This preface aims to place Dr Richard Walsh's remarkable researches on the history of the final decade of the duchy of Burgundy in the broader historical perspective of Western Christendom in the second half of the fifteenth century. Attention is also drawn to several unusual features likely to be misunderstood or overlooked. All in all this will enable the proper appreciation of the importance of this book. Publication has long been delayed by misfortunes, so the appearance at last of Dr Walsh's study, with its vital scholarly apparatus in an appropriate format, and illustrations, is welcomed cum laude.

The duchy of Burgundy warrants a prime slot in the Department of Dead-Ends, as suggested perhaps by Charles the Bold's other epithet: the Rash. Charles came to rule Burgundy in his own right on 15 June 1467, following the death of his father, Duke Philip, having acted as lieutenant on the latter's behalf for the previous two years. On accession Charles, like his ducal forebears, was immediately faced, theoretically at least, with paying homage for his territories to two overlords: to Louis XI, king of France, for French lands, and to Frederick III, the emperor, for those imperial. These invidious obligations, even if they could apparently be neglected with impunity, had their dangers: should these two overlords war with each other, and each demand from Charles his feudal obligation of military service, clearly he could not fulfil both obligations in person, thus theoretically could expect to be legally deprived of his holdings by the dissatisfied overlord. Furthermore, the English monarchy had in 1453 lost all French territory save Calais, while on 22 July 1461 there followed the accession of a very able and totally unscrupulous monarch – Louis XI – to the French throne, both factors which ensured that French power in Western Christendom would increase, thereby reversing those very circumstances that had enabled the dukes of Burgundy before Charles to consolidate their state, particularly at the expense of France. Fortunately for Charles the rule of Frederick III marked an imperial nadir and overlordship claims had long been forgotten.