Dissertation Information for Mack Parker Holt NAME: - Mack Parker Holt
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- History
SCHOOL:
- Emory University (USA) (1982)
ADVISORS: - J. Russell Major
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - None
MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected
Title: A PRINCE OF THE BLOOD IN THE FRENCH WARS OF RELIGION: FRANCOIS DE VALOIS, DUKE OF ALENCON AND ANJOU, 1555-1584
Abstract: The principal aim of this dissertation is to outline the career of Francois de Valois, Duke of Alencon, youngest son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici. As heir to the crown after 1574, suitor of Queen Elizabeth of England, and titular sovereign of the Netherlands, Alencon was one of the most important figures in Europe.
The principal sources used for this study were Alencon's own unpublished correspondence and papers, located chiefly in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. Although the more important documents concerning his involvement in the Netherlands have been published, the bulk of his correspondence has remained largely unexplored.
The exploitation of these sources has produced a number of significant findings, especially concerning Alencon's Netherlands campaign. When the Dutch Estates contracted with him at Plessis-les-Tours in September 1580 to lead an army to the Netherlands in return for titular sovereignty of the rebellious provinces, they promised him considerable financial support. Moreover, Henry II and Elizabeth agreed to assist his venture. The duke's resulting expedition to the Netherlands and his investiture at Antwerp in February 1582 proved disastrous, however. His fragile relationship with the Dutch quickly disintegrated when he became unable to pay his army. With their wages in arrears, his troops mutinied and attempted to sack Antwerp in January 1583. Although Alencon was at fault, it was ironic that the Dutch themselves were partly to blame for this "French fury." In their agreement at Plessis-les-Tours they had contracted to pay him 200,000 florins per month to pay his troops. But the funds that had been so readily approved by Orange and the Estates proved impossible to collect in the provinces, where no one wanted to support a foreign army, French or Spanish. As a result, after nearly a year in the Netherlands Alencon received only a fraction of the money promised to him by the Dutch Estates, with the inevitable mutiny of his army. In addition, Henry's and Elizabeth's promised support was kept to a minimum. Thus, despite his foibles as a military commander, Alencon's failure in the Netherlands was not entirely of his own making.
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calculated 2008-06-04 16:35:56
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