HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 79 



distinguished his reign by a fortunate contest with the hierarchy (the popes 

 in France). He suppressed the order of the Kniglits Temphirs, whose 

 treasures tempted liini ; and he created an epoch in French history, by 

 convening for the first time a national assembly, known as the States 

 General (Etats generaux). He died in 1314, and his three sons, who 

 followed each other in rapid succession, wound up the direct male line of 

 the Capetian kings, 1328. 



The Capetians had broken the influence of the nobility in France. The 

 collateral line w^ho next claimed the throne plunged the country into wars 

 with England ; and in one of these, under Charles YII., the celebrated 

 Joan of Arc appeared at the head of the French troops, led them on to 

 victory, but was herself eventually taken prisoner, and burnt at the stake. 



The dukes of Burgundy, a branch of the French reigning house, acquired 

 considerable importance during this period. John the Good, in 1363, 

 had transferred Burgundy as a fief to his youngest son, Philip the Bold. 

 Philip was succeeded by his son John the Intrepid, 14:01:-19 ; he again by 

 Philip the Good, 1419-67, and Charles of Charolois, surnamed the Bold, 

 1467-1477. There was a constant animosity between France and 

 Burgundy. Charles of Charolois acquired in addition Franche Comte and 

 the largest portion of the Netherlands, and maintained at Brussels the most 

 splendid court in Europe. The duke opened negotiations with the king of 

 Gr^rmany, Frederic lY., about the title of king, when the latter asked 

 for his son Maximilian the hand of Charles's daughter, Mary, heiress 

 to Burgundy. But differences arose in the course of their conferences, and 

 Frederic, instigated by Louis XL of France, broke them off" entirely. 

 Charles determined that Maximilian should never be allied to his family ; 

 but his daughter afterwards engaged herself to the emperor's son by letter. 



The crafty duke marched, in 1476, against his neighbor Benatiis, duke 

 of Lorraine, and his allies, the Swiss, in order to attach their countries to 

 his own dominion. Having taken ITancy, the capital of Lorraine, and 

 expelled Renatus, he advanced in the same year with 60,000 men against 

 Switzerland. In his attack upon Granson his perfidy and cruelty so 

 exasperated this brave and free people, that they arose with a courage 

 commensurate with their patriotism, and completely routed the Bur- 

 gundian army, who were obliged to leave their rich camp in the hands of 

 the Swiss. Chagrined at this unexpected misfortune, Charles advanced 

 against them with a new army, but was again defeated at Murten, with 

 a loss of 20,000 men, some falling on the field, and others being driven into 

 the adjoining lake. At a third battle at Kancy, 1477, Charles himself was 

 slain : his army was partly destroyed, and partly deserted him. With 

 Charles the Bold the Burgundian dominion came to an end. 



Mary, the heiress of Charles, now married Maximilian I. Louis XL, 

 too, had claimed her hand for his son, who was only seven years old. 

 Maximilian thus became involved in a bloody war with Louis of France, 

 and he demanded the restoration of the Burgundian provinces which Louis 

 had taken. In the war that followed Frederic could not assist his son, as 

 his own dominions were menaced by the Turks and Hungarians. But by 



251 



