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The Tour de Nesle Affair
How Three Sisters-In-Law Brought Down the House of Capet through rumored dalliances.
Philip IV of France had three sons that would succeed him and each other to the throne of France. However, the accusations leveled at his daughters-in-law would end the direct rule of the House of Capet and bring about a cadet branch of the house to the throne.
Philip’s three sons were Louis, Philip, and Charles. All three were married for political alliances. Louis was married to Margaret of Burgundy, the daughter of Robert II Duke of Burgundy. Their marriage was said to be unhappy, with Louis being an angry man who preferred playing tennis than spending time with his wife. Philip married Joan of Burgundy, the daughter of Otto IV, Count of Burgundy, and they had a loving marriage that produced a number of children in a short period of time. Philip wrote Joan juvenile love poems and was especially kind and giving to his wife. Charles married Joan’s sister, Blanche of Burgundy. Their marriage was said to be unremarkable, as Charles was considered to be quite the bore.
Isabella was married to King Edward II of England. In 1313, Isabella visited her father, Philip, and gave embroidered purses to her brothers to give to their wives. Later that year, Isabella and Edward held a grand feast in London to celebrate their return to England. At the feast, Isabella noticed two of the embroidered purses were carried by two knights: Gautier and Philip of Aunay. In 1314, Isabella again visited her father and told him of the embroidered purses. She had concluded that her sisters-in-law were carrying on affairs with the Aunay brothers.
Philip decided to investigate this matter and had the Aunay brothers watched. He concluded that Margaret and Blanche were indeed visiting the Tour de Nesle, an old tower, to carry on their illicit loves with the Aunays. Initially, he only accused Joan of being a lookout for the affairs, but later decided she herself participated in the Tour de Nesle orgies. Philip had his three daughters-in-law and the Aunays arrested. The Aunays were tortured and they confessed to the affairs…
