The memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton, Volume 1 (of 2)…
"The memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton, Volume 1 (of 2)" by Commynes is a historical memoir written in the late 15th century. It offers an insider’s chronicle of statecraft, warfare, and diplomacy around the courts of Burgundy and France, especially under Louis XI, Charles VIII, and Charles the Bold. Expect shrewd analysis of motives, vivid portraits of princes and advisers, and reflections on the causes and consequences of political
action across France, Flanders, and Italy. The opening of the volume assembles high praise for Commines (from Scott, Dryden, Hallam, Arnold, and others), explains why his reflective method marks a turning point in historiography, and sketches the work’s publication and editorial history. A substantial “Life of Philip de Commines” then traces his path from a Burgundian courtier to a trusted counsellor of Louis XI, his missions (notably Italy and Florence), the perilous Peronne and Liège episodes, his controversial rewards and lawsuits over Amboise lands (including destroyed charters), later imprisonment under the regency of Charles VIII, service in the Italian venture through Fornovo, and quiet final years. A dedication to the Archbishop of Vienne sets the aim and method of the memoirs. The narrative proper begins in 1464 with Commines entering the service of the Count of Charolois and recounting a tense audience at Lille: French envoys accuse Burgundy over the Rubempré affair and a Breton alliance; Duke Philip responds with measured dignity; the young Charles defends himself and Brittany and pointedly warns the king—signals of the political rupture to come, reinforced by disputes over the Somme towns and the influence of the Croy family. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Commynes, Philippe de, 1447?-1511 |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Roye, Jean de, 1425?-1495? |
| Editor | Scoble, Andrew R. (Andrew Richard), Sir, 1831-1916 |
| Title | The memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton, Volume 1 (of 2) : Containing the histories of Louis XI. and Charles VIII., Kings of France, and of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. To which is added the Scandalous chronicle, or, secret history of Louis XI., by Jean de Troyes. |
| Original Publication | London: H.G. Bohn, 1855, pubdate 1856. |
| Credits | Tim Lindell, Turgut Dincer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | DC: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: France, Andorra, Monaco |
| Subject | France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589 |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 77950 |
| Release Date | Feb 16, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 407 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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