Juliette Benzoni Lexicon Catherine de Montsalvy

Barnaby, of the Cockleshells, Parisian beggar, read more on Who is Who
Brotherly friend of Landry Pigasse. Took the Legoix's women to his house in the Court des Miracles. Escaped with them to Dijon Burgundy. Lived in the tavern of Jacquot-de-la-mer.

Philippe Clay † played Barnaby (Barnabé le Coquillart) in "Catherine il suffit d'un amour

Béatrice, Grande Dame Superior of "the convent of the Beguine ladies"
read more on Who is Who
Dame Béatrice complimented Catherine on her talent for "lace-making, she had learned during her stay at the "Le Béguinage de la Vigne". When Duke Philippe of Burgundy arrived in Bruges, it was save for Catherine to leave the convent. She promised her, to ask the Duke for mercy for the city of Bruges!

Régine Blaess joue La Grande Dame Béatrice dans "Catherine il suffit d'un amour"

Le Béguinage de la Vigne, fondé deux siècles plus tôt par la comtesse de Flandre, Jeanne de Constantinople, état
un vaste enclos cerné de grands murs par-dessus lesquels on pouvait apercevoir un foisonnement de grands arbres
(Il n'a pas changé.) Il renfermait une église, vouée à sainte Elisabeth, un hospice et, alignées tout autour d'une grande prairie plantée d'arbres et de fleurs, les blanches maisons des Béguines. Chacune d'elles avait la sienne et,
si elles obéissaient à l'autorité d'une supérieure que l'on appelait la Grande Dame, elles ne prononçaient pas de voeux éternels. Après deux ans de voviciat dans un vouvent, elles recevaient chacune leur petite demure et se pliaient sans autre serment à la triple règle de pauvreté, de prière et de travail. Dans les pays de Flandres beaucoup de veuves, de filles que l'on ne pouvait marier, choisissaient le Béguinage de préférence aux couvents réguliers parce qu'il étaitsortir.
(extract from "La Dame de Montsalvy" )

born 1920
French author of the Catherine book series and many more successful historical books - winner of the Alexandre Dumas Prix, Chevalier de l'ordre national du Mérite in 1998,Prix Littéraire "Louis Barthou" Médaille d'Argent de l'Académie Française and Founder of the famous trophée Alexandre Dumas. Madame Benzoni is still writing two books a year!

see Portrait Juliette Benzoni...also page of all her books ...and our meeting with my dear friend Juliette.

special surprise.... Juliette Benzoni's painting of Catherine de Montsalvy

Blaisy, de Jean read more on Who is Who..
Abbot of Saint-Seine and cousin of Comtesse Ermengarde de Châteauvillain - one of Catherine's most trusted friends in Burgundy. The abbot shows no fear to defend Catherine when her first husband Garin de Brazey attacks the abbey. Landry Pigasse joins his monastry to be a monk.

Yves Arcanel played Abbot Jean de Blaisy in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

Bourges
During the Middle Ages, Bourges was the capital of a Viscounty until the fourteenth century. The future king, Charles VII, sought refuge there. His son, Louis XI, was born there in 1423. In 1438, Charles decreed the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges. During this period, Bourges was also a major capital of alchemy.

The city has a long tradition of art and history, other sites of importance include the Palace of Jacques Cœur and a sixty-five-hectare district of timber houses and grande homes.

Brazey, Garin de read more on Who is Who..
Lord treasurer of Duke Philippe of Burgundy, Catherine's first husband (who always dressed in black) was ordered by the Duke to marry Catherine, knowing full well of his tragic secret.Garin was executed in 1424 for high treason.

Stéphane Bouy † played Garin de Brazey in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

Brazey, Philippe de 1424 - 1428
Catherine and Philippe of Burgundy's son - his father the Duke of Burgundy had made his mother a Comtesse, so that his illegitimate son may inherit the title - spent his short life at Châteauvillain where Comtesse Ermengarde de Châteauvillain tenderly looked after him. Died of infected water.

Brézé, Pierre de read more on Who is Who...
young noble, one of Queen Yolande's closest advisers. Was in the complot against the King's treasurer Georges de la Trémoille. He fell in love with Catherine the first moment he met her under "certain circumstances". It was of his premature hasty action, that Arnaud de Montsalvy left Montsalvy. He proposed to Catherine - but when realizing what he had done - she told him the truth about Arnaud's sickness - saying she could never love another man, expect Arnaud.

Philippe Caroit played Pierre de Brézé in the TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

non ficitve character
read more on History page Pierre de Brézé

Bruges
Bruges (Dutch: Brugge) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.

In the 15th century, Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, set up court in Bruges, as well as Brussels and Lille, attracting a number of artists, bankers, and other prominent personalities from all over Europe. The weavers and spinners of Bruges were thought to be the best in the world, and the population of Bruges grew to 200,000 inhabitants at this time.

Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact.The historic centre of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Many of its medieval buildings are notable, including the Church of Our Lady, whose brick spire at 122m makes it one of the world's highest brick towers/buildings.

The sculpture Madonna and Child, which can be seen in the transept, is believed to be Michelangelo's only sculpture to have left Italy within his lifetime.
Jan van Eyck, Flemish painter who lived in Bruges

The Dukes of Burgundy

Burgundy, John the fearless, (Jean Sans-Peur) 1371 - 1419 see Who is Who for more...
Reign: 27 April 1404–10 September 1419
Titles: Duke of Burgundy, Count of Artois and Flanders, Count Palatine of Burgundy.
During the Parisian riots in 1413, Catherine witnesses the arrest of Michel de Montsalvy. He called the Duke a traitor and spat in his face - signing his own death warrant with this act.

Cyril Spiga played Jean-Sans-Peur in the TV-Adaption of Catherine

Non ficitve character
Born in Dijon, John was the son of Philip the Bold and Margaret III, Countess of Flanders. As heir apparent, he used the title of Count of Nevers from 1384 to 1405, when after his accession he ceded it to his brother Philip. Before his accession to the Duchy of Burgundy, John was one of the principal leaders of the French forces sent to aid King Sigismund of Hungary in his war against Sultan Bayezid I. John fought in the battle of Nicopolis (September 25, 1396) with such enthusiasm and bravery that he was given the nickname of Fearless (Sans-Peur).
John was invested as duke of Burgundy in 1404 and almost immediately entered into open conflict against Louis of Orléans, younger brother of the increasingly mad Charles VI. Both men attempted to fill the power vacuum left by the demented king.
John of Burgundy was assassinated by the Dauphin's companion 1419 on the bridge at Montereau.

Burgundy, Philippe of, (Philippe le Bon) July 31, 1396 – June 15, 1467 see Who is Who
Reign: 10 September 1419–15 June 1467

Titles: Duke of Burgundy, Count of Artois and Flanders, Count Palatine of Burgundy.
Duke Philippe fell in love with Catherine Legoix - ordered "Garin de Brazey to marry the young girl - Catherine became officially his mistress after her husband's death. She left him after their son died - to go in search of the one man she had never forgotten Arnaud de Montsalvy.

Jean-François Poron played Duke Philippe in the TV Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

non fictive character
see history page to read about the life of Philippe of Burgundy
Isabella, Infanta of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, born 1371 - 1471 more on Who is Who..
Catherine met the Duchess once, and learned that she Catherine, was the only one of Philippe le Bon's numerous mistresses, the Duchess was afraid of. She knew of the hidden paintings, even though the Duke thought he was the only one who had a key to the panels!

Anna-Marie Mayfair played Duchess Isabelle in the TV-Production Catherine Il suffit d'un amour.

non fictive character
The Infanta Isabel of Portugal was Philippe of Burgundy's third wife. She was the daughter of a King and spent her youth in the Portugese Court. When she married Philippe, she was already 31 years old. She was a very intelligent woman and the Duke trusted her entirely. His infidelities would give Isabel a certain amount of grief during their marriage. She was the mother of the future Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold (Charles le Téméraire). See more on Duke Philippe's page.
Marguerite de Guyenne, (Margret of Burgundy) Duchess 1393 - 1441 for more see Who is Who
Marguerite was the sister of Philppe of Burgundy and widow of Louis of Valois. Catherine had witnessed how the young Dauphine in Paris, tried in vain to save her page Michel de Montsalvy. She was very friendly to Catherine,(who had become lady-in-waiting to her mother Duchess Marguerite of Bavaria) when they met at the ducal Palace in Dijon.

unfortunately the name of the actress, who played Marguerite de Guyenne was not given on the DVD

non fictive character
She was engaged at the age of two to the Dauphin Charles (1392-1401), son of Charles VI, King of France, but his early death meant that in 1412 she married his younger brother the Dauphin Louis. Widowed in 1415, she remarried to Arthur III, Duke of Brittany on 10 October 1423 in Dijon. She had no children from either of her marriages.
Michelle de France (Michelle de Valois) 1395 - 1422 see Who is Who...for more...
Her marriage with Philippe went well (though her husband had always a lot of mistresses!) until her father-in-law, John the Fearless was murdered. He considered her an "enemy" from then on - since it was said her brother was involved in the murder. When Catherine became the Duke's mistress, he was already a widower.

Sylvia Folgeas played Michelle de France in Catherine

non fictive character
As a child, Michelle and her younger sister Catherine, were neglected by their parents. Their father, Charles VI, was suffering bouts of insanity and their mother was more occupied with her lover, the Duke of Orleans.The children were left in the Hotel of St.Pol with hardly any food or change of clothing. After a bout of insanity,Charles VI came to his senses. However, their mother and Louis of Valois, Duke of Orleans, kidnapped them and the children of John the Fearless. The children were seized by the Duke's forces. In June 1409, she married Philip III, Duke of Burgundy. Michelle became melancholic in 1419, following her brother's involvement in the murder of her father-in-law, John the Fearless. Michelle fell ill and died in Ghent in 1422 while her husband was away preparing for the battle of Cone. All of the inhabitants were in grieving as she was much loved by the people. Michelle was interred in the monastery of St Bavon near Ghent.