Jean V of Armagnac
Encyclopedia
John V of Armagnac the next-to-last Count of Armagnac
of the older branch, was the controversial son of John IV of Armagnac
and Isabella of Navarre
, an emblem of 15th century aristocratic violence, treachery and indiscipline, a wildman from one of the most powerful virtually independent feudalities
of the southwest. A contemporary chronicler described him:
The last a decided imperfection in contemporary standards.
accounted one of the great beauties of France and whose betrothal to Henry VI of England
had been under consideration. When word got out that two boys (John and Anthony) had been born in the castle of Lectoure, the couple promised to reform their scandalous behavior. But within a few months John solemnized the incest
uous union by claiming to have obtained a papal dispensation from Pope Callixtus III
, shortly after their third child, a daughter called Rose (or Mascarose) was born.
Other serious breaches ensued: John refused to seat a bishop of Auch selected by the King and assented to by the Pope, installing a bastard half-brother of his in the seat. Events came to a first head in May 1455. Authorities were alerted, and a brief was issued for John's arrest, when an investigation revealed that he had forced a forged dispensation out of Antoine d'Alet, Bishop of Cambrai, a magistrate in the court of Rome. Tried in absentia in 1460 before a parlement
of Charles VII
, he was condemned, and forces were sent to capture him but he escaped punishment by fleeing to his cousins of Aragon. Though he pled his case in Rome, the couple were separated and the sons declared bastards and eliminated from inheritance.
Within a few years a new King of France, Louis XI
, unwisely reinstated John in his domains, where John rashly undid his father's acts and broke faith with his promises. Betraying Louis, Armagnac was part of the league that called themselves Bien public
and threatened Paris at the head of 6000 mounted men. In 1469, Louis responded, under the pretense that John was treating with ambassadors from England, and sent an army to rout him. John fled to Spain, only to reappear in 1471 in the train of the king's rebellious brother, the duc de Guyenne. Louis had him besieged in his stronghold of Lectoure and put to death by Jean Jouffroy
, the fighting bishop of Albi, on 5 March 1473.
In August 1469, John married Joan (b. aft. 1454 - d. Pau, aft. 10 February 1476), daughter of Count Gaston IV of Foix and Queen Eleanor of Navarre
, later monarch of Navarre. This marriage produced an only legitimate child, who was stillborn, in April 1473. In consequence, the title of Count of Armagnac
passed, first fruitlessly to his younger brother Charles, and in 1497 to his cousin of the cadet branch, Armagnac-Nemours.
His union with his sister Isabelle of Armagnac (b. 1430 - d. Castelnau, 4 August 1476), produced three offspring:
Count of Armagnac
The following is a list of rulers of the county of Armagnac:-House of Armagnac:*William Count of Fézensac and Armagnac ?– 960*Bernard the Suspicious, First count privative of Armagnac 960– ?*Gerald I Trancaléon ? –1020*Bernard I Tumapaler 1020–1061...
of the older branch, was the controversial son of John IV of Armagnac
John IV of Armagnac
John IV was a Count of Armagnac, Fézensac, and Rodez from 1418 to 1450. He was the son of Bernard VII of Armagnac, Count d' Armagnac, of Fézensac, Pardiac, and Rodez; and the brother of Bernard of Armagnac, Count of Pardiac, of La Marche and Duke of Nemours...
and Isabella of Navarre
Isabella of Navarre
Isabella of Navarre was the younger surviving daughter of Charles III of Navarre and his wife Eleanor of Castile. She was a member of the House of Évreux.- Early Life and Family :...
, an emblem of 15th century aristocratic violence, treachery and indiscipline, a wildman from one of the most powerful virtually independent feudalities
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
of the southwest. A contemporary chronicler described him:
- "Fire ran in his veins. He was as violent in his desires as imperious in his actions. His physical aspect was not seductive: short and stocky of stature, even pot-bellied, but gifted with great bodily strength. His neck was short, sumounted with an acne-pocked ("bourgeonné") visage, with squinty eyes, crowned by a shock of red hair."
The last a decided imperfection in contemporary standards.
Life
Styled Viscount de Lomagne while his father lived, John succeeded him as Count of Armagnac when he died (5 November 1450); soon later, he started a relationship with his sister Isabelle, Lady of the Four-Valleys (Dame des Quatre-Vallées), ten years his junior, whom the chronicler Mathieu d'EscouchyMathieu d'Escouchy
Mathieu d'Escouchy was a Picard chronicler during the last stages of the Hundred Years War. His Chronique was a continuation of the chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, with manuscripts of which it occurs as a third volume; it was edited by G. du Fresne de Beaucourt,...
accounted one of the great beauties of France and whose betrothal to Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
had been under consideration. When word got out that two boys (John and Anthony) had been born in the castle of Lectoure, the couple promised to reform their scandalous behavior. But within a few months John solemnized the incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
uous union by claiming to have obtained a papal dispensation from Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III
Pope Callixtus III , né Alfons de Borja, was Pope from April 8, 1455 to his death in 1458.-Biography:...
, shortly after their third child, a daughter called Rose (or Mascarose) was born.
Other serious breaches ensued: John refused to seat a bishop of Auch selected by the King and assented to by the Pope, installing a bastard half-brother of his in the seat. Events came to a first head in May 1455. Authorities were alerted, and a brief was issued for John's arrest, when an investigation revealed that he had forced a forged dispensation out of Antoine d'Alet, Bishop of Cambrai, a magistrate in the court of Rome. Tried in absentia in 1460 before a parlement
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
of Charles VII
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
, he was condemned, and forces were sent to capture him but he escaped punishment by fleeing to his cousins of Aragon. Though he pled his case in Rome, the couple were separated and the sons declared bastards and eliminated from inheritance.
Within a few years a new King of France, Louis XI
Louis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
, unwisely reinstated John in his domains, where John rashly undid his father's acts and broke faith with his promises. Betraying Louis, Armagnac was part of the league that called themselves Bien public
League of the Public Weal
The League of the Public Weal was an alliance of feudal nobles organized in 1465 in defiance of the centralized authority of King Louis XI of France...
and threatened Paris at the head of 6000 mounted men. In 1469, Louis responded, under the pretense that John was treating with ambassadors from England, and sent an army to rout him. John fled to Spain, only to reappear in 1471 in the train of the king's rebellious brother, the duc de Guyenne. Louis had him besieged in his stronghold of Lectoure and put to death by Jean Jouffroy
Jean Jouffroy
Jean Jouffroy was a French prelate and diplomat.He was born at Luxeuil-les-Bains . After entering the Benedictine order and teaching at the university of Pavia from 1435 to 1438, he became almoner to Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, who entrusted him with diplomatic missions in France, Italy,...
, the fighting bishop of Albi, on 5 March 1473.
In August 1469, John married Joan (b. aft. 1454 - d. Pau, aft. 10 February 1476), daughter of Count Gaston IV of Foix and Queen Eleanor of Navarre
Eleanor of Navarre
Eleanor of Aragon , Regent and the queen regnant of Navarre in 1479...
, later monarch of Navarre. This marriage produced an only legitimate child, who was stillborn, in April 1473. In consequence, the title of Count of Armagnac
Count of Armagnac
The following is a list of rulers of the county of Armagnac:-House of Armagnac:*William Count of Fézensac and Armagnac ?– 960*Bernard the Suspicious, First count privative of Armagnac 960– ?*Gerald I Trancaléon ? –1020*Bernard I Tumapaler 1020–1061...
passed, first fruitlessly to his younger brother Charles, and in 1497 to his cousin of the cadet branch, Armagnac-Nemours.
His union with his sister Isabelle of Armagnac (b. 1430 - d. Castelnau, 4 August 1476), produced three offspring:
- John of Armagnac (d. 1516), Seigneur of Camboulas, married in 1507 with Jeanne de La Tour. No issue.
- Anthony of Armagnac (d. ca. 1516), called the "Bâtard d'Armagnac". Unmarried and without issue.
- Rose (or Mascarose) of Armagnac (d. 1526), married in 1498 with Gaspard II de Villemur, Seigneur of Montbrun. She had issue.
External links
- "Un vrai feuilleton" documentary history of Jean d'Aramagnac (in French)