchy of Burgundy, and all the other Burgundian-ruled
territories within France. Although Charles' daughter Mary the Rich still
ruled the Burgundian Netherlands, this marked an abrupt end to Burgundy as
a major European power.

You can read about the Battle of Nancy and its effects at my blog site:
https://mallardlodgehousehold.blogspot.com/2023/ . Yes, it is the bio page
about Anthony, Bastard of Burgundy (Chuck-o's illegitimate half-brother),
but there is an account of the battle and a really cool illustration near
the end.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep the original Merry Rose relevant and in
business.