Treaty of Picquigny

It left Louis XI of France free to solve the threat posed by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.

Following the Treaty of London in 1474, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, had agreed to aid England with an invasion of France.

[3] Louis XI was to pay Edward IV 75,000 crowns upfront, on the condition that he return to England and not take up arms to pursue his claim to the French throne.

It was to comprise the archbishops of Canterbury and Lyons, Edward's brother George, the Duke of Clarence, and Louis, Count of Dunois.

[5] The details of the negotiations are related by the chronicler Philippe de Commines, who says that the Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III) was opposed to the treaty, considering it dishonourable.

Commines also relays a series of sarcastic comments made by the French king about Edward's notorious womanising, as well as his fear of the English because of the events of the Hundred Years' War.

Louis de Bretaylle, English envoy to Spain, confided that this one shady deal took away the honour of all Edward's previous military victories.

Alliance between Louis XI and Edward IV, most likely a depiction of the Treaty of Picquigny. Oil on panel, created by an artist from the circle of Jean Chalette (died 1643).