[MR] Wikipedia: Death of John, Duke of Berry

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1416 John, Duke of Berry, died of natural causes.

John was the third among the four surviving sons of French King John II
(aka "John the Good"). King John created duchies to provide income for the
three junior sons, so in 1360 the younger John was created Duke of Berry
and Auvergne. He was also Count of Poitiers and Montpensier. Not a bad haul!

John's eldest brother was the next king of France Charles V (aka "Charles
the Mad"). John served as co-regent of France from 1382-1388 during
Charles' periods of insanity. He was brother to Louis I, Duke of Anjou, and
Philip II (Philip "the Bold"), Duke of Burgundy, both of whom were
co-regents. The regency broke down as the next generation succeeded to the
office, eventually resulting in civil war between the Armagnac/Anjou and
Burgundian factions. John generally sided with the Armagnacs, but tried
(pretty much unsuccessfully) to be a voice of reason between the two
factions. Meanwhile France drifted from defeat to defeat by the English in
the Hundred Years War.

The Duke of Berry is best known for his art patronage, particularly The *Très
Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, *a lavishly illustrated Book of Hours, as
well as other surviving illuminated books and several expensive decorative
items. John liked living the high life, and employed the only best artisans
and poets, but this left him deeply in debt by his death in 1416.

More about John, Duke of Berry is found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John,_Duke_of_Berry .

A Wikipedia page on the *Très Riches Heures* is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%C3%A8s_Riches_Heures_du_Duc_de_Berry .

An electronic version of the whole book is at
https://les-tres-riches-heures.chateaudechantilly.fr/ .

Yours Aye,

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