Jean de Montaigu
Encyclopedia
Jean de Montaigu Bâtard de France
, was an illegitimate son of Charles V of France
, and an advisor to his father and also to his half-brother, Charles VI
. His mother was Charles V's Italian maîtresse-en-titre
, Biette de Cassinel, wife of Gerard de Montaigu the Elder. Jean was given his mother's husband's surname despite being recognized as the king's bastard.
of the regent
, Charles
, le dauphin, later King of France as Charles V (called "the Wise"). His mother was the first official mistress of a French monarch
. She was the daughter of François Cassinel (died 1360), a sergeant in the Royal Army, and great-granddaughter of Bettino Cassinelli, who had immigrated from Italy
to Paris
. Biette was married to Gerard de Montaigu the Elder, and Charles had married Joan of Bourbon in 1350, but that did not prevent them from entering into a relationship.
Charles had been obligated to rule France as its regent since 1356, when his father, King John II
, was captured by the English during the Battle of Poitiers
. His father was freed in 1360 with the Treaty of Brétigny
, and Charles was able to retire from the immediate responsibility. He was in this more leisurely situation when he turned to Biette Cassinel. In 1363 she bore him a son, Jean, who was given her husband's surname (de Montaigu), but Charles, who publicly acknowledged his relationship with Biette, recognized his son: Jean de Montaigu was awarded the title Bâtard de France.
In 1364 the political situation changed once again when Charles' brother Louis of Anjou, who had gone in 1360 as a hostage for the costs borne payments to London, escaped from captivity. King John was then forced to return to England as a hostage. Charles entered in as regent for a second time and was a short time later king as John II died in April 1364 in London. Moreover, since his son, John, in the meantime had also died, he found himself obligated to provide for the preservation of the dynasty. He turned again to his wife, from whom he received more children since June 1366, including then in December 1368 the longed-for heir, the future Charles VI
.
It is likely that Biette Cassinel used her relationship with Charles to benefit herself and her family. Her brother Ferry Cassinel was bishop of Lodève
in 1375, later bishop of Auxerre, and eventually Archbishop of Rheims.
Jean had two brothers or half-brothers:
, which he led under Charles VI, his half-brother, to the head of the government. Biette's sons were married, as her uncle in the church service and were eventually - long after her death - bishop of Paris and archbishop of Sens.
In 1380 Biette made her last public appearance at the funeral of Charles V.
Duke John the Fearless arrested his opponent Jean de Montaigu and other "malefactors and false traitors", and Montaigu was beheaded on 17 October 1409 in front of a large crowd in Paris.
Among the descendants of Biette Cassinel are:
Fils de France
Fils de France was the style and rank held by the sons of the kings and dauphins of France. A daughter was known as a fille de France .The children of the dauphin, who was the king's heir apparent, were accorded the same style and status as if they were the king's children instead of his...
, was an illegitimate son of Charles V of France
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
, and an advisor to his father and also to his half-brother, Charles VI
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
. His mother was Charles V's Italian maîtresse-en-titre
Maîtresse-en-titre
The maîtresse-en-titre was the chief mistress of the king of France. It was a semi-official position which came with its own apartments. The title really came into use during the reign of Henry IV and continued until the reign of Louis XV....
, Biette de Cassinel, wife of Gerard de Montaigu the Elder. Jean was given his mother's husband's surname despite being recognized as the king's bastard.
Birth and early life
His mother was Biette de Cassinel or Biota Cassinelli (c. 1340 – around 1380), called la belle Italienne ("the beautiful Italian woman"), the mistressMistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of the regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
, Charles
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
, le dauphin, later King of France as Charles V (called "the Wise"). His mother was the first official mistress of a French monarch
Maîtresse-en-titre
The maîtresse-en-titre was the chief mistress of the king of France. It was a semi-official position which came with its own apartments. The title really came into use during the reign of Henry IV and continued until the reign of Louis XV....
. She was the daughter of François Cassinel (died 1360), a sergeant in the Royal Army, and great-granddaughter of Bettino Cassinelli, who had immigrated from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Biette was married to Gerard de Montaigu the Elder, and Charles had married Joan of Bourbon in 1350, but that did not prevent them from entering into a relationship.
Charles had been obligated to rule France as its regent since 1356, when his father, King John II
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
, was captured by the English during the Battle of Poitiers
Battle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
. His father was freed in 1360 with the Treaty of Brétigny
Treaty of Brétigny
The Treaty of Brétigny was a treaty signed on May 9, 1360, between King Edward III of England and King John II of France. In retrospect it is seen as having marked the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War —as well as the height of English hegemony on the Continent.It was signed...
, and Charles was able to retire from the immediate responsibility. He was in this more leisurely situation when he turned to Biette Cassinel. In 1363 she bore him a son, Jean, who was given her husband's surname (de Montaigu), but Charles, who publicly acknowledged his relationship with Biette, recognized his son: Jean de Montaigu was awarded the title Bâtard de France.
In 1364 the political situation changed once again when Charles' brother Louis of Anjou, who had gone in 1360 as a hostage for the costs borne payments to London, escaped from captivity. King John was then forced to return to England as a hostage. Charles entered in as regent for a second time and was a short time later king as John II died in April 1364 in London. Moreover, since his son, John, in the meantime had also died, he found himself obligated to provide for the preservation of the dynasty. He turned again to his wife, from whom he received more children since June 1366, including then in December 1368 the longed-for heir, the future Charles VI
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
.
It is likely that Biette Cassinel used her relationship with Charles to benefit herself and her family. Her brother Ferry Cassinel was bishop of Lodève
Ancient Diocese of Lodève
The Bishopric of Lodève is a former Roman Catholic diocese in southern France. Its episcopal see was located in Lodève, in the modern department of Hérault. Its territory is now part of the archdiocese of Montpellier.-History:...
in 1375, later bishop of Auxerre, and eventually Archbishop of Rheims.
Jean had two brothers or half-brothers:
- Gérard de Montaigu the Younger (died 1420), Bishop of Poitiers and bishop of Paris
- Jean de Montaigu (died 1415), Bishop of Chartres, and Archbishop of Sens
Later life
Jean de Montaigu made a career at the royal courtRoyal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
, which he led under Charles VI, his half-brother, to the head of the government. Biette's sons were married, as her uncle in the church service and were eventually - long after her death - bishop of Paris and archbishop of Sens.
In 1380 Biette made her last public appearance at the funeral of Charles V.
Duke John the Fearless arrested his opponent Jean de Montaigu and other "malefactors and false traitors", and Montaigu was beheaded on 17 October 1409 in front of a large crowd in Paris.
Among the descendants of Biette Cassinel are:
- Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
(1874–1965) - Manuel IIManuel II of PortugalManuel II , named Manuel Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio de Bragança Orleães Sabóia e Saxe-Coburgo-Gotha — , was the last King of Portugal from 1908 to 1910, ascending the throne after the assassination of his father and elder brother Manuel...
(1889–1932), the last king of Portugal - Umberto II (1904–1983), the last King of Italy
- Juan Carlos I (born 1938), King of Spain
- Albert IIAlbert II of BelgiumAlbert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
(born 1934), King of the Belgians - Diana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
(1961–1997) and through them - Prince William of Wales (b. 1982)