‘History is a novel that has been lived’
E. & J. DE GONCOURT
‘It is terrifying to think how much research is needed to determine the truth of even the most unimportant fact’
STENDHAL
Contents
Foreword
The Characters in this Book
The Poisoned Crown
Prologue
Part One: France Awaits a Queen
1. Farewell to Naples
2. The Storm
3. The Hôtel-Dieu
4. Portents of Disaster
5. The King Receives the Oriflamme
6. The Muddy Army
7. The Philtre
8. A Country Wedding
Part Two: After Flanders, Artois
1. The Insurgents
2. The Countess of Poitiers
3. The Second Couple in the Kingdom
4. A Servant’s Friendship
5. The Fork and the Prie-dieu
6. Arbitration
Part Three: The Time of the Comet
1. The New Master of Neauphle
2. Dame Eliabel’s Reception
3. The Midnight Marriage
4. The Comet
5. The Cardinal’s Spell
6. ‘I Assume Control of Artois’
7. In the King’s Absence
8. The Monk is Dead
9. Mourning Comes to Vincennes
10. Tolomei Prays for the King
11. Who is to be Regent?
Footnotes
Historical Notes
Author’s Acknowledgements
By Maurice Druon
Copyright
About the Publisher
Over the years, more than one reviewer has described my fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, as historical fiction about history that never happened, flavoured with a dash of sorcery and spiced with dragons. I take that as a compliment. I have always regarded historical fiction and fantasy as sisters under the skin, two genres separated at birth. My own series draws on both traditions ... and while I undoubtedly drew much of my inspiration from Tolkien, Vance, Howard, and the other fantasists who came before me, A Game of Thrones and its sequels were also influenced by the works of great historical novelists like Thomas B. Costain, Mika Waltari, Howard Pyle ... and Maurice Druon, the amazing French writer who gave us the The Accursed Kings, seven splendid novels that chronicle the downfall of the Capetian kings and the beginnings of the Hundred Years War.
Druon’s novels have not been easy to find, especially in English translation (and the seventh and final volume was never translated into English at all). The series has twice been made into a television series in France, and both versions are available on DVD ... but only in French, undubbed, and without English subtitles. Very frustrating for English-speaking Druon fans like me.
The Accursed Kings has it all. Iron kings and strangled queens, battles and betrayals, lies and lust, deception, family rivalries, the curse of the Templars, babies switched at birth, she-wolves, sin, and swords, the doom of a great dynasty ... and all of it (well, most of it) straight from the pages of history. And believe me, the Starks and the Lannisters have nothing on the Capets and Plantagenets.
Whether you’re a history buff or a fantasy fan, Druon’s epic will keep you turning pages. This was the original game of thrones. If you like A Song of Ice and Fire, you will love The Accursed Kings.
George R.R. Martin
THE KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE:
LOUIS X, called THE HUTIN, great-grandson of Saint Louis, son of Philip IV, the Fair, and of Jeanne of Navarre, widower of Marguerite of Burgundy, aged 26.
HIS SECOND WIFE:
CLÉMENCE OF HUNGARY, a descendant of a brother of Saint Louis, granddaughter of Charles II of Anjou-Sicily and of Marie of Hungary, daughter of Charles Martel and sister of Charobert, King of Hungary, niece of King Robert of Naples, aged 22.
HIS BROTHERS:
MONSEIGNEUR PHILIPPE, Count of Poitiers, Count Palatine of Burgundy, Lord of Salins, Peer of the Kingdom, future Philip V, aged 22.
MONSEIGNEUR CHARLES, Count de la Marche, future Charles IV, aged 21.
THE VALOIS BRANCH:
MONSEIGNEUR CHARLES, brother of Philip the Fair, Count of Valois, Titular Emperor of Constantinople, Count of Romagna, Peer of the Kingdom, the King’s uncle, aged 45.
PHILIPPE OF VALOIS, son of the above, future Philip VI, aged 22.
THE EVREUX BRANCH:
MONSEIGNEUR LOUIS, brother of Philip the Fair, Count of Evreux, the King’s uncle, aged about 42.
THE ARTOIS BRANCH, DESCENDANTS OF A BROTHER OF SAINT LOUIS:
ROBERT III OF ARTOIS, Seigneur of Conches, Count of Beaumont-le-Roger, aged 28.
THE COUNTESS MAHAUT OF ARTOIS, his aunt, widow of the Count Palatine Othon IV of Burgundy, Peer of the Kingdom, aged about 41.
JEANNE OF BURGUNDY, daughter of Mahaut and wife of the Count Philippe of Poitiers, the King’s brother, aged about 22.
THE GREAT OFFICERS OF THE CROWN:
ETIENNE DE MORNAY,