Jean, Duc de Berry

(1340-1416)

   The duc de Berry was the son of King Jean II the Good of France and the brother of Philip the Bold of Burgundy. In 1356, he was made Count of Poitiers and, during his father's captivity in England two years later, he was appointed lieutenant of Auvergne, Languedoc, Périgord, and Poitou, which gave him control of a large portion of France. In 1360, his father also gave Jean the duchies of Berry and Auvergne. From 1380 until 1388, Jean acted as member of the regency council of his nephew and heir to the throne, Charles VI. In that capacity, he negotiated for peace with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. In 1405, he also negotiated the temporary reconciliation between John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, and Louis, Duke of Orléans, both of whom were vying for control of France. Louis was murdered in 1407 and, three years later, Jean allied himself with the Orleanists. Jean's mediations effected the Peace of Auxerre (1412). However, hostilities soon resumed and, in the following year, he also negotiated the Peace of Pontoise, which resulted in Orleanist victory. Jean is best remembered for his lavish spending on the arts. He left a collection of no less than 150 illuminated manuscripts, among them Les Très Belles Heures du duc de Berry (c. 1410; New York; The Cloisters) and Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry (1416; Chantilly; Musée Condé), both executed by the Limbourg brothers.