Charles The Bold AND Italy, (1467-1477): Politics And Personnel (Liverpool University Press - Liverpool Historical Studies) (Volume 19)

Charles the Bold in Italy, 1467-1477 is the definitive study of the last reigning Duke of Burgundy's relations with the Italian states. Charles's dealings with Italy have been studied previously, but this book—bolstered by Richard Walsh's extensive research in European archives—is by far the most comprehensive examination of Charles the Bold's military, diplomatic, and economic relations with the subcontinent. Charles the Bold in Italy will be indispensable to scholars of French and Italian history and diplomacy. Charles The Bold And Italy Is The First Study To Give An Overview That Not Only Places Charles The Bold's Relations With Italy In Both An Italian And A European Context, But Also Explains And Illuminates The Presence Of Italians At His Court. Richard Walsh Considers Why Charles The Bold Was So Interested In Italy; What He Expected To Obtain, And Did Obtain, From His Relations With Italian Rulers; Why There Were So Many Italians In His Entourage; And To What Extent And In What Ways The Duke Himself Was Influenced By Them. Drawing On Extensive Research In The Archive Collections Of Milan, Venice, Mantua, Modena And Florence, As Well As Burgundian Sources In Lille And Brussels, Charles The Bold And Italy Offers A Comprehensive Account Of A Fascinating Aspect Of Burgundian History.--jacket. R.j. Walsh ; With A Postscript And Bibliographical Supplement By Werner Paravicini And An Editorial Preface By Cecil H. Clough. Series Statement From Publisher's Website (viewed July 11, 2005). Includes Bibliographical References (p. 412-451) And Index. "Charles the Bold and Italy is the first study to give an overview that not only places Charles the Bold's relations with Italy in both an Italian and a European context, but also explains and illuminates the presence of Italians at his court. Richard Walsh considers why Charles the Bold was so interested in Italy; what he expected to obtain, and did obtain, from his relations with Italian rulers; why there were so many Italians in his entourage; and to what extent and in what ways the duke himself was influenced by them. Drawing on extensive research in the archive collections of Milan, Venice, Mantua, Modena and Florence, as well as Burgundian sources in Lille and Brussels, Charles the Bold and Italy offers a comprehensive account of a fascinating aspect of Burgundian history."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved This is a definitive study of Charles the Bold's diplomatic and military relations with the Italian states, taking full account of economic policy. The book makes extensive use not only of the great mass of diplomatic correspondence in the archives of Florence, Mantua, Milan, Modena and Venice, but also of Charles'financial records in the archives of Brussels and Lille. The author's mastery of these primary sources is complemented by judicious use of a wide range of secondary material. Aspects of Charles the Bold's relations with Italy have been considered in earlier literature, but no study has before dealt with them comprehensively at any length. This book fills that gap and places Charles'reign in its wider European context. Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477, maintained much closer relations than had any of his three predecessors with the various states that made up what we know today as Italy. This was partly a result of his abiding suspicion of his feudal overlord, King Louis XI of France, and his search for allies against the growing power of his French neighbour. However, the duke?s relations with Italy were not confined to politics. The size of the Italian contingent in his entourage impressed contemporaries, and they were looked on with special favour by the duke himself. Charles could spe