France has evolved from a feudal country…

France has evolved from a feudal country to an increasingly centralized state (albeit with many regional differences) organized around a powerful absolute monarchy that rely on the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings and the explicit support of the Gallican Church.

Mid-fifteenth century France is significantly smaller than it is today, and numerous border provinces (such as Roussillon, Cerdagne, Calais, Béarn, Navarre, County of Foix, Flanders, Artois, Lorraine, Alsace, Trois-Évêchés, Franche-Comté, Savoy, Bresse, Bugey, Gex, Nice, Provence, and Brittany) are autonomous or foreign-held (as by the Holy Roman Empire); there are also foreign enclaves, like the Comtat Venaissin.

In addition, certain provinces within France are ostensibly personal fiefdoms of noble families (like the Bourbonnais, Marche, Forez and Auvergne provinces held by the House of Bourbon.)

The Duke of Burgundy has assembled a large territory including his native duchy and the Burgundian Netherlands.

Le Dauphin, the son of France’s King Charles VII, has ruled efficiently in the Dauphiné, but in 1456 his father seizes the land and drives his son into exile at the Burgundian court.

Their respective advisors, in purposely encourage the misunderstandings between father and son, enable the continuation of the feud.