Thread by @Arby_K

When is a nation not a nation - When its people have not yet realized they can be a nation.

Story arc in the evening ...

Philippe de Bourgogne was born in 1396 to Jean de Bourgogne, Count of Nevers, and Marguerite de Hainaut. In 1404, Jean succeeded his father as Duke of Burgundy, and in 1405, he succeeded his mother as Count of Artois and Flanders and Count Palatine of Burgundy. 1/10

In 1369, French King Charles V had got Marguerite de Flandre to marry his younger brother, Philippe, instead of Edmund of Langley, to whom she had been betrothed earlier. France and England were at war at the time and Marguerite owned much area within and near France. 2/10

Jean, their son, got a large chunk of this inheritance, while his brother Antoine got Brabant, Limburg and Antwerp. The youngest brother, Philippe, got Nevers and Rethel. Jean's father was one of the regents for King Charles VI, when he became King in 1380 aged 12. as well. 3/10

As King Charles VI grew older, he displayed bouts of insanity, eventually making his brother, Louis, his regent in 1393. Louis curtailed the Burgundian influence in the court leading to rivalry between the cousins. In 1407, Louis would be killed apparently on Jean's orders. 4/10

This led to a civil war between the supporters of Prince Louis, later known as the Armagnac faction, and Jean. In 1414, the Armagnacs managed to expel Jean from Paris, but the next year a new threat came from across the Channel - English King Henry. 5/10

When the French and the English met at Agincourt in 1415, Jean stayed away (Though Antoine and Philippe fought and died in the battle). Finally to conclude a truce with the Armagnacs against the English in 1419, Jean set out to meet them. But he was killed on the way. 6/10

This brought Philippe de Bourgogne to the Dukedom of Burgundy, who quickly concluded a treaty with the English. In 1420, the allies forced the French King to disinherit his son and name the English King as his heir. But both the Kings died in quick succession in 1422. 7/10

With an infant King on the English throne, the former disinherited crown prince established himself at Bourges. The intervention of Jeanne d'Arc on his behalf turned the tide towards him. In 1430 though, Philippe's troops would capture Jeanne and hand her over to England. 8/10

But soon, Philippe would choose to focus on his estates than on France, having bought Namur in 1421, as he supported Charles in consolidating his position as King. He established the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1430 and enriched his estates as a patron of arts and culture. 9/10

Philippe formed a de facto state, but with parallel courts. He added Hainaut, Holland & Zeeland by victory in war in 1426, Brabant, Limburg & Antwerp by inheritance in 1430 and Luxembourg by conquest in 1443. This state would evolve into Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg. 10/10