THE EVOLUTION OF THE PRINCELY COURT IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE, c1270–c1384
Malcolm Vale
T project, which has been supported by a two-year award to the Fac ulty of Modem History at Oxford Leverhulme Trust, began about twenty years ago. At that time Iwas working towards book eventually appeared as War and Chivalry: Waifare Aristocratic Culture in England, France Burgundy End Middle Ages (1981). Most work on was done University York, where Centre for Medieval Studies brought together medievalists all kinds. The York B.Phil (as it then was) included course 'Courts Cities Later Ages' I suppose part through ideas were inform my current project form. So there is relationship between teaching research: this case, teaching-led research, rather than research-led teaching. A major component was, course, court Burgundy: society culture developed age Valois dukes 1363 1477. Both research demonstrated that, although we knew much Burgundy, little its predecessors north-west Europe. There sense Burgundian emerging almost from vacuum splendour solely product dukes' immense wealth, novelty exemplified 'new' art brothers Van Eyck their contemporaries, some way related fact house new force European politics, increasingly independent both Holy Roman Empire. But questions remained. Whence did spring? Was merely development elaboration French culture, made possible power wealth dukes? 'Frenchness' perhaps yet another Inanifestation cultural 'supremacy', also applied other periods (e.g. thirteenth century)? By 1384, hand, had begun rise hegemony Low Countries, effects absorption integration Netherlandish territories into dominions be asked. To what extent four entourages 'true, good complete Frenchmen' Chancellor Nicholas Rolin maintained they 1435?
The Court Historian