Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange Mad War-Guerre Folle

Prince of Orange, Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay


Jean IV de Chalon-Arlay Prince of Orange , Lord of the House of Chalon-Arlay. Vicomte de Besançon , Vicomte d' Auxonne, Lord of Arlay , Nozeroy , Arbois , Bletterans, , Cuiseaux , Varennes-Saint-Sauveur , Beaurepaire-en-Bresse (Burgundy) Lord of Lamballe , Moncontour , Rhuys and Lespine-Gaudin (Brittany). Jean was born in 1443 in the County of Burgundy. Son of Prince of Orange William VII of Châlon and of Catherine of Brittany (daughter of Count Richard d'Étampes and sister of Duke François II of Brittany). He fought at the battle of Grandson during the Burgundian wars in support of Charles the Bold. 



In 1477 at the close of the Burgundian wars and following the death of his powerful ally the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold, King Louis XI of France took a position of strength and confiscated all of the property of the House of Chalon-Arlay, forcing the Prince to 'Orange to compromise and enter the service of the king. However, he returned to the side of the Duchess Marie of Burgundy to facilitate her marriage to Emperor Maximilian of Austria . In 1477, in anger Louis XI banished him from the kingdom of France and had him hanged in effigy.

Nephew of Duke François II of Brittany , he travelled to the Duchy of Brittany sent with a marriage proposal by Maximilien I in 1481 for the hand of Anne of Brittany who was a minor. He returns to Brittany in 1486 with a contingent of Bearn Mercenaries halberdiers and crossbow (1100) and Burgundian nobles MAA. 

 He was in the main body at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier the July 28, 1488, after having fought fiercely, he tries to pass himself off as dead but is taken prisoner, and remains under house arrest in Riom until February 1489. 

He returned to Rennes in 1489, sent by Charles VIII of France to prevent Anne's marriage with Alain d'Albret and to negotiate with her the French occupation of the duchy. After the death of duke Francis, John became heir presumptive to the new duchess, Anne.  As a member of the high council, he was appointed commander of Rennes and lieutenant general of Brittany. Jean once again attempted to secure Anne's marriage to Maximilian, but the French intervened. John negotiated the eventual marriage between Anne and king Charles VIII, where he was one of the witnesses. He surrendered his own claim to the duchy for the sum of 100,000 livres, and was re-appointed as lieutenant general of Brittany, a position he held until his death.

Figures are again Perry Plastics 







cheers
Matt

Monday, December 14, 2020

50th Northumbrian Infantry Division Tyne Tees Work in Progress



50th Northumbrian Infantry Division Tyne Tees


This month I have started on my 20mm Collection to complete some half completed projects in my project drawers.


On the work desk this month are 100 plus 20mm British Infantry for the 50th Infantry Tyne Tees Division. I hope to have these completed by the end of this week. I have decided to build several elements of the division, first up will be the


69th Infantry Brigade
BHQ
5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
6th Battalion, Green Howards
7th Battalion, Green Howards
support elements
I also plan to build the DLI, No.47 commando and the crab flails of the Westminster dragoons, plus RMASG, and other support elements, engineers, artillery etc for Dday and inland.


I also have a lot of support elements and drivers to complete, plus vehicles. Infantry Figures are all Britannia miniatures which I like to paint, some of the crewed vehicles will have some AB and SHQ bits too.


East Yorkshire flashes




The unofficial Green Flashes, not approved until after the war, I have found no solid proof that were worn in France


The official Flash which I will use






Cheers

Matt