AGNES SOREL 



rivalled only by her devotion to the well-being 

 and glory of her royal lover. 



Patriotism was a virtue of recent growth in 

 France, for, in order to thrive, it requires unity 

 of idea, and during the Middle Ages the only 

 idea common to all was Christianity, which, 

 from the nature of its teaching of humility and 

 fraternity, does not make for patriotism. It 

 may cement the structure, but it does not form 

 the basis. It was only after years of suffering 

 and unrest that men learned to sink their 

 individual and local interests in those of the 

 nation as a whole. Then, and only then, could 

 patriotism arise, and only under such conditions 

 could it flourish. 



How long Agnes lived at the Court of 

 Lorraine (one of the most refined and cultured 

 Courts of the time), and how her first meeting 

 with the king came about, is uncertain. It has 

 been considered likely that between 1 43 1 and 1 43 5 

 Isabelle of Lorraine went to Chinon to beseech 

 the king to use his influence to obtain the release 

 of her husband, imprisoned by his cousin, a rival 

 claimant to the duchy of Lorraine. It is possible 

 that Agnes, even if only born in 1422, may have 

 accompanied her, but even if she did not, this 

 visit of Isabelle's may, indirectly, have led to 

 the meeting between the king and Agnes. 

 Whilst still a prisoner, Rene succeeded to the 

 crown of Naples on the death of his brother, 

 Louis d'Anjou, and as the country was in a 

 disturbed condition it was deemed prudent for 



