Catherine de Montsalvy


Anne de Sille (Anne de Craon) wife of Jean de Craon	Catherine met Anne de Craon, a very intrepid horsewoman, while she was held prisoner at Champtocé. Anne de Sille, was Catherine de Rais grandmother, whom old Craon had married a year after Gilles de Rais wedding. She liked Catherine at first sight, admiring her courage she showed towards her husband Jean de Craon.	It was Dame de Craon who helped Gauthier escape, during the "hunting" - where Catherine's squire Gauthier Malencontre was the prey! When they were questioned by Gilles de Rais about his escape, she did not falter and said calmly, Catherine had not left her site during the hunt! After that Anne de Sille was also lucked in her room by her grandson Gilles de Rais!
Baron Jean de Craon grandfather of Gilles de Rais Husband of Anne de Sille	To wait for Arnaud de Montsalvy (who was kidnapped by the English) Catherine travelled to Château Champtocé, the home of Gilles de Rais. Even though she did not trust de Rais, she let herself be lured to go there, believing Queen Yolande would be there also. Jean de Craon held her captive, saying whatever his grandson said was "law" - so he had to abide his wishes and she must stay until his grandson returned from fighting the English....	The old Grandseigneur, hard as steel, helped Catherine to escape from the Château and his grandson Gilles de Rais. He told her his darkest secret, and made her promise never to reveal to anyone want went inside the walls of Champtocé! To get passed the guards, he gave her his ring, with his coat of arms on it - saying she could keep it, as a small repayment for all she had endured beneath his roof...
Raoul de Gaucourt Lord of Gaucourt bailli and captain of Orléans	Catherine, still Comtesse de Brazey, met Governor Raoul de Gaucourt at Orléans in front of the tribunal, accused of spying for Burgundy. Even though Arnaud de Montsalvy did everything in his power... to have Catherine (the woman he secretly loved..) put to torture, Lord de Gaucourt felt an instant sympathy for the young woman, who was barely able to stand up...it was not him who condemned Catherine to death...years later they met again at Chinon...	...Raoul de Gaucourt, now governor of Chinon, was amongst the (captains) conspirators, who with the help of Queen Yolande of Aragon, was responsible for the downfall of the Lord treasurer Georges de la Trémoille, arch-enemy of the Montsalvy's! It was him, besides Tristan l'Ermite, who gave his consent that Catherine might accompany them, to take Georges la Trémoille prisoner the next day...even though the other captains said that was no place for a woman... read more in the Lexicon!
Gauberte Cairou linen weaver wife of Noël Cairou mother of ten children aunt of Bertille Cairo	It was said that Gauberte had the sharpest tongue in Montsalvy. She had loved her little niece Bertille very much. She adored the lady of Montsalvy and wisely said that without her, the lord of Montsalvy would never have returned home from the land of the infidel.	It was Gauberte, who gave Etienne la Caprette , the village halfwit, a piece of paper, in case of Catherine's return. She told her where she could hide until she came to inform her of the situation in the castle, after Arnaud de Montsalvy had returned. It was through her that Catherine learned that Arnaud had had brought with him the traitress Azalaïs, to live with him as his mistress!
Azalaïs young girl of Montsalvy daughter of a lacemaker from Le Puy mother married Augustin Fabre, a carpenter from Montsalvy	Belle of the town of Montsalvy - She had her eyes on the Lord of Montsalvy -She hated the Lady of Montsalvy - thinking if a goldsmith girl could win the lord of Montsalvy's heart - why should she not succeed also. Betrayed the people of Montsalvy when the town was under siege. Before the people of Montsalvy could take revenge - she had fled and was responsible for the death of her stepfather - who was in love with her.	She became the concubine of the d'Apchiers -first the father and then his sons. Before Arnaud de Montsalvy returned home after his absents (imprisoned in Paris - then fugitive - escapades as "Captain La Foudre") - he went in search of Bérault d'Apchier - found him more dead than alive and let himself "persuaded" by Azalaïs to take her back to Montsalvy! She became his mistress and died later on the steps of his bed - infected by the Black Death.
Gervais Malfrat thief and girl seducer of Montsalvy	Gervais Malfrat,was a thief and a girl seducer, who left the girls pregnant. But when one of them killed herself, Catherine had to react. She had him flogged and then cast from the gates of Montsalvy while it was winter and bitter cold.. She knew it was excepted from her to have him hanged, but she could just not give the order. Gervais did not die and betrayed the city of Montsalvy to the d'Apchier.	He became the lover of Azalaïs. Apart that he was a scoundrel, he also was a coward. When threatened to be tortured, he confessed to the lady of Montsalvy and Abbot Bernard of the devilish plan to kill Arnaud de Montsalvy. He was hanged by the law of Montsalvy after he had confessed everything to the abbot of Montsalvy.
Fortunat young soldier from Gascogne squire to Arnaud de Montsalvy	Came into the Montsalvy's service, to help them return back savely to Montsalvy - at the time when they were in disgrace. Went every day to bring him food to Calves, when his lord had gone to the valley of the lepers. Accompanied Arnaud when he left for Compostela, hoping to get cured of lepra. They never arrived - Arnaud was kidnapped by Princess Zobeida - ambassodor of Granada.	Arnaud de Montsalvy sent his squire Fortunat back to Montsaly, so he may tell his mother Isabelle de Montsalvy he never was a leper. Fortunat hated Catherine with all his heart. Believed his lady had "betrayed" his master - saying she was the reason for Arnaud' s sufferings! When they found him wounded at Roncesvaux - gleefully told her that Arnaud had forgotten Catherine and was now in love with Princess Zobeida - lost forever to her!
Fero, gypsy chieftain - who calls himself "Duke of Egypt". Second husband of Catherine... He has a younger sister named Tereina.	Catherine and Sara go in disguise as aunt and niece "Tchalai" -to the the gypsy camp of Fero. A plan thought out by Tristan l'Hermite - Queen Yolande's man. Fero promises to help them - he has a great hatred against La Trémoille. He falls in love with "Tchalai". Catherine has spent a night with him, under the influence of a strong love potion - given to her by Fero's sister Tereina, without her knowledge! To save the mission she was sent, she agrees to marry Fero after that night - but moments after the ceremony, she must defend her life ...	Catherine is captured by Gilles de Rais (who knew all along that she was in the gypsy camp) and brought into the castle - Fero enters to try to get her back. He is taken prisoner and tortured to death by order of the Dame de la Trémoille. It is for this reason, Catherine smashes the love potion she went to get for the Comtesse de la Trémoille. And was promptly put into the dungeon and almost killed.
Dunicha beautiful Gypsy girl fiancée of Fero the Gypsy Lord	Catherine - having no choice but to marry Fero the gypsy lord - is confronted after the marrying ritual by Dunicha, the girl Fero has promised to marry! The girl had been logged in the Château as a playmate for Georges de la Trémoille. Dunicha claims the right to invoke the old law - that is when two women dispute the same man and both have the right on their side - they must fight until one of them is killed..!	Sara, who has faithfully followed Catherine into the Gypsy camp, explains to Catherine that she has no choice but to fight for her life...she would go in search of Tristan l'Hermite. Meanwhile Fero's little sister gives "Tchalai" a potion to make her strong for the combat against Dunicha. But Catherine has never fought with a knife before...she defends herself bravely - but would have lost her life - if destiny had not sent at the last moment "Gilles de Rais"...Catherine is arrested and brought to the castle - while Dunicha is left behind....
Amandine La Verne dressmaker of Dijon mistress of Mathieu Gautherin wife of Colin le Long	Catherine had learned that her now elderly uncle had fallen in love with the young dressmaker Amandine - who was in reality a prostitute. She and her so called brother Philibert, (who was in fact her husband Colin) had locked the old man in a henhouse - where he had to stay until he promised to marry Amandine - so she could get hold of his great fortune.	Catherine arrived in time in Dijon to save her uncle from being slowly poisoned. Philibert/Colin and Amandine La Verne were arrested by Captain Jacques Roussay - but Amandine was able to flee. She took terrible revenge on Catherine - lured her into a trap - where the heinous Le Damoiseau was waiting for her with his men in a old burned mill.
Robert de Saarebrück called "Le Damoiseau" married to Jeanne de Pierrepont	Catherine meets the count of Commercy (Le Damoiseau) while she is on her way to Châteauvillain - trying to reach in time her dying mother. Arnaud de Montsalvy joined this angel like looking man (he was bad through and through) while he was on the run - believing Catherine had betrayed him with Berault d'Apchier.It was the Damoiseau who claimed that Duke Philippe was staying in the château of Châteauvillain - which drove Arnaud almost insane with jealousy!	When Arnaud de Montsalvy is gravely wounded - Robert de Sarrebrück blackmails Catherine to write a letter to her friend Ermengarde - so that he may enter her castle. She is able to escape - but he takes brutally revenge on her weeks later. He violates her and with him more than twenty of his soldiers. He can be arrested after he tried to free King Réne - prisoner of Duke Philippe - who he wanted murdered. Thanks to Catherine and Gauthier de Chazay his plans goes amiss.
Rodrigo de Villandrado Count of Ribaldo noble from Spain mercenary military leader	Catherine meets the Spaniard Rodrigo de Villandrado in the caverns of Ventadour. He is Arnaud de Montsalvy's prisoner. He is flattering Catherine, who just had given birth to her son Michel. Villandrado ,slyly, told Arnaud that he seemed to have a gift for attracting beautiful women - hinting at Isabelle de Sévérac, to whom Arnaud was once engaged!	Matters are grave, when he comes to Carlat almost a year later. Catherine is now alone with Dame Isabelle and Sara. (Arnaud had to leave for the valley of Calves) - knowing Catherine is without her husband, he offers her his hand in marriage. (but what he really wanted was her land) threatening her - when she refuses to marry him.
Pierre Cauchon Rector of the university in Paris Bishop of Beauvais	Cauchon was also responsible for the death of Michel de Montsalvy. She met him years later (when she was Philippe of Burgundy's mistress) in Dijon - now Bishop of Beauvais. She told him in his face that she hated him - he promised her that he would NOT forget her....When Catherine and Arnaud were in Rouen disguised as a young peasant couple - he recognized them in the street and had them arrested. He had them sentenced to death.. thrown into the Seine in a sack.	It was Cauchon who told Arnaud that it was Catherine who had tried to save Michel, his brother. He told this not out of kindness, he thought he was made fun of by Arnaud - who did not know this important fact about Catherine at that time. When Jeanne d'Arc was taken prisoner in his bishopric - he offered the Burgundians francs 6'000.- to sell her to the English - with whom he was in leaque. Cauchon led the trial against Jeanne d'Arc, who was burned at the stake May 30, 1431
Thomas (William) Legoix named "Guillaume-Pierre" in the TV series rich butcher of Paris married to Berthe	Rich cousin of Gaucher Legoix, (was her father's uncle and not cousin in the tv-series) Catherine's father. Was on the side of the Burgundians and not the Armagnac's during the riots of Paris in 1413 saying the real King was Milord of Burgundy.	Assassin of Michel de Montsalvy. Even though he was now a rich bourgeois of Paris, he had a savage pleasure, to kill the young noble with a butchers's cleaver. Arnaud de Montsalvy had sworn to revenge the death of his beloved brother - 23 years later fulfills his oath in Paris - but is put into the Bastille by Arthur de Richemont. Legoix's widow Berthe, swears to take vengeance.
Berthe Legoix Widow of Thomas Legoix	Trough her old friend Tristan L'Hermite, Catherine learns that Berthe Legoix demanded the head of the "murderer" of her husband. She had no good memories of her older cousin Berthe - who was feared by her servants, whom she would beat and starve them for their smallest fault.	During her stay in Paris 1436 - her husband escaped out of the Bastille with the help of a traitor - Catherine is almost killed by the "revengeful Berthe Legoix. She wanted to kill her with a cleaver and only just in time was saved by the "young Gauthier de Chazey, a student she did not know until then - but who became one of her most faithful servants and friends.
Simon Caboche called the Skinner	Little Catherine was scared to death by Caboche and could not understand why her childhood friend admired this brute. Leader of the riot in Paris 1413. When Duke John the Fearless, told him "do what you like with the prisoner" - gleefully arrested young Michel de Montsalvy to bring him to Montfaucon - to see him hanged.	During the murder of Michel de Montsalvy, he held young Catherine in his arms, saying she should hold her tonque - otherwise he would not be able to save any of her family -covering at least her eyes, so that she must not watch! In the tumult after her father was killed, kidnapped seventeen year old Loyse, her older sister. Held her captive for weeks and misused the religious Loyse.
Louis Van de Walle Bourgmestre of Bruges husband of Gertrude Van de Walle	While Catherine arrives at Bruges in 1436 , Louis Van de Walle, Bourgmestre of Bruges, believes Catherine is still the mistress of Philippe of Burgundy. He takes her as a hostage to blackmail the Duke of Burgundy. (the city of Bruges wanted back their priviledges) Going so far to threaten her with her life.	Catherine, with her page and squire, are hold hostages in her former Palais at Bruges for many months. The atmosphere in the city is dangerous. Van de Walle visits her every week with no good news. When Duke Philippe enters the city of Bruges, the Bourgmestre implores the mob not to kill their lord.
Gertrude Van de Walle married to Louis Van de Walle	Louis Van de Walle allowed his wife to go and visit his prisoner Catherine de Montsalvy. She had began to refuse to eat and he hoped his wife could persuade her to start to eat again. He did not know that Catherine hoped to die, since she knew she could not return to Arnaud, pregnant from being violated by the Damoiseau and his soldiers!	Gertrude Van de Walle kept her word and visited Catherine. She felt very sorry for her and promised to see to it, that Catherine would be treated more kindly from now. She returned to her totally shocked later - telling of the riots in the town and that Catherine's life was in acute danger! Hidden under her dress, she returned them their weapons - in case they should be attacked. Her husband had given his consent for that.
Grande Dame Béatrice Superior of "the convent of the Beguine ladies	The injured Catherine was brought to Dame Béatrice's convent in Bruges. Even though she knew that Catherine "the hostage) was sought after by the whole city - she was hiding her in one of her white little houses.	Nursed by the ladies of the convent, Catherine recovered from her fall into the river. While waiting until it was save to leave the Béguinage de la vigne - she learned the art of "lace-making". Before Catherine left, Dame Béatrice presented her with an amber rosary.