Editing Charles the Bold (section)

== Policies ==

=== Legislation ===
[[File:Plechtige openingszitting van het Parlement van Mechelen.jpg|alt=Assembly of forty four gentlemen dressed in scarlet red in the Parliament of Mechelen, with Charles the Bold sitting in the centre, presiding the event|thumb|476x476px|''Solemn opening session of the Parliament of Mechelen under Charles the Bold'', Jan Coessaet, 1587, {{Interlanguage link|Museum Hof van Busleyden|nl|Museum Hof van Busleyden}}]]

Upon his ascension as duke in 1468, Charles sought to dismantle the jurisdiction of the [[Parlement of Paris]] as the highest juridical power within his country. The cities and institutions in Burgundy relied on the parlement for challenging legal decisions. This irritated the Dukes of Burgundy who detested any reliance on France. Philip the Good had established an itinerant, but less powerful, court of justice that travelled all across the country.<ref>{{harvnb|Schnerb|2008|p=451}}; {{harvnb|Van Loo|2021|page=416}}</ref> Charles established a [[Great Council of Mechelen|central sovereign court]] in [[Mechelen]] under his 1473 ordinance of [[Thionville]]. The city would house the new [[Court of Auditors (France)|Court of Auditors]], which previously resided in Lille and Brussels. The language of this parliament was French, with two-thirds of its personnel being Burgundian.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|pp=186–187}} The Mechelen parliament only held authority in the [[Low Countries]]. In the Burgundian mainlands, Charles established another parliament whose seat moved between [[Beaune]] and [[Dole, Jura|Dole]].{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=417}}

In Charles's own words, the proper administration of justice was "the soul and the spirit of the public entity."{{Sfn|Schepper|2007|p=187}} He was recognised as the first sovereign to make a serious effort to impose peace and justice upon the Low Countries, and he was regarded as "a prince of Justice" by historian Andreas van Haul, a century after his death.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=418}} However, [[Georges Chastellain]] criticized Charles for his lack of mercy while imposing justice.{{Sfn|Golubeva|2013|p=42}} Charles damaged his relations with his people by inspecting and regulating every aspect of their lives, and he was unnecessarily harsh.{{Sfn|Kontler|Somos|2017|p=403}} Charles wanted to reduce the influence of the local aldermen, who were viewed by the commoners as the local court, and he undermined the Mechelen parliament.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=418}} To both increase his grip on the seats of justice and to fill up his treasury, Charles dismissed the aldermen and sold their offices to the highest bidders; only the wealthiest subjects came to hold those positions.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=418}} Many institutions protested against these practices, but Charles persisted because he constantly needed to fund his armies.{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=193}}

=== Religion ===
[[File:Lieven van Lathem (Flemish - Charles the Bold Presented by Saint George - Google Art Project.jpg|alt=Charles wears a cloth of gold and Saint George stands behind him, wearing an armour|thumb|left|''Charles the Bold presented by Saint George'', [[Lieven van Lathem]], opening of the Prayer Book of Charles the Bold, {{Circa|1471}}]]

Charles the Bold was religious, and regarded himself as more devout and pious than any ruler of his day.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=161}} He considered his sovereignty as bestowed upon him by God and thus owed his power to God alone.{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=185}} From a young age, Charles chose [[Saint George]] as his [[patron saint]].{{Sfn|Schryver|2008|p=16}} He kept a sword purported to have belonged to Saint George in his treasury, and he revered other [[warrior saint]]s, such as [[Saint Michael in the Catholic Church|Saint Michael]].{{Sfn|Schnitker|2004|p=107}} He commissioned a [[prayer book]], from [[Lieven van Lathem]], which was completed in 1469.{{Sfn|Schryver|2008|p=11}} The opening [[diptych]] of the manuscript, as well as two other pieces, demonstrate Charles's devotion to Saint George.{{Sfn|Schryver|2008|p=16}} In Margaret of York's copy of ''La Vie de [[Colette of Corbie|Sainte Colette]]'', she and Charles are shown as devotees of [[Saint Anne]]. Multiple modern scholars, such as [[Jeffrey Chipps Smith]], have made a connection between the saint and the duke from the fact that both were married three times. According to Nancy Bradley Warren, the portrayal of Charles and Saint Anne may have been a way to legitimise his marriage to Margaret and reassure those who were dubious regarding an alliance with England.{{Sfn|Woodacre|McGlynn|2014|p=115}}

Throughout his reign, Charles faced multiple requests to pledge his men to a crusade against the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{Sfn|Walsh|1977|p=53}} [[Pope Sixtus IV]] sent three instructions to the [[papal legate]] at the Burgundian court, Lucas de Tollentis, directing him to encourage Charles to undertake a crusade against the Ottomans.{{Sfn|Jenks|2018|p=215}} Tollentis reported to the Pope on 23 June 1472 that Charles was "resolved in our favour", and the welfare of [[Christendom]] was never far from his mind.<ref>{{harvnb|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=161}}; {{harvnb|Walsh|1977|p=68}}</ref> Charles may have considered an expedition to the east as the climax of his life's work; however, during his lifetime, he never undertook a crusade nor did he make preparations for it as his father had.{{Sfn|Walsh|1977|p=68}} Only for a short time, between late 1475 and early 1476, did he seriously consider a crusade and that was only after a meeting with [[Andreas Palaiologos]], the deposed [[Despotate of the Morea|Despot of the Morea]], who agreed to cede his claim as the Emperor of [[Empire of Trebizond|Trebizond]] and [[Byzantine Empire|Constantinople]] to Charles.{{Sfn|Walsh|1977|p=73}}{{Sfn|Harris|1995|p=539}}{{Efn|Andreas inherited the claims to the Byzantine and Trebizond empires with the death of the main claimants from the empires' dynasties, [[Palaiologos]] and [[Komnenos]], respectively.{{sfn|Walsh|1977|p=73}}}}

=== Diplomacy ===
[[File:1468 - Louis XI - Traité de Péronne.jpg|thumb|294x294px|Charles the Bold ordering Louis XI to sign the Treaty of Péronne; 1913; ''Histoire de France et notions d'Histoire Générale'' by [[Gustave Hervé]], illustrated by Valéry Müller]]
[[File:Berner Schilling, B. 3, S. 170 (Ausschnitt).jpg|thumb|Charles and Emperor Frederick III at a banquet in Trier]]

Charles the Bold pursued a risky and aggressive foreign policy.{{Sfn|Graves|2014|p=65}} Trying to have as many allies as possible, he considered everyone, aside from Louis XI, as his ally.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=180}} In 1471, he made a list of his nineteen allies. He increased the number to twenty-four by the next year and had twenty-six allies in 1473, in contrast to Louis XI's fifteen allies.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=180}} Some of these relations, such as with [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]], were only formalities. The kings of Scotland and [[Denmark]] would also sign treaties with Louis XI and appear on his list of allies.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|pp=73, 180}}

Initially, Charles was hesitant about an alliance with [[Matthias Corvinus]], the [[Kingdom of Hungary|king of Hungary]].{{Sfn|Barany|2016|p=88}} However, the mutual friendship with the [[Kingdom of Naples]] brought Burgundy and Hungary closer to each other, and in his pursuit to ally with Frederick III's opponents, Charles made contact with Matthias.{{Sfn|Barany|2016|p=73}} Charles hoped that by supporting Matthias' claim to the [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], Matthias would back him in the electoral college.{{Sfn|Barany|2016|p=74}} In November 1474, the two successfully concluded a treaty by which they agreed to partition the Holy Roman Empire between themselves, with Charles becoming the king of the Romans and having the lands along the Rhine under his authority while Matthias would acquire [[Wrocław|Breslau]] and Bohemia.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=341}} In 1473, through negotiations with the new Duke of Lorraine, [[René II, Duke of Lorraine|René II]], Charles obtained the right to pass his armies through the duke's lands, and assign Burgundian captains to important fortifications in Lorraine, essentially turning the duchy into a Burgundian [[protectorate]].{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=409}} Among Charles's other allies were [[Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy|Amadeus IX]], [[Duchy of Savoy|Duke of Savoy]], whose wife, [[Yolande of Valois]], Louis XI's sister, drove the duchy into an alliance with Burgundy on the basis of their shared dislike of Louis XI.{{Sfn|Waugh|2016|p=256}}

The intense rivalry between Louis XI and Charles kept both rulers always prepared for an eventual war.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=165}} The suspicious death of Charles of Valois, Duke of Berry, the king's brother, in 1472, prompted Charles to raise arms to avenge his ally's death, stating that Berry had been poisoned by Louis.{{Sfn|Kendall|1971|p=248}} After a short conflict, the two ceased their fighting in the winter 1473 without any talk of peace. Neither would declare war on the other for the rest of their reigns.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=170}} In 1468, Charles and Louis tried to make peace, which astonished the rest of France.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=55}} Their peace talks soon turned into hostility once Charles learned that Louis had his hands in a recent rebellion in Liége.{{Sfn|Kendall|1971|p=214}} Afterwards, Charles imprisoned Louis in the city of [[Péronne, Somme|Péronne]] and coerced him into signing a treaty favourable to Burgundy, with conditions such as forfeiting the Duke of Burgundy from paying homage, guarantying Charles's sovereignty over Picardy, and abolishing French jurisdiction over Burgundian subjects.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|pp=400–401}} Louis reluctantly agreed to all the demands and signed the [[Treaty of Péronne (1468)|Treaty of Péronne]].{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=56}} However, the crown did not abide by the treaty terms and Franco-Burgundian relations remained poor.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=58}}

==== In Italy ====
[[File:SOAOTO - Folio 074R.jpg|alt=King Ferdinand is wearing a long red robe and chaperon|thumb|King Ferdinand I of Naples depicted as a knight of the Oder of the Golden Fleece in ''Statuts, Ordonnances et Armorial'' by Gilles Gobet, the [[Toison d'or King of Arms]], 1473]]

At the start of Louis XI's reign, Italy's triple alliance between the [[Duchy of Milan]], the [[Republic of Florence]], and the [[Kingdom of Naples]], allowed the influence of France grow in the peninsula, for Milan and Florence were long-standing allies of Louis.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=4}} To remedy this, Charles enlarged Burgundy's [[sphere of influence]] in Italy to dwarf that of France.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=5}} The first Burgundian alliance with an Italian ruler was with King [[Ferdinand I of Naples]], a ruler admired by both Charles and Louis.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=195}}

Ferdinand was the legitimised bastard of [[Alfonso V of Aragon|Alfonso I]], and the Pope did not recognize his claim to the throne.{{Sfn|D'Arcy|Dacre|2000|p=403}} Meanwhile, [[René of Anjou]], the deposed King of Naples, persistently sought his title back. In the constant fear of an invasion from René or his heirs with the support of Louis XI, Ferdinand allied himself with Charles, who made Ferdinand a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1473.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=xx}} Charles constantly toyed with the idea of marrying his daughter, Mary, to Ferdinand's second son, [[Frederick of Naples]], who visited the Burgundian court in 1469 and 1470.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2005|p=303}}; {{harvnb|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=165}}</ref> In 1474, when war with Louis XI was on the horizon, Ferdinand's participation was dependent on his son's marriage to Mary. Charles hinted at his willingness to give his daughter's hand to Frederick, and Ferdinand dispatched his son to Burgundy on 24 October 1474.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=304}} Although Frederick became a lieutenant and close military advisor to Charles, he failed in his ultimate mission of marrying Mary.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=311}}

The Duchy of Milan was France's most important ally in the [[Italian Peninsula|Italian peninsula]]; Milan's ruler, [[Galeazzo Maria Sforza]] was attached to the King of France through his marriage with Louis' niece, [[Bona of Savoy]].{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=7}} Charles tried to form an alliance with Milan. In 1470, he offered Galeazzo membership in the Order of the Golden Fleece, on the premise of an alliance, but was rejected.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=75}} One time he even included Milan on one of his lists of allies, which caused Galeazzo to protest.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=180}} To bring Galeazzo into alliance, Charles started a rumour that he wished to conquer Milan.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=35}} Concerns about a probable war, and Charles's bringing diplomatic pressure to isolate Milan from France, persuaded Galeazzo to sign a treaty, on 30 January 1475 at [[Moncalieri]], that formed an alliance between Savoy, Burgundy, and Milan.<ref>{{harvnb|Walsh|2005|p=8}}; {{harvnb|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=304}}</ref> As a result of this treaty, diplomatic relations between the two duchies were established, and Galeazzo sent Giovanni Pietro Panigarola as his envoy to Burgundy.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=205}}

Charles's relation with the [[Republic of Venice]] was based on his willingness to launch a crusade against the Turks.{{Sfn|Walsh|1977|p=57}} With Ferdinand of Naples's insistence, the [[Venetian Senate|senate of Venice]] agreed to a treaty against the King of France on 20 March 1472.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=10}} From then on, Venice constantly urged Charles to uphold his part of the bargain and support them in [[Ottoman–Venetian War (1463–1479)|their war with the Ottomans]].{{Sfn|Walsh|1977|p=58}} Charles's inaction led to gradual estrangement from Venice.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=202}} For instance, when he wanted to recruit the Venetian ''[[condottiero]]'' [[Bartolomeo Colleoni]] (who would have brought with him 10,000 men at arms) to his ranks, the Venetian government did not allow Colleoni to go. Charles spent two years negotiating with the Venetian ambassadors, but in the end, was unsuccessful in convincing them.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=216}} By 1475, the alliance between Venice and Burgundy had ceased to seem like a genuine union.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=16}}

The Italian peninsula saw a shift in spheres of influence after the Treaty of Moncalieri in 1475. Charles the Bold triumphantly replaced Louis XI as the dominant influence in Italian politics, with three of four major secular powers in the region—Milan, Naples, and Venice—all aligned with him.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=13}} Only Florence remained a French ally, though they remained neutral toward Charles on the basis of their mutual alliance with Venice.<ref>{{harvnb|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=75}}; {{harvnb|Walsh|2005|p=13}}</ref> Charles successfully eliminated any possible Italian support for France, and now could count on the support of his Italian allies if a war with France ensued.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=13}} However, from 1472, relations with France amounted to a truce, and remained as such during rest of Charles's reign.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=14}}

=== Arts ===
[[File:Master of the Jardin de vertueuse consolation and assistant (Flemish - Vasco da Lucena Giving his Work to Charles the Bold - Google Art Project.jpg|alt=A kneeling man presents his book to Charles who is seated on his throne|thumb|Vasco de Lucena presenting his translation of [[Quintus Curtius Rufus]]'s ''[[Histories of Alexander the Great]]'' to Charles the Bold. Folio from ''Le Jardin de vertueuse consolation'' by an [[Master of the Jardin de vertueuse consolation|anonymous master]], between 1470 and 1475.]]

The Burgundian court under Charles the Bold was famous and magnificent.{{Sfn|Schnerb|2008|p=444}} It was seen as a place to learn arts and etiquette and where chivalry and courtly life were more intact than in the rest of the Europe. For this reason, the Burgundian court was the host to many young noblemen and princes from all across the continent.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=280}} Even future generations admired Charles's court. [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]], for instance, at the urging of his father, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], introduced the "ceremonial of the court of Burgundy" into Spain, using [[Olivier de la Marche]]'s account of Charles the Bold's court.{{Sfn|Gunn|Janse|2006|p=156}} Charles's Burgundian court thus became the idealized courtly life that sparked inspiration throughout [[Spain in the 17th century|17th century Spain]].{{Sfn|Gunn|Janse|2006|p=157}} While Charles's court did not differ much from those of his contemporaries, certain special features increased the court's appeal: the number of knights and nobles, the sacred image of the ruler who was distant from other courtiers, and the splendour of the court.{{Sfn|Gunn|Janse|2006|p=158}} Charles, like his predecessors, displayed his glamour through extravagant [[patronage]] of the arts.{{Sfn|Kren|McKendrick|2003|p=2}}

During Charles's reign, the production of [[illuminated manuscript]]s flourished.{{Sfn|Kren|McKendrick|2003|p=223}} After his ascension in 1467, Charles provided considerable funds for projects left incomplete after his father's death and commissioned new projects as well.{{Sfn|Kren|McKendrick|2003|p=3}} As a patron of [[Renaissance humanism]], he commissioned the translation of [[Quintus Curtius Rufus]]'s ''[[Histories of Alexander the Great]]'' into French to replace the inadequate ''[[Roman d'Alexandre en prose]]''. He commissioned the Portuguese Vasco de Lucena and Jehan de Chesne to respectively translate [[Xenophon]]'s ''[[Cyropaedia]]'' and [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]'s ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico|De bello Gallico]]'' into French.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=163}} In 1468, he commissioned [[Guillaume Fillastre (died 1473)|Guillaume Fillastre]] to compose a "didactic chronicle" called ''Histoire de Toison d'Or'' containing moral and didactic stories of [[Jason]], [[Jacob]], [[Gideon]], [[Mesha]], [[Job (biblical figure)|Job]], and [[David]].{{Sfn|Hemelryck|2016}} He employed the finest calligraphers and illuminators to [[Illuminated manuscript|engross]] his ordinances; the Ordinance of 1469 was illuminated by [[Nicolas Spierinc]] and was distributed among Charles's courtiers.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=164}} His prayer book illuminated by Lieven van Lathem is considered a masterpiece of Flemish illumination that influenced great illuminators such as the [[Master of Mary of Burgundy]].{{Sfn|Schryver|2008|p=12}} Charles and his wife Margaret were patrons of [[Simon Marmion]], who illuminated a [[breviary]] and a [[panel painting]] for them.{{Sfn|Ainsworth|1998|p=25}}

Charles was a patron of music and was a capable musician.{{Sfn|Fallows|2019|p=3}} In his 1469 ordinance, Charles gave a clear view of what his musical entourage should be: a [[concert band]], ceremonial trumpeters, [[chamber music]]ians, an organist, and the [[Chapel (music)|chapel musicians]], whose music had more variety than that of Philip the Good's chapel.{{Sfn|Brown|1999|p=54}} He brought his chapel with himself on his campaigns and had choristers sing a new song to him every night in his chambers.{{Sfn|Alden|2010|p=135}} Charles was a patron of the composer [[Antoine Busnois]], who became his choirmaster;{{Sfn|Blockmans|Pervenier|1999|p=228}} his court musicians also included [[Hayne van Ghizeghem]] and [[Robert Morton (composer)|Robert Morton]].{{Sfn|Wright|Fallows|2001}} His favourite song was ''[[L'homme armé]]'', a song that may have been written for him.{{Sfn|Taruskin|2009|p=485}} Charles composed a [[motet]] that was sung in the [[Cambrai Cathedral]], presumably in the presence of [[Guillaume Du Fay]], one of the most well-known composers of his era.{{Sfn|Fallows|2019|p=4}} Among his other works were [[chanson]]s and [[Secular music|secular songs]].{{Sfn|Fallows|2019|p=12}} Although no pieces from his motet or chansons remain, two songs are attributed to him: {{Transliteration|it|Del ducha di borghogna}} (''of the Duke of Burgundy'') and {{Transliteration|la|Dux Carlus}} (''Duke Charles''). Both are from Italian [[Song book|songbooks]] wherein no name of the composers is mentioned. Nevertheless, the songs have uncanny similarities to each other: in [[Vocal range|voice ranges]], in their use of pitch [[C (musical note)|C]], their [[musical form]] ({{Transliteration|fr|[[Rondeau (forme fixe)|rondeau]]}}), and both songs start with the phrase ''Ma dame''. According to the [[Musicology|musicologist]] [[David Fallows]], with such similar traits, the songs are most likely both composed by Charles in the 1460s.{{Sfn|Fallows|2019|pp=12–18}} Charles also liked to sing; however, he did not have a good singing voice.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=162}}

=== Military ===
[[File:Heeresordnung1473 fol 5r.jpg|thumb|''Military Ordinance of Charles the Bold'', Master of Fitzwilliam 268, c. 1475]]

When Charles became the Duke of Burgundy, his army functioned under a feudalistic system, with most of its men either recruited through summons or hired under contract. The majority of his army consisted of French nobles, and their retainers, and [[English longbow|English archers]]; this army suffered from an inefficient distribution of resources and slow movement.{{Sfn|Lecuppre-Desjardin|2022|pp=203–204}} Having lived through a period of peace under Philip the Good, the army scarcely trained and was unprepared. Furthermore, in comparison to other armies of Europe, their structure was outdated.{{Sfn|Allmand|2001|p=142}} To remedy these problems, Charles issued a series of military ordinances, between 1468 and 1473, that not only would revolutionise the Burgundian army, but also would influence every European army in the 16th century.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=205}} The first of these ordinances, addressed to the Marshal of Burgundy, contains instructions on who could be recruited to the army and describes the personnel of the artillery: namely, masons, assistants, [[cannoneer]]s, and carpenters.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=171}} The second ordinance, issued at [[Abbeville]] in 1471, proclaimed the formation of a [[standing army]], called {{Transliteration|Fr|[[Compagnie d'ordonnance]]}}, made up of 1250 [[lances fournies]], who were accompanied by 1200 crossbows, 1250 handgunners, and 1250 pikemen.{{Sfn|Querengässer|2021|p=102}} A squad consisted of a man-at-arms, a mounted page, a mounted swordsman, three [[Mounted archery|horse archers]], a crossbowmen, and a pikeman. Charles designed a uniform for each of the companies ([[Cross of Burgundy]] inscribed on the ducal colours).{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=172}} He also designed an overlapping military hierarchy that sought to preclude the infighting between captains and their subordinates that would arise in a pyramidal hierarchy.{{Sfn|Drake|2013|p=224}}

[[File:Armure de Charles le Téméraire.jpg|alt=A knight mounting a horse, who has an adorned armour|thumb|Armour of Charles the Bold in the Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms, 1910, kept at the [[New York Public Library]]|left]]

The last of these ordinances, issued at Thionville, marked the culmination of Charles's martial administration. The organisation of a squad was categorised to the merest detail; specific battle marches were created to keep order between the men; a soldier's equipment were explained in detail, and discipline among the ranks was regarded as of the utmost importance.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=209}} Charles forbade individual soldiers to have a [[camp follower]], instead, he permitted each company of 900 to have 30 women in their ranks who would attend to them.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=172}} He set brutal rules against defaulters and deserters. In 1476, he appointed Jehan de Dadizele to arrest deserters. Those guilty of encouraging soldiers to desert were to be executed and the deserters were to return to the army.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=225}} Charles intended for his soldiers to tutor their compatriots about these new conditions in private settings without a disciplinarian presiding over them.{{Sfn|Drake|2013|p=224}} Charles's erratic pace in promulgating new, detailed reforms every few years was too much for his captains and men-at-arms to sufficiently implement.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=420}}

Charles's ordinances were mostly inspired by Xenophon's ''Cyropaedia''.{{Sfn|Allmand|2001|p=137}} After observing how [[Cyrus the Great]] achieved the willing obedience of his subjects, Charles became obsessed with discipline and order among his men-at-arms.{{Sfn|Drake|2013|p=223}} He applied Xenophon's comments in the Abbeville ordinance, thus ensuring that through a complex [[Command hierarchy|chain of command]], his soldiers would both command and obey.{{Sfn|Drake|2013|p=224}} The influence of [[Vegetius]]'s ''[[De re militari]]'' is also quite apparent in Charles's writings. Vegetius suggested that soldiers were to be recruited from men offering themselves to a martial life; afterwards, they would swear an oath to stay loyal to the duke. Charles adapted both ideas in his 1471 ordinance.{{Sfn|Allmand|2001|pp=138, 140}} Charles's 1473 ordinance included exercises from Vegetius to keep soldiers disciplined and prepared.{{Sfn|Allmand|2001|p=138}}

The Burgundian standing army struggled with recruitment.{{Sfn|Vaughan|Paravicini|2002|p=214}} Although the army had enough men-at-arms, pikemen, and mounted archers, it lacked [[culverin]]s and foot archers.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=173}} To solve this problem, Charles diversified his army and recruited from other nationalities.{{Sfn|Baboukis|2010b|p=367}} Italian mercenaries were his favourite and by 1476 filled most of his ranks.{{Sfn|Walsh|2005|p=341}} Despite the constant warning from military authors of the past against the recruitment of mercenaries, contemporary chronicler [[Jean Molinet]] praised Charles for his brilliant solution, saying that he was favoured by both heaven and earth and thus above the "commandments of philosophers".{{Sfn|Golubeva|2013|p=32}}