Guy de Brimeu. New Sources, New Works

On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his doctoral thesis, the author looks back at his earlier work, admits its lack of organization and of a clearly developed central question, but nonetheless emphasizes its value as the first in-depth biography of a prominent Burgundian figure and as the starting point for significant editorial activities, in particular the Prosopographia Curiae Burgundicae. He corrects a few errors, but, above all, broadens the understanding of this life through new sources concerning both the life of the preceding and following generations. He introduces the “Brimeu Breviary” of the Lord of Humbercourt, provides new details about his Roman mission in 1465, draws on the published dispatches of Milanese ambassadors to shed light on his reputation—which reached its peak in 1474–1475 during the siege of Neuss—, publishes some unpublished letters from 1476, describes the search for a bishopric for his brother Philippe, discusses his devotion to saint Lambert, expands on his itinerary, and concludes with reflections on the role of personal and family biography in understanding, in detail, the life of the nobility in a part of Europe better known for its powerful cities.