Monday afternoon and I miss my Zoom class – it’s my own fault of course as I should have organised advertising and plotted where the block of classes would fit. Easter’s early this year so I’m working out the dates and thinking how best to fit things in.

Today’s post is slightly left field but the duke did have his part to play in the education of Henry Tudor while he was in exile. Francis was Duke of Brittany from 1458 to his death.  His policies were aimed at maintaining independence from France which was ruled by Louis XI of France and, from 1483, King Charles VIII. Despite his best efforts to play the French and the English off against one another, he was forced, in 1488, to sign a treaty becoming a vassal of the French and after his death his heiress, Anne, married King Charles VIII.

The duke became the protector of Henry and Jasper Tudor from 1471 to 1485 despite attempts by both Edward IV and Richard III to negotiate their return to England.  Francis treated his guests well but in reality, they were hostages used as a diplomatic tool by the duke to hold out for better terms against Louis, who was Jasper’s cousin and wanted control of the Tudors himself.  In 1484, when the duke was unwell, his treasurer Pierre Landais came to an agreement with Richard III. Fortunately for the Tudors, Jasper and Henry were able to make a daring escape.  When he recovered from his illness, Francis paid the expenses of the Lancastrian supporters of Henry Tudor who remained in Brittany to travel to France where Henry and Jasper had fled before Landais could send them back to Richard.