It's time to start hammering out a basic persona timeline for Philippe, so I have a basic idea about where he has been, where he is, and where he might be going. Someone asked me once why I chose a monarchist, nationalistic persona and put him sack-dab in the middle of Anglo-Burgundian Paris. The answer is simply that there is plenty of tension in that scenario, and conflict creates a lot of potential for an interesting story.
So some of this very basic information might change, but for right now, this is the very rough timeline of Philippe's life.
1375, June - born in St. Denis, one of two twins (the other is his sister, Jehannette de Brie, who is mundanely my wife). Their parents own and operate a popular inn/tavern near L'Abbeye St-Denis. I still need to come up with both of their names and the name of the inn.
1389 - at the age of 14, Philippe is sent to Orleans to begin studying civil and criminal law. The University of Paris is much closer, of course, but his father does not want him to join the Church and the U of P only teaches ecclesiastical law. He studies in Orleans until his graduation in 1401. In those twelve years, Philippe has many adventures, gets drunk frequently and is not a stranger to brawling with students from other nations. After he has earned his Master of the Arts in Law, he stays on in Orleans.
1405 - his father (or mother, not sure yet) dies, and Philippe returns to Paris to establish his practice in the capital, and be close to his sister. She takes over management of the inn. During her brother's studies, she has married a man who turns out to be a Burgundian sympathizer. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Philippe doesn't like the husband very much, the traitorous slime.
1407, November - Louis, Duke of Orleans is murdered in Paris by his cousin, John, Duke of Burgundy. Louis was the de facto head of the government, since his brother, Charles VI, is intermittently insane and unable to rule. Louis' assassination by the Duke of Burgundy removes stability from the government and brings France significantly closer to civil war.
1411 - at age 36, a respected and successful lawyer, Philippe marries. I have yet to decide on the woman's name and background.
1418 - John, Duke of Burgundy, invades Paris, and a wholesale slaughter of anyone suspected of Armagnac/Orleanist leanings ensues. Hundreds are killed in the streets. One of the hapless victims is Philippe's young wife. Philippe's brother-in-law and nephew have left St-Denis to fight on the side of the Burgundians. Later in the year, Jehannette leaves the inn in the capable hands of her adult daughter and moves into Paris to manage Philippe's household.
1419 - Philippe (and possibly Jehannette) make a pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella.
1420 - Henry V, King of England, enters Paris with Charles VI of France. Henry is declared the heir to the French Crown, despite the fact that the Dauphin is still alive and considered by many in France to be the legitimate heir. Paris, however, welcomes Henry's apparent stability and leadership. Philippe and Jehannette are forced to be careful about their loyalty to the Dauphin.
1422, August - Death of Henry V. (So much for inheriting the Kingdom of France, buddy. How's your St. Crispian's Day, now???)
1422, October - Death of Charles VI of France. Henry VI (nine years of age) declared King of France. Only Paris and Henry's Burgundian allies are happy about it. Henry's uncle, the Duke of Bedford, named as Regent. Well, shit.
1429, February - Joan of Arc, a peasant girl claiming to be sent by God, appears before the Dauphin in Chinon, and tells him it is her destiny to raise the seige of Orleans and put him on the throne. Charles, the Dauphin, sends her to Poitiers to be examined by his Council and many learned churchmen. Intrigued, Philippe travels to Poitiers to watch the proceedings. Alternatively, he could be on his way back north returning from another pilgrimage when a colleague in Poitiers invites him to observe.
1429, April - Joan of Arc raises the seige of Orleans.
1429, July - Charles VII crowned King of France in Rheims Cathedral.
1429, September - Joan of Arc unsuccessfully attempts to lift the seige of Paris. Philippe is able to watch from the city walls.
1430 - Joan of Arc is taken prisoner. In May, after a lengthy and highly illegal trial, she is executed for heresy in Rouen. Philip is 47 years old. Paris is still in Anglo-Burgundian hands, but the tide of war has shifted and Charles VII is eventually able to drive the English out. I am currently uncertain how long Philippe survives beyond this point.
Sources
de Vitry, Jacques Life of the Students At Paris
Gies, Joseph and Francis Joan of Arc
Jager, Eric Blood Royal
Timeline of the Hundred Years War
So some of this very basic information might change, but for right now, this is the very rough timeline of Philippe's life.
1375, June - born in St. Denis, one of two twins (the other is his sister, Jehannette de Brie, who is mundanely my wife). Their parents own and operate a popular inn/tavern near L'Abbeye St-Denis. I still need to come up with both of their names and the name of the inn.
1389 - at the age of 14, Philippe is sent to Orleans to begin studying civil and criminal law. The University of Paris is much closer, of course, but his father does not want him to join the Church and the U of P only teaches ecclesiastical law. He studies in Orleans until his graduation in 1401. In those twelve years, Philippe has many adventures, gets drunk frequently and is not a stranger to brawling with students from other nations. After he has earned his Master of the Arts in Law, he stays on in Orleans.
1405 - his father (or mother, not sure yet) dies, and Philippe returns to Paris to establish his practice in the capital, and be close to his sister. She takes over management of the inn. During her brother's studies, she has married a man who turns out to be a Burgundian sympathizer. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Philippe doesn't like the husband very much, the traitorous slime.
1407, November - Louis, Duke of Orleans is murdered in Paris by his cousin, John, Duke of Burgundy. Louis was the de facto head of the government, since his brother, Charles VI, is intermittently insane and unable to rule. Louis' assassination by the Duke of Burgundy removes stability from the government and brings France significantly closer to civil war.
1411 - at age 36, a respected and successful lawyer, Philippe marries. I have yet to decide on the woman's name and background.
1418 - John, Duke of Burgundy, invades Paris, and a wholesale slaughter of anyone suspected of Armagnac/Orleanist leanings ensues. Hundreds are killed in the streets. One of the hapless victims is Philippe's young wife. Philippe's brother-in-law and nephew have left St-Denis to fight on the side of the Burgundians. Later in the year, Jehannette leaves the inn in the capable hands of her adult daughter and moves into Paris to manage Philippe's household.
1419 - Philippe (and possibly Jehannette) make a pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella.
1420 - Henry V, King of England, enters Paris with Charles VI of France. Henry is declared the heir to the French Crown, despite the fact that the Dauphin is still alive and considered by many in France to be the legitimate heir. Paris, however, welcomes Henry's apparent stability and leadership. Philippe and Jehannette are forced to be careful about their loyalty to the Dauphin.
1422, August - Death of Henry V. (So much for inheriting the Kingdom of France, buddy. How's your St. Crispian's Day, now???)
1422, October - Death of Charles VI of France. Henry VI (nine years of age) declared King of France. Only Paris and Henry's Burgundian allies are happy about it. Henry's uncle, the Duke of Bedford, named as Regent. Well, shit.
1429, February - Joan of Arc, a peasant girl claiming to be sent by God, appears before the Dauphin in Chinon, and tells him it is her destiny to raise the seige of Orleans and put him on the throne. Charles, the Dauphin, sends her to Poitiers to be examined by his Council and many learned churchmen. Intrigued, Philippe travels to Poitiers to watch the proceedings. Alternatively, he could be on his way back north returning from another pilgrimage when a colleague in Poitiers invites him to observe.
1429, April - Joan of Arc raises the seige of Orleans.
1429, July - Charles VII crowned King of France in Rheims Cathedral.
1429, September - Joan of Arc unsuccessfully attempts to lift the seige of Paris. Philippe is able to watch from the city walls.
1430 - Joan of Arc is taken prisoner. In May, after a lengthy and highly illegal trial, she is executed for heresy in Rouen. Philip is 47 years old. Paris is still in Anglo-Burgundian hands, but the tide of war has shifted and Charles VII is eventually able to drive the English out. I am currently uncertain how long Philippe survives beyond this point.
Sources
de Vitry, Jacques Life of the Students At Paris
Gies, Joseph and Francis Joan of Arc
Jager, Eric Blood Royal
Timeline of the Hundred Years War
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