Joanna of Flanders
Encyclopedia
Joanna of Flanders also known as, Countess Jeanne, Jehanne de Montfort, and Jeanne la Flamme, was consort
Duchess of Brittany by her marriage to John IV, Duke of Brittany
. She was the daughter
of Louis I, Count of Nevers
and Joan, Countess of Rethel
, and the sister of Louis I, Count of Flanders.
They had two children:
When John's half-brother died in 1341, his niece Joanna of Penthièvre
and her husband Charles of Blois claimed Brittany. John went to Paris
to be heard by King Philip VI of France
. Philip was an uncle of Charles, and he imprisoned John, despite having given him a promise of safe conduct.
Joanna then announced her infant son
leader. She mustered an army and captured Redon. From there she went to Hennebont
, to prepare it for a siege
. She then asked King Edward III of England
for aid. This, Edward was eager to give, since he had been claiming the French crown for himself, and he was therefore at odds with Philip. If he could get Brittany as an ally, this would be of great advantage for future campaigns.
While Hennebont
was besieged by Charles of Blois, Joanna rode through the streets in armour, encouraging the people to fight. When she took a look from a tower and saw that the enemy camp was almost unguarded, she led three hundred men on a charge, burned down his supplies and destroyed his tents. Charles of Blois tried to starve the people in Hennebont. During a long meeting the bishop of Leon tried to persuade Joanna to surrender, but from the window she saw the ships of Sir Walter Manny's
ships from England sailing up. Hennebont
was strengthened with English forces and held out.
By the treaty of Malestroit in 1343, her husband John was released and hostilities ceased.
, she took arms to protect the rights of her son John V against the party led by Charles of Blois and Joanna. She organized resistance and made use of diplomatic means to protect her family. In the siege
of Hennebont
, she took up arms and, dressed in armour, conducted the defence of the town, urging the women to "cut their skirts and take their safety in their own hands". She even led a raid of knights outside the walls that successfully fired and destroyed one of the enemy's rear camps. After this she became known as "Jeanne la Flamme".
Joanna's forces captured Charles of Blois in battle, but fortune turned against the Duchess as, her son John still a minor, she succumbed to madness and died in confinement.
Joanna was later celebrated for her exploits in Breton folklore, in particular in a ballad collected in Barzaz Breiz
.
She was later known as an earlier patron for women in Brittany, and a possible influence to Joan of Arc
of France
.
Consort
Consort may refer to:Titles:* Queen consort, wife of a reigning king* Prince consort, husband of a reigning queen* King consort, rarely used alternative title for husband of a reigning queen...
Duchess of Brittany by her marriage to John IV, Duke of Brittany
John IV, Duke of Brittany
John IV of Montfort , was duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Yolande de Dreux, countess of Montfort, his second wife.In 1322 he succeeded his mother as count of Montfort, and in 1329, he married Joanna of Flanders at Chartres...
. She was the daughter
Daughter
A daughter is a female offspring; a girl, woman, or female animal in relation to her parents. The male equivalent is a son. Analogously the name is used on several areas to show relations between groups or elements.-Etymology:...
of Louis I, Count of Nevers
Louis I, Count of Nevers
Louis I was suo jure Count of Nevers and jure uxoris Count of Rethel.Louis was the son of Robert III, Count of Flanders, and Yolande, Countess of Nevers. He succeeded his parents as Count of Nevers. In December 1290, he married Joan, Countess of Rethel, and thus became her co-ruler in the County...
and Joan, Countess of Rethel
Joan, Countess of Rethel
Joan of Rethel was Countess of Rethel between 1285 and 1328.She was the daughter of Hugh IV of Rethel and his third wife Isabelle of Grandpré.She succeeded her father as Countess of Rethel in 1285....
, and the sister of Louis I, Count of Flanders.
Breton War of Succession
She married the future Duke John IV in March 1329.They had two children:
- John V, Duke of BrittanyJohn V, Duke of BrittanyJohn V the Conqueror KG was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death.-Numbering:...
(1339–1399) - Joan of Brittany, Baroness of DraytonJoan of Brittany, Baroness of DraytonJeanne de Montfort, also known as Jeanne de Bretagne and Jeanne de Montfort, 1341 - November 8, 1402 was the sister of John V, Duke of Brittany.- Biography :Her parents were John de Montfort, Duke of Brittany, and Joanna of Flanders....
(1341 – aft. 20 October 1399), married before 21 October 1385 Ralph Basset, 4th Baron Basset de Drayton
When John's half-brother died in 1341, his niece Joanna of Penthièvre
Joan, Duchess of Brittany
Joanna of Penthièvre or Joanna the Lame was reigning Duchess of Brittany together with her husband Charles of Blois between 1341 and 1364...
and her husband Charles of Blois claimed Brittany. John went to 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...
to be heard by 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...
. Philip was an uncle of Charles, and he imprisoned John, despite having given him a promise of safe conduct.
John V, Duke of Brittany
John V the Conqueror KG was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death.-Numbering:...
leader. She mustered an army and captured Redon. From there she went to Hennebont
Hennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
, to prepare it for a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
. She then asked King Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
for aid. This, Edward was eager to give, since he had been claiming the French crown for himself, and he was therefore at odds with Philip. If he could get Brittany as an ally, this would be of great advantage for future campaigns.
While Hennebont
Hennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
was besieged by Charles of Blois, Joanna rode through the streets in armour, encouraging the people to fight. When she took a look from a tower and saw that the enemy camp was almost unguarded, she led three hundred men on a charge, burned down his supplies and destroyed his tents. Charles of Blois tried to starve the people in Hennebont. During a long meeting the bishop of Leon tried to persuade Joanna to surrender, but from the window she saw the ships of Sir Walter Manny's
Walter de Manny, 1st Baron Manny
Walter De Manny, 1st Baron Manny, KG , soldier of fortune and founder of the Charterhouse, was from Masny in Hainaut , from whose counts he claimed descent...
ships from England sailing up. Hennebont
Hennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
was strengthened with English forces and held out.
By the treaty of Malestroit in 1343, her husband John was released and hostilities ceased.
John V
When her husband died in 1345 in the midst of the Breton War of SuccessionBreton 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...
, she took arms to protect the rights of her son John V against the party led by Charles of Blois and Joanna. She organized resistance and made use of diplomatic means to protect her family. In the siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
of Hennebont
Hennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
, she took up arms and, dressed in armour, conducted the defence of the town, urging the women to "cut their skirts and take their safety in their own hands". She even led a raid of knights outside the walls that successfully fired and destroyed one of the enemy's rear camps. After this she became known as "Jeanne la Flamme".
Joanna's forces captured Charles of Blois in battle, but fortune turned against the Duchess as, her son John still a minor, she succumbed to madness and died in confinement.
Joanna was later celebrated for her exploits in Breton folklore, in particular in a ballad collected in Barzaz Breiz
Barzaz Breiz
Barzaz Breiz is a collection of Breton popular songs collected by Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué and published in 1839. It was compiled from oral tradition and preserves traditional folk tales, legends and music...
.
She was later known as an earlier patron for women in Brittany, and a possible influence to Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Ancestry
Joanna's ancestors in three generationsSee also
- Joan of ArcJoan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
- Timeline of women's participation in warfare
- List of women warriors in folklore