Marguerite of Maele, the childless widow of her kinsman Philip of Rouvre, the last Duke of Burgundy of the old stock, was at this time the most to be desired of the marriageable princesses of Europe: she was young, beautiful, rich, heiress-apparent to the Counties of Flanders, Burgundy, Rethel, Artois and Nevers, and the only representative of the third generation of Duke John III. of Brabant. Among the princes who aspired to her hand was Philip of Valois, on whom, shortly after the death of her husband (1361), last of his race in the direct line, the French King had conferred his duchy (1363). After long and tedious negotiations and much haggling, for the Count of Flanders, her father, and the King of France, who conducted them, regarded one another with mutual distrust, the marriage treaty was signed (April 25, 1369), and in due course the widow of the last Duke of Burgundy of the old stock became the wife of the first Duke of the new dynasty (June 19, 1369). A momentous marriage this, and one of which the consequences were far reaching. By it were presently united--when Louis of Maele died (January 30, 1384)--the two most formidable fiefs of the French crown; and the man who held them, a man of marvellous parts and vast ambition, unscrupulous, cunning, bold, had all the prestige of a prince of the blood, and, as the King's most trusted counsellor, all the resources of France at his back. IV.--Genealogical Table of the Dukes of Brabant from John III. to Philip II. $John III.$, _d._ Dec. 5, 1355 | +----------+----------+--------+--------------------------------+ | | | | Henry, Godfrey, $Jeanne$, = Winceslaus of Luxembourg, | _d._ 1349 _d._ 1351 _d._ Dec. 1406 _d._ Dec. 8, 1383 | | | Louis of Maele, Count of Flanders, _d._ Jan. 30, 1384 = Marguerite (he inherited at the death of his mother, | Marguerite, daughter of Philip V. of France, 1382, | the Counties of Burgundy and Artois) | | +----------------------------------+ | Philip of Rouvre, = Marguerite, = Philip of Valois, 4th son of John II. Duke of Burgundy _d._ March | of France, who conferred on him and Count of 16, 1405 | the Duchy of Burgundy in 1363, Burgundy | _d._ April 27, 1404 (Franche-Comté) | and Artois, _d._ 1361 | +-------------------------+-----------------------------+----+ | | | John the Fearless, Count of Flanders, = Marguerite, | |