December 18, 2022

French flag sheet

Here's another flag sheet, this time for the French side.

Compared to the Burgundian / Hapsburg side, I've not been able to find so much detail on specific French  nobles who fought in the war, or at least only enough for one sheet! I'll give some biographical detail and how they were involved in the war below.


Georges de la Trémoille, Lord of Craon - Was in command of the French army that occupied the duchy and county of Burgundy in 1477, and was appointed governor of the region. He messed things up, getting involved in a drawn-out war with the nobility of the Franche-Comté when they rebelled under the leadership of the Prince of Orange. By the end of the year he had been dismissed by Louis XI, the French having been driven out of the Franche-Comté entirely. My flag for him is conjectural, as I've found no reliable source - he was a younger son who died without children, overshadowed by his more famous father, brother and nephew. I've gone for the family arms quartered with those of Craon.

Gaston du Lion, Lord of Besaudun - Seneschal of Toulouse, fought in Burgundy under Georges de la Trémoille and possibly for longer after the latter's dismissal.

Charles d'Amboise, Lord of Chaumont - An experienced military commander, was appointed as replacement for Georges de la Trémoille at the end of 1477. Under his leadership first the duchy and then the county of Burgundy was brought under French control over the next two years. He also led an army into Luxembourg in 1480, before dying in 1481.

Jean de Salazar - A veteran Spanish mercenary who had served France for many decades, and was highly regarded. In 1477 he fought in both the duchy and county of Burgundy, before dying in 1479.  

Jean de Baudricourt, Lord of Choiseul - Was appointed governor of Burgundy after the death of Charles d'Amboise in 1481, and Marshal of France in 1486.

Antoine de Chabannes, Jean de Daillon and Pierre de Rohan were all high-ranking nobles in service to the king who were involved in the French invasion of the Low Countries in 1477. Chabannes was Grand Master of France, Daillon was governor of the Dauphiné and Rohan was a Marshal of France.

Philippe de Crèvecœur and Jean de Damas had until 1477 served Charles the Bold, but following his death they were two of the highest-ranking nobles to quickly swear allegiance to France. Crèvecœur came to be in charge of all French military operations in Artois and Flanders, and was made a Marshal of France in 1483. Jean de Damas was governor of the Mâconnais, and retained his positioned when he handed the region over to the French. Both of them had been Knights of the Golden Fleece but were removed from the order by Maximilian due to their betrayal.

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