Biette de Cassinel

Biette Cassinel (French pronunciation: [bjɛt də kasinɛl]; c.1320s-1394) was the supposed royal mistress of Charles V of France from 1360 until 1363.^[a]

Biette was the daughter of the François Cassinel, sergent d'armes of John II of France, and Alix Deschamps.^[2] She was the sister of Ferry Cassinel, bishop of Lodève and Auxerre and eventually archbishop of Rheims.^[2]

Biette was married to Gérard de Montagu by 1336.^[2] She was the mother of Jean de Montagu, who would rise to become Grand Master of France.^[3] It is said by some that Jean was her son by Charles V,^{[citation needed]} while Merlet and Delachenal state there is no evidence for this.^[b] Autrand states that a clerk of Parlement skipped two words, concerning Jean's execution, which incorrectly attributed Charles V as Jean's father, instead of his legitimate father Gerard de Montaigu.^[5]

Notes

1. "Although Biette Cassinel has been attached occasionally to Charles V, no concrete evidence for a relationship exists."^[1]
2. Merlet states that Charles V was 12 or 13 at the time of Jean's birth.^[2]
   "..concerning the relations which may have existed between Charles V and the mother of Jean de Montaigu, are not justified by any proof by any reference.."^[4]

References

1. Adams & Adams 2020, p. 27.
2. Merlet 1852, p. 252.
3. Merlet 1852, p. 248.
4. Delachenal 1909, p. 111.
5. Autrand 1994, p. 482.

Sources

• Autrand, Françoise (1994). Charles V, le Sage. Fayard.
• Adams, Tracy; Adams, Christine (2020). The Creation of the French Royal Mistress: From Agnès Sorel to Madame Du Barry. The Pennsylvania State University Press.
• Delachenal, Roland (1909). Histoire de Charles V. Vol. I. Picard.
• Merlet, Lucien (1852). "Biographie de Jean de Montagu, grand maître de France (1350-1409)". Bibliothèque de l'École des chartes Année. 13: 248-284. doi:10.3406/bec.1852.445064.