The reign of Gaston III, Count of Foix and self-proclaimed sovereign Lord of B arn, stands out as one of the rare success stories of the calamitous' fourteenth century. By playing a skilful game of shifting allegiances and timely defiance, he avoided being drawn into the conflicts between his more powerful neighbours - France and English Aquitaine, Aragon and Castile -- thus sparing his domains the devastations of warfare. Best known as a patron...