Editing Charles the Bold (section)

== Background ==
The [[House of Valois-Burgundy]] began with [[Philip the Bold]], the fourth son of [[John II of France|John II]], [[List of French monarchs|King of France]]. Philip became the [[Duke of Burgundy]] in 1363.{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=1}} In 1369, Philip married [[Margaret III, Countess of Flanders|Margaret of Male]], the heiress of [[Louis II, Count of Flanders]], who would inherit the wealthy lands of [[Flanders]], [[Rethel]], [[Antwerp]], and [[Mechelen]], along with the territories bordering Flanders and Burgundy: the counties of [[Artois]], [[Franche-Comté]], and [[Nevers]].{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=1}} Philip expanded his influence in the [[Low Countries]] further by contracting marriage alliances. He was heavily involved in the royal court of France, especially after the death of his brother, [[Charles V of France|Charles V]], and during the troublesome reign of his successor, [[Charles VI of France|Charles VI]].{{Sfn|Brown|Small|2007|p=3}} When Philip died in 1404, his lands were divided between his three sons, [[John the Fearless|John]], [[Anthony, Duke of Brabant|Anthony]], and [[Philip II, Count of Nevers|Philip]].{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|p=431}}

John the Fearless, Philip the Bold's eldest son, inherited the Duchy of Burgundy and the major part of his maternal inheritance the following year.{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|p=431}} The division of Philips's lands reduced John's income severely and by 1407, his treasury was nearly empty.{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=38}} John was forced to borrow money.{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|p=433}} To restore his influence, John turned to French politics and bitterly vied for power in the French court against the king's brother, [[Louis I, Duke of Orléans|Louis of Orleans]].{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|pp=38–39}} In 1407, John ordered the [[Assassination of Louis I, Duke of Orléans|assassination of Louis]] and sparked the [[Armagnac–Burgundian Civil War]]. John himself was assassinated in the conflict in 1419.{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|p=438}}

John was succeeded by his only son, [[Philip the Good]].{{Sfn|Vaughan|Small|2010|p=2}} Unlike his father and grandfather, Philip distanced himself from French politics. He forged alliances elsewhere, marrying [[Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy|Isabella of Portugal]] in 1430. Isabella was Philip's third wife after [[Michelle of Valois]] and [[Bonne of Artois]], who both died without producing any children.{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=73}} Philip the Good desired a strong, centralised duchy ruled by a prestigious dynasty with a new, non-French cultural heritage.{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=73}}

Philip then began his territorial expansion in France; bringing [[Arras]], [[Péronne, Somme|Péronne]], [[Roye, Somme|Roye]], and [[Picardy]] into his realm. In 1420, he purchased the county of [[Namur]], a town located in the [[Holy Roman Empire]], from [[John III, Marquis of Namur|Jean III]]. He used warfare to seize the counties of [[County of Hainaut|Hainaut]], [[County of Holland|Holland]], [[Friesland]], and [[Zeeland]] from his cousin, [[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut]], and won them completely by 1433.{{Efn|Jacqueline was the daughter of [[Margaret of Burgundy, Duchess of Bavaria|Margaret of Burgundy]], a daughter of Philip the Bold.{{sfn|Stein|2017|p=42}}}}{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|pp=439–440}} When [[Philip I, Duke of Brabant|Philip of Saint Pol]] died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1430, Philip inherited the [[Duchy of Brabant]] and three [[Principality|principalities]]: Brabant, [[Duchy of Limburg|Limburg]], and [[Lower Lotharingia|Lotharingia]].{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|pp=91–92}} The Holy Roman Emperor, [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]], unsuccessfully sought to curb the expansions until his death in 1437. The French and Burgundians reconciled in 1435 at the [[Congress of Arras]].{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|p=440}}