Guy Éder de La Fontenelle
Encyclopedia
Guy Éder de Beaumanoir de la Haye, also known by his nicknames La Fontenelle or Ar Bleiz (the "Wolf" in Breton), was born in 1573 in the former parish of Bothoa, today called Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem
.
Born into an old family of Brittany
, his family lived in Beaumanoir Manor at Leslay near Quintin (Côtes-d'Armor).
Followed by a group of young nobles, he took advantage of the weakening of the royal authority during the War of the Holy League
, which initially seemed to embrace the Catholic party in going to find the Duke of Maine, Lieutenant General of France in Orléans.
Returning to his native area, he ravaged the Trégor and Cornouaille regions and entered into legend by his cruelty. Commanding a band of 400 riders, he engaged in murders, rapes, massacres and looting.
After ransacking the towns of Penmarc'h
and Pont-Croix
he is reported to have collected an enormous booty that was piled on the island of Tristan
at Douarnenez in which he made his main quarters. He forced the nearby inhabitants into demolishing their own houses to build up the fortifications to his lair. Besieged by thousands of enraged peasants, he is reported to have killed 1,500 of them in a single day.
Regardless, In 1598, he was included in the treaty that Duke Mercœur made with Henri IV and won the king's pardon for his crimes. However, he was accused of having participated in the conspiracy of the Duke of Biron for the benefit of Spaniards and the Parliament of Paris condemned him for high treason to the agony of the breaking wheel
. He was sentenced to execution and broken on the wheel
alive at Paris at the Place de Grève
in September 1602.
In 1845 Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué published a Breton song entitled Fontanella which tells the story of the abduction of Marie Le Chevoir of Coadélan, daughter of a marquis and wealthy heiress who was aged only 8 or 9 years that he would look for in the region of Brest. It is true that he took her from Mézarnou Manor
in Plounéventer
in 1595 and married her and that she later claimed herself as his widow at the time of his trial and execution.
Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem
Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem are called pélemois.-External links:*...
.
Born into an old family of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, his family lived in Beaumanoir Manor at Leslay near Quintin (Côtes-d'Armor).
Followed by a group of young nobles, he took advantage of the weakening of the royal authority during the War of the Holy League
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
, which initially seemed to embrace the Catholic party in going to find the Duke of Maine, Lieutenant General of France in Orléans.
Returning to his native area, he ravaged the Trégor and Cornouaille regions and entered into legend by his cruelty. Commanding a band of 400 riders, he engaged in murders, rapes, massacres and looting.
After ransacking the towns of Penmarc'h
Penmarch
Penmarc'h or Penmarch is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. It lies 18 km south-west of Quimper by road.-History:...
and Pont-Croix
Pont-Croix
Pont-Croix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.The town lies about from Audierne on the road to Douarnenez and is connected to Plouhinec by a small, scenic road that passes through the Goyen valley....
he is reported to have collected an enormous booty that was piled on the island of Tristan
Tristan Island
Tristan Island or the Île Tristan is located at the mouth of the Pouldavid Estuary off the French port of Douarnenez in south-western Brittany. It is only about 450 m long and 250 m wide but despite its small size, it has a rich history, especially since the Middle Ages when a priory was built there...
at Douarnenez in which he made his main quarters. He forced the nearby inhabitants into demolishing their own houses to build up the fortifications to his lair. Besieged by thousands of enraged peasants, he is reported to have killed 1,500 of them in a single day.
Regardless, In 1598, he was included in the treaty that Duke Mercœur made with Henri IV and won the king's pardon for his crimes. However, he was accused of having participated in the conspiracy of the Duke of Biron for the benefit of Spaniards and the Parliament of Paris condemned him for high treason to the agony of the breaking wheel
Breaking wheel
The breaking wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or simply the wheel, was a torture device used for capital punishment in the Middle Ages and early modern times for public execution by bludgeoning to death...
. He was sentenced to execution and broken on the wheel
Breaking wheel
The breaking wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or simply the wheel, was a torture device used for capital punishment in the Middle Ages and early modern times for public execution by bludgeoning to death...
alive at Paris at the Place de Grève
Place de Grève
The public square in the 4th arrondissement of Paris that is now the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville was, before 1802, called the Place de Grève. The French word grève refers to a flat area covered with gravel or sand situated on the shores or banks of a body of water...
in September 1602.
In 1845 Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué published a Breton song entitled Fontanella which tells the story of the abduction of Marie Le Chevoir of Coadélan, daughter of a marquis and wealthy heiress who was aged only 8 or 9 years that he would look for in the region of Brest. It is true that he took her from Mézarnou Manor
Manoir de Mézarnou
The Manoir de Mézarnou is a fortified 16th century manor-house located in the Finistère département of Brittany in northwestern France. It is located in the small rural town of Plounéventer, near Landivisiau...
in Plounéventer
Plounéventer
Plounéventer is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in north-western France.-Sightseeing:*Château de Mézarnou - a large 16th century fortified manor-house, currently being restored.-References:* ;* -External links:* *...
in 1595 and married her and that she later claimed herself as his widow at the time of his trial and execution.