2017/04/05 by Pierre Courroux · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · Engineering · #Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis #European Political History Analysis #Medieval and Early Modern Justice #Feudalism #Servant #Monarchy #Politics #Sovereignty #Power (physics) #History #State (computer science) #Biography #Ancient history #Law #Political science #Engineering
paper · doi:10.1093/fh/crx017
openalex publication_date 2017/04/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Charles d’Albret was a major feudal lord of south-western France whose high status in the kingdom made him a key player in the debates between the Burgundian faction and the Orléanist faction in the early fifteenth century. In spite of his important legacy—the Bourbon line was descended from his heirs—historians have tended to avoid exploring the complex relationships d’Albret had to pursue at court. During the quarrel of the dukes d’Albret remained as aloof as he could, sticking to his status as a loyal servant of the crown. This position became more difficult after the assassination of Orléans in 1407, and again from 1410 when Burgundian influence grew further. But the return to power of the Orléanist princes led to a return to status for d’Albret. The political biography of this major feudal leader in France’s divided late-medieval state casts new light on the complex web of relationships that underpinned both the struggle for supremacy and, even more importantly, the complex way in which the feudal monarchy advanced its sovereignty over a territory where competing claims were the norm.