Karl der Kühne (1433-1477): Kunst, Krieg und Hofkultur

by Susan Marti

Charles the Bold (1433-1477) was ambitious, well educated, and tireless in his pursuit of power and recognition. At the close of the Middle Ages, in the fourth generation of his dynasty, he made the duchy of Burgundy into a significant European power. The house of Burgundy celebrated its rise by establishing a glittering court life, in which objects of exquisite taste were constantly sought after. The essays in Splendour of the Burgundian Court -biographies of rulers, political history, and analyses of court art-form a comprehensive portrait of the Burgundian court. Its splendid full-color illustrations vividly bring to life both the brilliance and the drama of the epoch. The dukes of Burgundy ruled over a conglomeration of territories, each with its own political and legal traditions. Because their dynasty was relatively new and flanked by the much more powerful French kingdom and German empire, Burgundian dukes invested in lavish public ceremonial displays to assert their status and reinforce the court's position as a center of power. The theater of Burgundian rule depended upon the display of ever more elaborate objects, from clothing and armor to furniture, tableware, tapestries, and paintings-many of which are of outstanding quality. Charles the Bold grew up on this ritualized stage, and his eventful life is reflected in the ceremonies and objects that conveyed his authority. Splendour of the Burgundian Court welcomes readers into that world.

Genres: Medieval

382 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Anubis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to keep it short;

this is an amazing, huge, heavy book on the Burgundians in general, with a focus on Charles the Bold. Not only is it full of HD pictures of everything Burgundian, the text is well researched, and it holds tons of information.

It's detailed enough for the expert, but also pretty enough for someone that doesn't know who the Burgundians were to appreciate it.

Highly recommended