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Decorations: Swiss

Charles the Rash, the last Duke of Burgundy of his race, was also prodigal in the display of his enormous wealth, but, restless and unscrupulous, he made war on the Swiss, solely with a view to annex the country to his dominions, but received a crushing defeat at Nancy, where he met his death. Some of the spoils taken by the Swiss from his tent are mentioned, The outside of this was hung with armorial shields of gold and pearls. Inside was his golden throne, his ducal hat studded with the most precious jewels and pearls, his Order of the Golden Fleece, his seal, were all enriched with stones of the greatest rarity and splendour. The largest of the duke's jewels, equal in size to the half of a walnut, and the value of which he estimated at the price of an entire province, was picked up on the road by a Swiss, and sold for a florin. Pope Julius II. purchased it afterwards from the citizens of Berne for twenty thousand ducats, and it yet shines as the chief jewel in the papal crown. A second jewel of the duke, which was taken, is now in the French treasury, and a third is in the Imperial treasury at Vienna.