John II of Armagnac
Encyclopedia
John II, the Hunchback, Count of Armagnac
, of Fézensac, Rodez
(1371–1384) and Count of Charolais (1364–1384), Viscount Lomagne and Auvillars, he was the son of John I, Count of Armagnac
, of Fezensac and Rodez, Viscount Lomagne and Auvillars and Beatrix de Clermont, great-granddaughter of Louis IX of France
.
During the life of his father, he bore the title of lord, and subsequently, Count of Charolais, which he had received from his mother. Also, during his life, the government of Languedoc
was entrusted to him.
, fighting under the command of his father, or for his lord, Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
, or John, Duke of Berry
, or the king of France.
As lord of Charolais he was not required, according to the terms of the Treaty of Brétigny
, to pay a humiliating tribute to those he had fought for several years; Edward III
, king of England, and his son, The Black Prince
, Prince of Wales. But it was the first and only time, to support the call from King Charles V
against the actions of the Prince of Wales, which ultimately led to the liberation of Biscay
from the English occupation.
, a peace consolidated by the marriage of his daughter Beatrice with the son of Gaston Phoebus. Thus ended this unfortunate quarrel which for 89 years, had opposed the two most powerful families in the south of France.
John never stood trial, having died at Avignon
in 1384.
John also had several illegitimate children:
Armagnac (region)
The hilly countship of Armagnac , in the foothills of the Pyrenées between the Adour and Garonne rivers, is a historic countship of the Duchy of Gascony, established in 601 in Aquitaine...
, of Fézensac, Rodez
Rodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
(1371–1384) and Count of Charolais (1364–1384), Viscount Lomagne and Auvillars, he was the son of John I, Count of Armagnac
John I of Armagnac
John I of Armagnac , son of Bernard VI and Cecilia Rodez, was Count of Armagnac from 1319 to 1373. In addition to Armagnac he controlled territory in Quercy, Rouergue and Gévaudan...
, of Fezensac and Rodez, Viscount Lomagne and Auvillars and Beatrix de Clermont, great-granddaughter of Louis IX of France
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
.
During the life of his father, he bore the title of lord, and subsequently, Count of Charolais, which he had received from his mother. Also, during his life, the government of Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
was entrusted to him.
Hundred Years War
Since 1351, he actively participated in the battles of the Hundred Years' WarHundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
, fighting under the command of his father, or for his lord, Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
Philip the Good KG , also Philip III, Duke of Burgundy was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty . During his reign Burgundy reached the height of its prosperity and prestige and became a leading center of the arts...
, or John, Duke of Berry
John, Duke of Berry
John of Valois or John the Magnificent was Duke of Berry and Auvergne and Count of Poitiers and Montpensier. He was the third son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg; his brothers were King Charles V of France, Duke Louis I of Anjou and Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy...
, or the king of France.
As lord of Charolais he was not required, according to the terms of the Treaty of Brétigny
Treaty of Brétigny
The Treaty of Brétigny was a treaty signed on May 9, 1360, between King Edward III of England and King John II of France. In retrospect it is seen as having marked the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War —as well as the height of English hegemony on the Continent.It was signed...
, to pay a humiliating tribute to those he had fought for several years; Edward III
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...
, king of England, and his son, The Black Prince
The Black Prince
-Personal nicknames:* Edward, the Black Prince, English prince in the Middle Ages* Naresuan, King of Siam* Junio Valerio Borghese, Italian noble and military leader* Kostas Davourlis, Greek footballer* Peter Jackson , 19th century bare-knuckle boxer...
, Prince of Wales. But it was the first and only time, to support the call from King Charles V
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
against the actions of the Prince of Wales, which ultimately led to the liberation of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
from the English occupation.
Peace with De Foix
In 1379 he concluded with Gaston III PhoebusGaston III of Foix-Béarn
Gaston III/X of Foix-Béarn, also Gaston Fébus or Gaston Phoebus was the 11th count of Foix, and viscount of Béarn . Officially, he was Gaston III of Foix and Gaston X of Béarn.-Early life:...
, a peace consolidated by the marriage of his daughter Beatrice with the son of Gaston Phoebus. Thus ended this unfortunate quarrel which for 89 years, had opposed the two most powerful families in the south of France.
Trial
Through the intrigues of the Duke of Berry, against his brother, the Duke of Burgundy, John was summoned to court to defend himself against these charges:- Procuring an alliance with England;
- Being in league with free companiesFree companyA free company or free lance was a late medieval army of mercenaries acting independently of any government, and thus "free". They were not called "free" because their services were gratis, rather they sold their services to the highest bidder...
; - Have tried, in concert with the Count of Foix, to share Languedoc.
John never stood trial, having died at Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
in 1384.
Marriage & Children
On the November 21, 1359 he married Jeanne de Périgord, daughter of Roger Bernard, Count of Périgord, and Eleanor de Vendôme. They had three children:- John IIIJohn III of ArmagnacJohn III of Armagnac was a count of Armagnac, of Fézensac and Rodez from 1384 to 1391. He was the son of John II of Armagnac, and Jeanne of Périgord....
, (1359 to 1391), Count of Armagnac. - Bernard VII, (1363 to 1418), Count of Armagnac., The Constable of France.
- Beatrix (c1365), married in 1379 to Gaston de Foix († 1381), and January 27, 1382 to Carlo Visconti, lord of Parma, son of Bernabò ViscontiBernabo ViscontiBernabò Visconti was an Italian soldier and statesman, who was Lord of Milan.-Life:He was born in Milan, the son of Stefano Visconti and Valentina Doria. From 1346 to 1349 he lived in exile, until he was called back by his uncle Giovanni Visconti...
and Beatrice Regina della ScalaBeatrice Regina della ScalaBeatrice Regina della Scala was an Italian noblewoman, a member of the Scaliger family of Northern Italy. She was the wife of Bernabò Visconti, Lord of Milan, and the mother of his seventeen legitimate children.- Family :...
.
John also had several illegitimate children:
- Jean, Bastard of Armagnac († October 8, 1409), bishop of Mende and archbishop of Auch.
- Bertrand, Bastard of Armagnac († 1403), master of the Château de Villiers in Armagnac.