Individual Details
Jean II "the Good" King of France
(26 Apr 1319 - 8 Apr 1364)
Jean was born on 26 April 1319, the son of Philippe VI, king of France, and Jeanne de Bourgogne. He was only thirteen when he married Judith of Bohemia, daughter of Johann 'the Blind' of Luxembourg, king of Bohemia, and Elisabeth of Bohemia. They had eleven children of whom four sons and three daughters would have progeny.
In 1350 Jean succeeded his father as king of France. His first act was the execution of the constable of France Raoul II de Brienne, comte d'Eu, for treason. He then conferred the office on his favourite, Charles de la Cerda. At Poitiers on 19 September 1356, the French army was overwhelmingly defeated by English forces under Edward, prince of Wales, and Jean II was captured.
He was taken to London in May 1357, and Edward III housed him in the Tower of London and treated him as an honoured guest. Edward III then negotiated with Jean II's son, the future King Charles V, who acted as regent in France. The ransom for Jean II was set at 700,000 pounds in the first Treaty of London of May 1358, which also called for French recognition of English sovereignty over Aquitaine and parts of northern France.
Charles rejected Edward III's terms and Jean II remained in English hands until 1360 when, at the end of a brief campaign in France, Edward III resumed negotiations at Brétigny. By the Treaty of Brétigny in May 1360 Jean II was ransomed for 500,000 pounds, a sum for which a group of hostages, including his second son Louis, was sent as surety to England until payment had been completed. Louis escaped from English captivity in 1364, and in accordance with the chivalric code Jean II returned to England, where he died later the same year.
Source: Leo van de Pas
In 1350 Jean succeeded his father as king of France. His first act was the execution of the constable of France Raoul II de Brienne, comte d'Eu, for treason. He then conferred the office on his favourite, Charles de la Cerda. At Poitiers on 19 September 1356, the French army was overwhelmingly defeated by English forces under Edward, prince of Wales, and Jean II was captured.
He was taken to London in May 1357, and Edward III housed him in the Tower of London and treated him as an honoured guest. Edward III then negotiated with Jean II's son, the future King Charles V, who acted as regent in France. The ransom for Jean II was set at 700,000 pounds in the first Treaty of London of May 1358, which also called for French recognition of English sovereignty over Aquitaine and parts of northern France.
Charles rejected Edward III's terms and Jean II remained in English hands until 1360 when, at the end of a brief campaign in France, Edward III resumed negotiations at Brétigny. By the Treaty of Brétigny in May 1360 Jean II was ransomed for 500,000 pounds, a sum for which a group of hostages, including his second son Louis, was sent as surety to England until payment had been completed. Louis escaped from English captivity in 1364, and in accordance with the chivalric code Jean II returned to England, where he died later the same year.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 26 Apr 1319 | Gué-de-Maulin | |||
| Marriage | 28 Mar 1332 | Melun - Judith of Bohemia | |||
| Death | 8 Apr 1364 | London, England |
Families
| Spouse | Judith of Bohemia (1315 - 1349) |
| Child | Philippe "the Bold" Duc de Bourgogne (1342 - 1404) |
| Father | Philippe VI King of France (1293 - 1350) |
| Mother | Jeanne de Bourgogne (1293 - 1348) |