>I'm not that familiar with French history, but there was certainly a very
>lengthy conflict between Burgundy, Valois (the Louis'), etc dynasties (and
>not a consolidation against 'foreign' interventions) -- ie, it was a
>struggle over which royal house was to prevail over various discrete
>vassalages and dynastic estates. (and I do recall that Swiss and German
>mercenaries were crucial to the successes of Valois rule, and Burgundy was
>allied with Anglo forces in its wars against Valois power, which renders
>the 'foreign'/'national' distinction somewhat redundant.) it's true that
>consolidation of 'France' under absolutist rule occurred sooner than many
>other places, but later than Louis II (?), >
Oiboy is mistaken in his reference to Louis II. As someone pointed out earlier, the monarch in question is Louis XI.
Adam