Antoine Le grand batard (1421–1504)
Antoine was brought up with his younger half-brother, later Charles the Bold, the last Duke of Burgundy; he was a favorite among the many natural children of Philip the Good.
Antoine fought on several campaigns for his father, and also led a crusade against the Moors in 1464. He saved Charles’ life at Montlhery (1465), and supported him at the siege of Dinant. After their father’s death, Antoine was fiercely loyal to the new duke.
It seems Antoine inherited his father’s sexual intensity; at a chapter of the Golden Fleece in 1468, he was castigated for fornication and adultery, in spite of his “valor, prowess, and prudence.” But Charles trusted Antoine implicitly, and sent him as ambassador to many European powers, including the Vatican.
In 1476-77, he fought alongside Charles in the three final battles of Grandson, Murten, and Nancy. Charles was killed and Antoine handed over by the Duke of Lorraine to the King of France. Antoine helped Louis stabilize the precarious political situation by arranging the marriage of Duchess Marie, only child of Charles the Bold, to Maximilian of Austria.
He was an avid collector of illuminated manuscripts, and owned at least forty-five volumes, most notably an illustrated Froissart in four volumes.
The young King Charles VIII of France legitimized Antoine in 1485. He died in 1504 at the grand age of 83 years old.