John, Duke of Touraine

John, Dauphin of France and Duke of Touraine (31 August 1398 – 5 April 1417) was Dauphin of Viennois and Duke of Touraine. He inherited the Dauphin of Viennois in 1415, following the death of his older brother, Louis. He died 5 April 1417, and was succeeded by his brother Charles.

John
Duke of Touraine
Dauphin of France
Reign	8 December 1415 – 5 April 1417
Predecessor	Louis, Duke of Guyenne
Successor	Charles, Count of Ponthieu
Born	31 August 1398
Died	5 April 1417(1417-04-05) (aged 18) Compiègne
Burial	Saint-Corneille Abbey
Spouse	Jacqueline of Hainaut ​ ​ (m. 1415)​
House	Valois
Father	Charles VI of France
Mother	Isabeau of Bavaria

Early life

John was born in 1398,^[1] the fourth son of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. At the age of four (in Paris on 5 May 1403) and again at the age of seven (in Compiègne on 29 June 1406), he was betrothed to Jacqueline, heiress of the County of Hainaut, Holland, Zealand, and Frisia.^[2] After his betrothal to Jacqueline, he was brought up alongside her at the castle of Le Quesnoy in Hainaut, at the court of his future mother-in-law, Margaret of Burgundy.^[2] This arrangement was made between his father and his future father-in-law to ensure his safety away from the tumultuous court in Paris, as well as to acquaint him with the lands which he would rule as husband of Jacqueline after her father's death.^[3] As he was the king's fourth son, he was only expected to succeed to his wife's lands, and was not expected to become king.^[3]

On 22 April 1411 the Pope gave his dispensation for the union and on 6 August 1415, when John was sixteen, he and Jacqueline married in The Hague.^[4]

Dauphin

Four months after his marriage, John's elder brother Louis, Dauphin of France, died on 18 December 1415, and John became the next Dauphin of France.

Death

John died on 5 April 1417 at the age of eighteen.^[5] The cause of his death is disputed. According to some, he died from the consequences of an abscess in the head, while other sources suggest he had been poisoned.^[6] He was buried in Compiègne's Saint-Corneille abbey. His younger brother Charles became dauphin and eventually king.^[5]

Ancestry

Ancestors of John, Duke of Touraine

16. Philip VI of France 8. John II of France 17. Joan of Burgundy 4. Charles V of France 18. John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia 9. Bonne of Luxembourg and Bohemia 19. Elisabeth of Bohemia 2. Charles VI of France 20. Louis I, Duke of Bourbon 10. Peter I, Duke of Bourbon 21. Mary of Avesnes 5. Jeanne of Bourbon 22. Charles of Valois 11. Isabelle of Valois 23. Mahaut of Châtillon 1. John, Dauphin of France and Duke of Touraine 24. Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor 12. Stephen II, Duke of Bavaria 25. Beatrix of Silesia-Glogau 6. Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria 26. Frederick III of Sicily 13. Elisabeth of Sicily 27. Eleanor of Anjou 3. Isabeau of Bavaria 28. Stefano Visconti 14. Bernabò Visconti 29. Valentina Doria 7. Taddea Visconti 30. Mastino II della Scala 15. Beatrice Regina della Scala 31. Taddea da Carrara

References

1. Vale 1974, p. 21.
2. Vaughan 2005, p. 246.
3. Antheun Janse: Een pion voor een dame, pp. 54–56
4. A. Janse, pp. 81–84.
5. Vale 1974, p. 237.
6. Ernest van Bruyssel, Histoire du commerce et de la marine en Belgique, 1863, p. 66., A. Janse, Een Pion voor een Dame (2009)

Sources

• Vale, Malcolm Graham Allan (1974). Charles the Seventh. University of California Press.
• Vaughan, Richard (2005). John the Fearless: The Growth of Burgundian Power. Vol. 2. The Boydell Press.

John, Duke of Touraine House of Valois Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty Born: 31 August 1398 Died: 5 April 1417
Regnal titles
Preceded by Louis I	Dauphin of Viennois 8 December 1415 – 5 April 1417	Succeeded by Charles the Victorious
Vacant Royal domain Title last held by Louis II	Duke of Touraine 1407 – 5 April 1417
Vacant Royal domain Title last held by Edward III	Count of Ponthieu 1410 – 5 April 1417
Preceded by John I	Duke of Berry Count of Poitou 1416 – 5 April 1417