The memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton, Volume 1 (of 2)

In Short

This volume contains the firsthand observations of Philippe de Commynes, a diplomat who served both Charles the Bold of Burgundy and King Louis XI of France during the late fifteenth century. It tracks the bitter rivalry between these two leaders, detailing the siege of Paris, the bloody rebellions of Liege, diplomatic negotiations with England, and the catastrophic collapse of the Burgundian state. Commynes records not merely battles, but the hidden mechanics of statecraft: secret betrayals, financial bribes, broken treaties, and the psychological flaws of rulers. It has endured because it abandons medieval chivalric romanticism in favor of an unsparing, analytical look at political power, offering one of the earliest modern studies of human motivation and realpolitik.

The Story

The narrative follows the long, intricate struggle for supremacy between King Louis XI of France and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, a conflict that shapes the political landscape of XV-century Europe. Beginning in the mid-1460s during the War of the Public Good, the chronicle captures a fractured France where powerful feudal lords band together to curb the rising authority of the French crown. Commynes, initially an insider in the Burgundian court, observes how initial skirmishes and high-stakes maneuvering around Paris lead to fragile treaties like the accord of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, which serve only as brief pauses in an ongoing contest of will and intrigue.

As the feud deepens, the focus shifts to the contrasting methods of the two main antagonists. King Louis XI relies on bribery, patience, and secret diplomacy, preferring to win through negotiation rather than the sword. Duke Charles, by contrast, relies on direct military force, grand coalitions, and uncompromising pride. This clash of temperaments comes to a head in volatile flashpoints across the region. At Liege, recurring rebellions against Burgundian rule bring severe retaliation, forcing the townspeople into desperate surrenders while the French king carefully manipulates events from behind the scenes.

The geopolitical web expands to include neighboring powers, most notably England and the Swiss Confederation. When King Edward IV of England invades France with a massive army, Louis XI avoids a costly war by outright buying a nine-year truce at Amiens, supplying the English troops with vast quantities of wine and pensions to send them home satisfied. Meanwhile, Duke Charles entangles himself in expanding wars against the Swiss and neighboring territories. Despite clear warnings and the underlying treachery within his own ranks—most notably by the Count of Campobasso—Charles stubbornly pushes his army into perilous campaigns.

The story reaches its climax in the rapid unraveling of Burgundian power. At Granson and Morat, the Swiss inflict disastrous defeats on the duke's forces, stripping him of his wealth, artillery, and military reputation. Refusing to adjust his ambitions or listen to his officers, Charles lays siege to Nancy under increasingly desperate conditions. Betrayed by his mercenaries and outnumbered by the forces of the Duke of Lorraine, Charles is defeated and killed in battle.

In the aftermath of the duke's death, Louis XI moves swiftly to absorb the vast Burgundian territories into the French realm. Yet, as Commynes reveals in the closing chapters, the king's triumph is compromised by his own overreaching ambition. Rather than securing the lands through peaceful diplomacy or marriage alliances for the young Princess Mary of Burgundy, Louis attempts to conquer the territories by force, provoking internal rebellion and chaotic intrigue among the Flemish cities. The narrative concludes with a sober assessment of how quickly great houses fall when rulers let arrogance override prudent counsel.

How It Unfolds

The war of the princes begins Feudal lords align against Louis XI under the banner of the Public Good, bringing their armies to the outskirts of Paris. Skirmishes break out continuously along the Seine while the king carefully avoids a single, decisive pitched battle.

The fragile peace of Saint-Maur The conflicting parties conclude a formal treaty to restore lands, rights, and moveable goods across the kingdom. The peace acts as a temporary patch, leaving the underlying hostility between the crown and its great vassals completely unresolved.

The destruction of Liege Facing persistent rebellion, Duke Charles marches against Liege, forcing the citizens to submit without capitulation to save their city from burning. Commynes accompanies the advanced guard, recording the chaos, hostaging, and eventual harsh subjugation of the population.

The English army is bought off King Edward IV lands in France with a formidable force, threatening to ignite a major campaign. Louis XI invites the English officers to feast, distributing wine and thousands of crowns to secure a nine-year truce without firing a shot.

The disaster at Granson Duke Charles advances against the Swiss at the foot of the mountains, ignoring his officers' advice to maintain a strong defensive position. The Burgundian line collapses in panic, leaving their main camp, artillery, and immense riches to the enemy.

The fall of Nancy and the duke's death Disregarding reports of treason within his army and warnings from his own allies, Charles besieges Nancy in winter. He is defeated and slain by the Duke of Lorraine's forces, bringing an abrupt end to the House of Burgundy.

The division of the Burgundian inheritance Overjoyed by his rival's death, Louis XI attempts to seize the Burgundian lands for the French crown. His aggressive tactics anger the Flemish ambassadors and spark fresh internal divisions, frustrating his hopes for an easy annexation.

The People

• King Louis XI of France

He wants to consolidate absolute royal authority and dismantle the power of the independent feudal dukes. Impatient with military glory but brilliant at diplomatic maneuvering, he uses money, pensions, and endless negotiation to defeat his rivals. His reign ends in complete triumph over his enemies, though his greed for immediate territorial gain prevents a smooth annexation of Burgundy.

• Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy

He wants to expand his holdings into a supreme, independent empire that rivals the Kingdom of France. Impulsive, proud, and suspicious of good counsel, he relies strictly on force and refuses to alter his plans even when facing obvious danger. His stubbornness leads to catastrophic military losses against the Swiss and ultimately his death on the battlefield outside Nancy.

• The Count of Campobasso

An Italian mercenary captain serving Duke Charles who secretly plots against his master. Driven by personal grievances and unpaid debts, he blocks warnings from reaching the duke and actively negotiates with the enemy, eventually betraying the Burgundian army at the Battle of Nancy.

• René II, Duke of Lorraine

A young prince determined to reclaim his lands and city from Burgundian occupation. By forging a strong alliance with the Swiss and German forces, he successfully rallies an army, defeats Duke Charles at Nancy, and restores his authority over his ancestral territory.

• Mary of Burgundy

The young daughter and sole heir of Duke Charles, thrust into power upon her father's death. She wants to preserve her inheritance while navigating the aggressive claims of Louis XI and the rebellious demands of her own Flemish subjects in Ghent.

In Its Own Voice

"He is the first modern writer who in any degree has displayed sagacity in reasoning on the characters of men and the consequences of their actions, or Who has been able to generalise his observations by comparison and reflection."

Historian Henry Hallam highlights Commynes' distinct approach, noting how the writer looks past surface events to evaluate the hidden motives of rulers.

"I shall not here observe the method and order of writing which is usual among historians, nor name the years and moments of time when every action happened... I shall only give you a plain account of what I have seen, known, and heard of these three great princes."

Commynes sets aside rigid chronological conventions, choosing instead to deliver a direct, firsthand assessment of the monarchs he personally knew and observed.

"The reason therefore why the power of God is more conspicuous against princes and great men, is, because the poor and such as are in distress have enough to punish them whenever they offend... But if the offenders are great, as princes, princesses, governors, or counsellors of any rebellious town or state, let their exorbitance be never so enormous, who will dare to inquire into their faults?"

In a reflective moment on political ethics, Commynes argues that earthly judges only punish the weak, leaving divine providence as the sole force capable of holding absolute rulers accountable.

What It's Really About

Beneath the narrative of fifteenth-century military campaigns lies an investigation into the nature of political power and human judgment. Commynes argues that clear analytical thinking, combined with an accurate understanding of human self-interest, is far more decisive in statecraft than military force or aristocratic lineage. He contrasts the reactive, hot-headed passion of Charles the Bold with the calculating pragmatism of Louis XI, showing how emotional instability and stubbornness inevitably ruin even the most powerful rulers.

The work also meditates on the limits of earthly authority. While Commynes accepts the necessity of royal power, he remains deeply skeptical of those who hold it. He repeatedly illustrates how princes deceive themselves, ignore wise counsel, and cause widespread misery through their vanity. The book presents history not as a series of romantic heroic exploits, but as an endless series of negotiations, miscalculations, and systemic corruptions where the vulnerable bear the brunt of their leaders' mistakes, and where ultimate retribution comes only through divine intervention.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers fascinated by political history, psychological observation, and the unvarnished realities of medieval diplomacy. Unlike traditional medieval chronicles filled with idealized knightly virtues, Commynes writes with the cool, detached eye of an experienced diplomat. Reading his account feels like sitting in a dark council chamber while an insider whispers how decisions were actually made—who was bribed, which safe-conduct was broken, and why a king chose a payout over a battle.

The book does present challenges for modern readers. The dense political geography of the XV-century Low Countries, the intricate web of noble titles, and the endless diplomatic digressions require patience. The prose moves deliberately, prioritizing analysis over dramatic pacing, and the author frequently pauses the action to offer moral reflections on power and governing.

What stays with you, however, is the remarkable modernity of Commynes' perspective. His psychological portraits of Louis XI and Charles the Bold feel sharp and strikingly relevant, illustrating how vanity and paranoia continue to wreck political ambitions today. It remains an essential read for anyone wanting to see behind the ceremonial curtain of historical kingship into the raw, pragmatic engines that drove early modern Europe.