The Fate of the Children

The Last Duel

Children and heirs embody the dynastic stakes of the quarrel, from Jean’s earlier losses to Marguerite’s uncertain pregnancy and the son left fatherless.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Family Lost The First Family Lost from "The Last Duel". The First Family Lost A double bereavement Jean’s first wife, Jeanne, and their son die within a short period.

The First Family Lost from "The Last Duel". The First Family Lost A double bereavement Jean’s first wife, Jeanne, and their son die within a short period.

The First Family Lost A double bereavement Jean’s first wife, Jeanne, and their son die within a short period. The causes are not known, but disease or childbirth complications are plausible. Succession becomes urgent Jean loses both a spouse and his only known heir. His family name and estate now depend on remarriage and another child.

A Marriage for an Heir A Marriage for an Heir from "The Last Duel". A Marriage for an Heir A new alliance Jean marries Marguerite, a young heiress with land and a family name of her own.

A Marriage for an Heir from "The Last Duel". A Marriage for an Heir A new alliance Jean marries Marguerite, a young heiress with land and a family name of her own.

A Marriage for an Heir A new alliance Jean marries Marguerite, a young heiress with land and a family name of her own. The union is expected to secure legitimate descendants. Years without a child The couple appear to remain without a known child for several years. The absence can intensify anxiety over inheritance and Jean’s purpose in marrying.

Pregnancy and Suspicion Pregnancy and Suspicion from "The Last Duel". Pregnancy and Suspicion News amid crisis Marguerite tells Jean she is pregnant after reporting the assault.

Pregnancy and Suspicion from "The Last Duel". Pregnancy and Suspicion News amid crisis Marguerite tells Jean she is pregnant after reporting the assault.

Pregnancy and Suspicion News amid crisis Marguerite tells Jean she is pregnant after reporting the assault. The timing raises an immediate question about paternity and the couple’s long childlessness. No definitive answer The book cannot establish whether the child is Jean’s, Le Gris’s, or another man’s. Contemporary theories about conception could influence interpretation without settling the facts.

A Son Before the Duel A Son Before the Duel from "The Last Duel". A Son Before the Duel The birth of Robert Marguerite gives birth before the originally scheduled combat.

A Son Before the Duel from "The Last Duel". A Son Before the Duel The birth of Robert Marguerite gives birth before the originally scheduled combat.

A Son Before the Duel The birth of Robert Marguerite gives birth before the originally scheduled combat. The child arrives while the parents still face the possibility that Jean will die and she will be executed. An heir at risk If Jean loses, the infant could be orphaned almost immediately. His birth makes the duel’s outcome a question of family survival as well as legal reputation.

A Fatherless Inheritance A Fatherless Inheritance from "The Last Duel". A Fatherless Inheritance Jean does not return After Jean joins the crusade and dies or disappears at Nicopolis, Robert is around ten years old.

A Fatherless Inheritance from "The Last Duel". A Fatherless Inheritance Jean does not return After Jean joins the crusade and dies or disappears at Nicopolis, Robert is around ten years old.

A Fatherless Inheritance Jean does not return After Jean joins the crusade and dies or disappears at Nicopolis, Robert is around ten years old. He will not come of age for another decade. The future continues Robert later inherits his father’s place and is expected to serve France. The child once endangered by the duel becomes the next bearer of the family’s name and lands.

Late 1370s

Spring 1380

January 1386

Autumn 1386

September 1396