Following a number of victories in Belgium, Burgundy turned their attention eastward to Switzerland. The Burgundian Wars,
as they have come to be known, were a number of battles that took place between 1474 and 1477 between Burgundy
and a Swiss Confederacy. The first altercation, the Siege of Neuss at the end of July 1474 was followed by the Battle of Hericourt in the November. Three years later in 1477, the last of these battles would take place outside the walls of the
French town of Nancy between the forces of Rene, Duke of Lorraine and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.
as they have come to be known, were a number of battles that took place between 1474 and 1477 between Burgundy
and a Swiss Confederacy. The first altercation, the Siege of Neuss at the end of July 1474 was followed by the Battle of Hericourt in the November. Three years later in 1477, the last of these battles would take place outside the walls of the
French town of Nancy between the forces of Rene, Duke of Lorraine and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.
The Battle of Nancy, an attempt by Charles the Bold to retake the town from the Duke of Lorraine, who had held it since
the end of 1476, was fought in the winter of 1477. The weather was severe, many of Charles's men died due to the cold and
the rest fled when they realised that the advancing army outnumbered them, but Charles stood firm at the head of his remaining army. Suffering much the same blow as his brother-in-law, Richard III would eight years later, Charles was struck
by a blow from a halberd and died outside the town walls.
the end of 1476, was fought in the winter of 1477. The weather was severe, many of Charles's men died due to the cold and
the rest fled when they realised that the advancing army outnumbered them, but Charles stood firm at the head of his remaining army. Suffering much the same blow as his brother-in-law, Richard III would eight years later, Charles was struck
by a blow from a halberd and died outside the town walls.
Charles the Bold found after the Battle of Nancy by Auguste Feyen-Perrin 1865
The poor man's frozen and mutilated body was found a few days later in a river. Out of his body were protruding a number
of lances, his is head was cut in two by the halberd and his face gnawed at by wild animals. He was only identified when
his doctor noticed his old battle scars.
Charles the Bold's grisly death on the battle field of Nancy ended the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy. Charles's only
daughter Mary would eventually marry the future Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Maximilian became co ruler on their
marriage eight months later on the 16th August 1477.
of lances, his is head was cut in two by the halberd and his face gnawed at by wild animals. He was only identified when
his doctor noticed his old battle scars.
Charles the Bold's grisly death on the battle field of Nancy ended the rule of the Dukes of Burgundy. Charles's only
daughter Mary would eventually marry the future Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Maximilian became co ruler on their
marriage eight months later on the 16th August 1477.
"Rene takes the town of Nancy" by Pierre Jacobi
Charles the Bold's wife was Margaret of York, the daughter of Richard Duke of York. She was sister to England's king
Edward IV and following her husbands death, Margaret proved, in her support of her step daughter, to have a strong a
character as that of her father and brothers.
Edward IV and following her husbands death, Margaret proved, in her support of her step daughter, to have a strong a
character as that of her father and brothers.
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