Charles, Duke of Brittany
Encyclopedia
Charles of Blois claimed the title Duke of Brittany
, from 1341 to his death.
Charles is the son of Guy I of Blois-Châtillon, count of Blois
, by Margaret of Valois, a sister of king Philip VI of France
. He was a devout man, who took piety to the extreme of mortifying his own flesh. It is said that he placed pebbles in his shoes, wore ropes tight with knots near his flesh and confessed every night in fear of sleeping in a state of sin. He was nevertheless an accomplished military leader, who inspired loyalty by his religious fervour.
On 4 June 1337 in Paris
, he married Joanna the Lame, heiress and niece of duke John III
. Together, Charles and Joanna fought the House of Montfort in the Breton War of Succession
(1341–1364), with the support of the crown of France. Despite his piety, Charles did not hesitate in ordering the massacre of 2000 civilians after the siege of Quimper. After initial successes, Charles was taken prisoner by the English in 1347. Thomas Dagworth
was the official captor of Charles of Blois. He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million ecús, and resumed the war against the Montforts.
Charles died in the Battle of Auray
which determined the end of the war and the victory of the Montforts. He was canonized as saint
for his devotion to religion, but the process was made null by Pope Gregory XI
by request of Duke John V of Brittany
. Subsequently, in 1904, he was beatified.
By his marriage to Joanna, he had five children:
Duke of Brittany
The Duchy of Brittany was a medieval tribal and feudal state covering the northwestern peninsula of Europe,bordered by the Alantic Ocean on the west and the English Channel to the north with less definitive borders of the Loire River to the south and Normandy to the east...
, from 1341 to his death.
Charles is the son of Guy I of Blois-Châtillon, count of Blois
Count of Blois
The County of Blois was originally centred on Blois, south of Paris, France. One of the chief cities, along with Blois itself, was Chartres. Blois was associated with Champagne, Châtillon , and later with the French royal family, to whom the county passed in 1391...
, by Margaret of Valois, a sister of king Philip VI of France
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
. He was a devout man, who took piety to the extreme of mortifying his own flesh. It is said that he placed pebbles in his shoes, wore ropes tight with knots near his flesh and confessed every night in fear of sleeping in a state of sin. He was nevertheless an accomplished military leader, who inspired loyalty by his religious fervour.
On 4 June 1337 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he married Joanna the Lame, heiress and niece of duke John III
John III, Duke of Brittany
John III the Good was duke of Brittany, from 1312 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Mary of Limoges, his first wife...
. Together, Charles and Joanna fought the House of Montfort in the Breton War of Succession
Breton War of Succession
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the...
(1341–1364), with the support of the crown of France. Despite his piety, Charles did not hesitate in ordering the massacre of 2000 civilians after the siege of Quimper. After initial successes, Charles was taken prisoner by the English in 1347. Thomas Dagworth
Thomas Dagworth
Sir Thomas Dagworth was an English knight and soldier, who led English armies in Brittany during the Hundred Years' War....
was the official captor of Charles of Blois. He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million ecús, and resumed the war against the Montforts.
Charles died in the Battle of Auray
Battle of Auray
The Battle of Auray took place on 29 September 1364 at the French town of Auray. This battle was the decisive confrontation of the Breton War of Succession, a part of the Hundred Years' War....
which determined the end of the war and the victory of the Montforts. He was canonized as saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
for his devotion to religion, but the process was made null by Pope Gregory XI
Pope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
by request of Duke John V of Brittany
John V, Duke of Brittany
John V the Conqueror KG was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death.-Numbering:...
. Subsequently, in 1904, he was beatified.
By his marriage to Joanna, he had five children:
- John I of Blois-Châtillon (1340–1404)
- Guy
- Henry (d. 1400)
- Marie (1345–1404), Lady of GuiseGuiseGuise is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The ruins of the medieval castle of Guise, seat of the Dukes of Guise, are located in the commune.-Miscellaneous:...
, married in 1360 Louis I of NaplesLouis I of NaplesLouis I of Anjou , or Louis I of Naples, was the second son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg... - Marguerite, married in 1351 Charles de la CerdaCharles de la CerdaCharles de La Cerda , Franco-Castilian nobleman and soldier, was the son of Alfonso de la Cerda and Isabelle d'Antoing....
(d. 1354)