Count Gaston Phœbus de Foix

Also known as: Count de Béarn / Count de Foix / Gaston Phœbus / the count · Family: Foix · Role: Count de Foix and de Béarn · First appears: Book 3, Chapter 1

In 1388 at Orthès, Count Gaston Phœbus de Foix welcomed the narrator and retained him in his household. Later, at Orthès, he again received the arriving narrator warmly and kept him in his household for more than twelve weeks.

Three days after Evan of Foix told him that Gaston de Foix carried a bag of powder and had spoken of his mother returning to favor, the count tested the powder on a dog, which died. He ordered Gaston de Foix confined under guard; on the day of Gaston’s death, the count accidentally cut a vein in his throat with a knife. He dressed himself and his household in black, and Gaston was buried at the church of the Augustine Friars at Orthès.

In Book 4, the count sent Evan of Foix on an expedition, unwilling for his son to remain behind, and provided him with knights and squires. Earlier, Count de Blois had given the narrator letters of recommendation to the Count de Foix; the count was also described as esteeming Le Bourg d’Espaign as a brother in arms.

Relationship record

Life events

• The count retained the arriving narrator in his household.(Book 3, Chapter 4, part 1/2 · 📍 Orthès)
  • “On my entering, he received me handsomely, and retained me of his household; where I staid upward of twelve weeks well entertained, as were my horses.”
• Evan revealed to the Count that Gaston carried a powder bag and spoke of his mother returning to favor.(Book 3, Chapter 4, part 2/2)
  • With: Evan Gaston de Foix
  • “‘On my faith,’ said Evan, ‘ever since his return from Navarre, he wears on his breast a bag of powder: I know not what use it can be of, nor what he intends to do with it; except that he has once or twice told me, his mother would soon return hither, and be more in your good graces than ever she was.’”
• The Count tested the powder on a dog, which ate it and died.(Book 3, Chapter 4, part 2/2)
  • With: Gaston de Foix
  • “The count opened the bag, took some of the powder, which he strewed over a slice of bread, and, calling a dog to him, gave it him to eat. The instant the dog had eaten a morsel, his eyes rolled round in his head, and he died.”
• The Count ordered Gaston confined in the dungeon under guard.(Book 3, Chapter 4, part 2/2 · 📍 this tower)
  • With: Gaston de Foix
  • “‘Well,’ replied the count, ‘let him be confined in the dungeon, but so safely guarded that he may be forthcoming.’ The youth was therefore confined in this tower.”
• The Count accidentally cut a vein in Gaston’s throat with a knife, and Gaston died.(Book 3, Chapter 4, part 2/2)
  • With: Gaston de Foix
  • “The point of the knife, small as it was, cut a vein, which as soon as he felt he turned himself on one side, and died.”
• The Count clothed himself and his household in black, and Gaston was buried at the church.(Book 3, Chapter 4, part 2/2 · 📍 the church of the Augustine Friars at Orthès)
  • With: Gaston de Foix
  • “He clothed himself, as well as his whole household, in black. The body of the youth was borne, with tears and lamentations, to the church of the Augustine Friars at Orthès, where it was buried.”
• The Count de Foix sent his bastard son Evan of Foix on the expedition.(Book 4, Chapter 1, part 1/2)
  • With: Evan of Foix
  • “The Count de Foix was unwilling his bastard son, Evan of Foix, should remain behind, and had him properly attended by knights and squires, as he wished him to keep his state grandly.”
• 1388 · Gaston Phœbus welcomed the narrator and retained him in his household.(Book 3, Chapter 1 · 📍 Orthès in Béarn)
  • “The Count de Foix, as soon as he saw me, gave me a hearty welcome, adding, with a smile and in good French, that he was well acquainted with me, though he had never seen me before, but he had frequently heard me spoken of. He retained me in his household”

Book 3, Chapter 1

• with Count de Blois (Count de Blois gave Froissart letters of recommendation addressed to Gaston Phœbus.) “I told this my intention to my very renowned lord the Count de Blois, and also the journey I wished to undertake, who gave me letters of recommendation to the Count de Foix.”

Book 3, Chapter 2

• sworn: Sir Espaign du Lyon “Accidentally, a knight attached to the Count de Foix, called Sir Espaign du Lyon, came thither on his return from Avignon:”

Book 3, Chapter 3

• allies with Le Bourg d’Espaign (The text identifies the Bourg d’Espaign as Ernauton d’Espaign.) “it is for this the Count de Foix esteems him as his brother in arms.”

Book 3, Chapter 4, part 1/2

• child: Gaston de Foix “Gaston, the son of my lord, grew up, and became a fine young gentleman.”
• servant: Ernauton du Pin “I did the same at the Hotel of the Moon, kept by a squire of the count, called Ernauton du Pin, who received me with much pleasure on account of my being a Frenchman.”

Book 3, Chapter 4, part 2/2

• child: Gaston de Foix “His son Gaston always placed the dishes before him, and tasted the meats.”

Book 4, Chapter 1, part 1/2

• child: Evan of Foix “The Count de Foix was unwilling his bastard son, Evan of Foix, should remain behind”

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Extracted from the original text of The Boy's Froissart. Made with Rho MD.