The Social and Literary Environment of a Chivalric Event: the Case of the Pas du Perron Fée, Bruges, 1463

From 28 April to 17 May, on the Markt, the main market square in the Flemish town of Bruges, a grandiose jousting event took place that drew a crowd of knights, noble men and ladies, and, presumably, town citizens, eager to admire impressive deeds of arms and sumptuous garments. The organiser of this pas d’armes, known as the Pas du Perron Fée, was Philippe de Lalaing (c.1430–65), one of the knights in the service of the Burgundian duke Philip the Good (1396–1467), who demonstrated his prowess on both the battle and tournament fields and belonged, moreover, to the select circle of knights who not only took a vow at the famous Feast of the Pheasant in 1454 to join their lord on a crusade, but also fulfilled that promise. He was to die on 16 July 1465 in the battle of Montlhéry, which pitted the troops of King Louis XI of France (1423–81) against those of the so-called League of the Public Weal, led by Charles of Charolais (the future Charles the Bold, 1433–77), and was buried there. Of him the chronicler Philippe de Commynes rightfully wrote that ‘il étoit d’une rasse dont peu s’en est trouvé qui n’ayent estéz vaillans et courageux et presque tous morts en servant leurs seigneurs en guerre’ (He was of a stock of which very few turned out to be less valiant and courageous [than him] and almost all of whom died in war serving their lords).