Philip III, Duke of Burgundy

Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (Philip the Good or Philippe le Bon) (July 31, 1396 – June 15, 1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty (the then Royal family of France).

Related Topics:
July 31 - 1396 - June 15 - 1467 - Duke of Burgundy - 1419 - Valois

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Born in Dijon, he was son of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria-Straubing. As heir apparent, he was Count of Charolais 1404–1419.

Related Topics:
Dijon - John the Fearless - Margaret of Bavaria-Straubing - Heir apparent - Count of Charolais - 1404 - 1419

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He married in Paris in June 1409 Michelle de Valois (1395–1422), daughter of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria, and again in Moulins-les-Engelbert on November 30, 1424 Bonne of Artois (1393–1425), daughter of Philip of Artois, Count of Eu, also his uncle's widow.

Related Topics:
Paris - 1409 - 1395 - 1422 - Charles VI of France - Isabeau of Bavaria - Moulins-les-Engelbert - November 30 - 1424 - 1393 - 1425 - Philip of Artois, Count of Eu

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His third marriage, in Bruges on January 7, 1430 with Isabella of Portugal (1397–1472), daughter of John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster, produced three sons:

Related Topics:
Bruges - January 7 - 1430 - Isabella of Portugal - 1397 - 1472 - John I of Portugal - Philippa of Lancaster

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• Antoine (September 30, 1430, Brussels – February 5, 1432, Brussels), Count of Charolais
• Joseph (April 24, 1432 – aft. May 6, 1432), Count of Charolais
• Charles (1433–1477), Count of Charolais and Philip's successor as Duke

He became duke when his father was assassinated in 1419. Philip accused Charles, the Dauphin of France (his brother-in-law) of planning the murder of his father, which took place during a meeting between the two at Montereau, and in 1420 Philip allied himself with Henry V of England under the Treaty of Troyes. In 1423 the alliance was strengthened by the marriage of his sister Anne to John, Duke of Bedford, regent for Henry VI of England. In 1430 Philip's troops captured Joan of Arc at Compiegne and later handed her over to the English, who orchestrated a heresy trial against her. The alliance with England was broken in 1435 when Philip attacked Calais and, under the terms of the Treaty of Arras, recognized Charles VII as king of France. This alliance was broken in 1439, and in 1440 he supported the revolt of the French nobles (an event known as "the Praguerie") and sheltered the Dauphin Louis.

Related Topics:
Assassin - Charles - Dauphin - France - 1420 - Henry V of England - Treaty of Troyes - 1423 - John, Duke of Bedford - Henry VI of England - 1430 - Joan of Arc - Compiegne - Heresy - 1435 - Calais - Treaty of Arras - 1439 - 1440 - Louis

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Philip preferred to expand his own territory rather than become directly involved in the Hundred Years' War. He incorporated Namur into Burgundian territory in 1421 (by purchase from John III, Marquis of Namur), Hainault and Holland, Friesland and Zeeland in 1432 (with the defeat of Countess Jacqueline in the last episode of the Hook and Cod wars), Brabant in 1430 (at the demise of his cousin), and Luxembourg in 1443 from Elisabeth of Bohemia, Duchess of Luxembourg. In 1435, he began to style himself "Grand Duke of the West".

Related Topics:
Hundred Years' War - Namur - 1421 - John III, Marquis of Namur - Hainault - Holland - 1432 - Countess Jacqueline - Hook and Cod wars - Brabant - 1430 - Luxembourg - 1443 - Elisabeth of Bohemia, Duchess of Luxembourg - 1435

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Philip was considered an extravagant ruler who embodied the qualities of chivalry. He declined membership in the English Order of the Garter in 1422, but created his own order in 1430, the Order of the Golden Fleece, supposedly based on the Knights of the Round Table. He had no fixed capital and set up court in various places, usually Brussels, Bruges, or Lille. He held grand feasts to show off his power to his subjects, and the knights of his Order frequently travelled through his territory participating in tournaments. In 1454 he also planned a crusade against the Ottoman Empire, but this plan never materialized.

Related Topics:
Chivalry - Order of the Garter - 1422 - Order of the Golden Fleece - Knights of the Round Table - Brussels - Bruges - Lille - Knight - Tournaments - 1454 - Crusade - Ottoman Empire

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He was also a patron of the arts, commissioning many tapestries and other works of art. In 1428 Jan van Eyck travelled to Portugal to paint King John I's daughter Isabella before Philip married her. With help from more experienced Portuguese shipbuilders Philip established a shipyard in Bruges. Roger van der Weyden painted his portrait (illustration, above left) wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Related Topics:
Tapestries - 1428 - Jan van Eyck - Portugal - King John I - Isabella - Roger van der Weyden

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In 1463 Philip returned some of his territory to Louis XI. That year he also created an Estates-General on the French model. Philip died in Bruges in 1467 and was succeeded by his son Charles.

Related Topics:
1463 - Estates-General - Charles

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