The subject is a very long lived servant (82 years old) of royalty, who assisted Louis XI, Charles VIII, and Louis XII, giving insights into the life of a man whose efforts were essential to the function of monarchy in the French Renaissance. Georges Bricard sets forth in detail Louis XI's secretary, adviser, agent, financier, and diplomat, his role with the Dauphin Charles, his successive services during the regency of Anne of Beaujeu and the personal government of Charles VIII, and work with Louis XII. The author did not neglect the character of his intimate life with his family and friends, his existence and his expenses as a grand seigneur in his new castles in Anjou.
Based on manuscript sources, contents include Louis XI, his character, his policies, and his agents; origins in Châteaugontier; return to France with new King Louis XI from exile; his control of royal finances; loaning money to the King, securing loans from wealthy burgers; diplomatic missions in Anjou, Normandy, and dealing with the Earl of Warwick; also sent to Picardy, Bretagne, Perpignan, Burgundy; governor of the Dauphin Charles; length separation from his family in Amboise; Bourré under the government of Anne de Beaujeu; more lending of money to Charles VIII and then Louis XII; his vast estates in Anjou; his castles; his children and wife.
Previous Frank H. Wallis translations:
Blanche of Castile, Queen and Regent of France, 1188-1252 (2015). From Élie Berger, Histoire de Blanche de Castille, Reine de France (Paris, 1895).
Charles VII. 6 vols. (2020-21). From Gaston Du Fresne de Beaucourt, Charles VII (Paris, 1881-1891).
Queen Margot and the end of the Valois, 1553-1615 (2021). From Charles Merki, La Reine Margot et la fin des Valois (1553-1615) (Paris, 1905).
