"Victorious Charles: Ladies' Man" BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION

Join us for a titillating discussion of "Victorious Charles: A Ladies Man" (about the main women in King Charles VII's life: his mother Isabel, his mother in law Yolande, Joan of Arc, and his mistress Agnes) at our next Joan of Arc Book Club on June 7th at 10 am at The Columns Hotel on St. Charles. We'll be there inside at a table in the cafe from 10-12 p.m. Questions about the book club? Email Zm91bmRlcl9hbXkgfCBqb2Fub2ZhcmNwYXJhZGUgISBvcmc=.

"Agnès Sorel (c. 1422 - 1450) was the first officially recognized royal mistress of a French king, Charles VII, and had a significant impact on his reign. She served as his mistress from 1444 until her death, and he gave her wealth, castles, and lands. She was known for her beauty and played a prominent role in court affairs, influencing politics and even shaping the monarchy's image. Agnès also bore Charles four daughters, all of whom he recognized."

Sadly for Joan, Agnes became part of Charle's life after she died--who knows what sense she may have driven into him if she'd met him during Joan's imprisonment and trial??! She may however have had something to do with Charles assisting in saving her name posthumously. In any case, Charles had Yolande of Aragon advising him during Joan's life, and that was good for Joan...mostly.

We will discuss all this and more on June 7! Hope to see you there!

More about Sorel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agn%C3%A8s_Sorel

Sorel's lasting imagery and influence on Charles VII: https://www.vice.com/en/article/agnes-sorel-topless-mistress-france-history-france/

"Painter Jean Fouquet crystallized the image we most associate with Sorel today; the single breast-baring Virgin in his Virgin and Child with Angels is widely believed to be modeled on Sorel. According to Rainer and Rose-Marie Hagen, authors of What Great Paintings Say, Sorel was the obvious choice for the Virgin, since she was considered by many at the time to be “the most beautiful woman in the world.” The dazzling pose was later replicated by an anonymous artist in the other, unnamed famous Sorel painting from the 16th century....

'Sorel urged the king to overcome his laziness,'" wrote historian Henri Martin in 1855. “Charles finally became interested in his business and in applying his common sense and practical spirit to listening to useful advice and accepting, by hand, if not choosing, good instruments of government.” In fact, Sorel’s contribution to France was so instrumental that it has been placed by some historians as on par with that of Joan of Arc."

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