Robert VIII Bertrand de Bricquebec | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1273 |
| Died | 3 August 1348 |
| Known for |
|
Robert VIII Bertrand de Bricquebec (c.1273-3 August 1348), also known as Robert Bertrand, [1] Baron of Bricquebec, Viscount of Roncheville, was a 14th century Norman noble. He served as Marshal of France from 1325 until 1344.
Bertrand was the eldest son of Robert VII Bertrand de Bricquebec, Baron de Bricquebec and Phillipa de Clermont-Nesle. His brother Guillaume was bishop of Noyon (1331-1338), bishop of Bayeux (1338-1347) and bishop of Beauvais (1347-1356).
In 1285, Robert went on crusade to Aragon, as a squire to his uncle Clermont de Nesle, following the massacres of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282. The French army led by King Philip III of France entered Italy, while another smaller army provided a diversion in Spain. Figueras, Castillon and Girona were taken. It is reported that during the battle of Girona in September 1285, Robert seriously wounded King Peter III of Aragon, who died soon afterwards of the wounds.
In 1321, Robert Bertrand was sent on mission in Lorraine to the bishop of Verdun and Luxembourg, regarding the bishopric of Verdun. A dispute had broken out between Edward I of Bar and John I of Bohemia, resulting in a war between the two protagonists. The mediation resulted in a short-lived truce. During August 1322, Robert accompanied his father-in-law Henri de Sully and other French knights into the service of King Edward II of England. They fought for England against King Robert I of Scotland. During the decisive meeting at the Battle of Old Byland on 14 October 1322 in Yorkshire, near Byland Abbey, the French knights remained on the battlefield after the English were defeated and were made prisoners. On 30 May 1323, a truce was signed between Edward II and Robert I, with a ransom being paid for the release of the French prisoners and on 3 June 1324, Bertrand and the surviving French knights embarked at Dover to return to France.
In 1325, Bertrand was appointed Marshal of France by King Charles IV of France. Bertrand was dispatched in 1325-1326 to Flanders to calm a peasant rebellion. In 1327, Robert went to the Agenais and the Bordelais to pacify these two regions. In 1328, the Marshal returned to Flanders following a new revolt of the Flemish, this time accompanied by the new King Philip VI of France. The Flemish rebels commanded by Nicolaas Zannekin were annihilated by the French royal army at the Battle of Cassel. In 1336, he became a member of the Council of the King in Paris, witnessing and signing a treaty of alliance with King Alfonso XI of Castile.
Following the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War between France and England, Bertrand was ordered to occupy the island of Guernsey from the English. Robert was appointed as Lord of Guernsey, a position he held until Guernsey was recaptured by the English in July 1345. He took part in the defense of Tournai in 1339. In 1341, the War of Succession of Brittany broke out with Charles de Blois, Duke of Brittany requesting help. Philip VI, Charles' uncle, sent a French army including Bertrand to Brittany. Robert resigned his office as Marshall of France in March 1344, aged 71, remaining a member of the King's Council.
The English under King Edward III of England landed in Normandy on 12 July 1346, at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. Bertrand, with his eldest son Robert IX and 300 men vainly tried to prevent the landing. Robert was injured along with his son and had to retire with only 30 survivors of his troop. The English army marched to Caen, where Bertrand had sought refuge with his brother Guillaume, Governor of the Chateau of Caen. The English looted and sacked Caen, with the city burned, 95 French knights and Norman prisoners and 2,500 dead. The castle held out and after the main English army left, the castle defenders sallied out and defeated the English occupying force.
He was nicknamed "The Green Lion Knight", after his coat of arms. He died in 1348 and was buried in the Saint-Sauveur Church of Beaumont-en-Auge.
Bertrand married Marie, the eldest daughter of Henri de Sully, Baron de Chales and grand butler of France, and Jeanne de Vendome, they are known to have had the following known issue:
The King Henry IV of France was a descendant of Bertrand through Philippa in her second marriage to Guy IV of Roche-Guyon (Castle of La Roche-Guyon)
Bertrand du Guesclin, nicknamed "The Eagle of Brittany" or "The Black Dog of Brocéliande", was a Breton knight and an important military commander on the French side during the Hundred Years' War. From 1370 to his death, he was Constable of France for King Charles V. Well known for his Fabian strategy, he took part in seven pitched battles and won the five in which he held command.
The Battle of Mauron was fought in 1352 in Brittany during the Breton War of Succession between an Anglo-Breton force supporting the claim of Jean de Montfort and a Franco-Breton force supporting the claim of Charles de Blois. The Anglo-Bretons were victorious. The battle took place in the context of the Hundred Years War.
Jean, or Jehan de Beaumanoir, marshal of Brittany for Charles of Blois, and captain of Josselin, is remembered for his share in the famous Combat of the Thirty during the War of Breton Succession (1341–1364) between the warring parties of competing claimants for the Dukedom.
William des Roches was a French knight and crusader who acted as Seneschal of Anjou, of Maine and of Touraine. After serving the Angevin kings of England, in 1202 he changed his loyalty to King Philip II of France and became a leading member of his government.
The Château de Ranton is a small fortified castle in the village of Ranton, in the Department of the Vienne just west of Loudun, and south of the Loire. It was one of the front line of fortresses which were built to defend the royal city of Loundun at the beginning of the Hundred Years' War in 1340–1345. It played this military role until 1372. It then became a feudal manor and one of the estates of aristocratic families associated with the Courts of the French Kings and the Dukes of Anjou.
The House of Harcourt is a Norman family, and named after its seigneurie of Harcourt in Normandy. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant", "Gesta verbis praevenient", and "Le bon temps viendra ... de France".
The House of Bethune is a French noble house from the province of Artois in the north of France whose proven filiation dates back to Guillaume de Béthune who made his will in 1213. This family became extinct in 1807 with Maximilien-Alexandre de Béthune, Duke of Sully (1784-1807).
Guy I of Clermont-Nesle was a Marshal of France, Seigneur (Lord) of Offemont jure uxoris, and possibly of Ailly, Maulette and Breteuil. He might have been a Seigneur of Nesle also, or used the title "Sire of Nesle" due to his family. Difficulties about the seigneurie of Breteuil are present, and the status of Ailly and Maulette in relation to Breteuil.
Raoul II/III of Clermont-Nesle was Seigneur (Lord) of Nesle in Picardy (de), Viscount of Châteaudun (de), Grand Chamberlain of France and Constable of France.
Guy II de Nesle, Lord of Mello, was a Marshal of France (1348) who was killed in the Battle of Mauron.
Amaury I of Craon (1170–1226), was Lord of Craon, of Chantocé, Ingrandes, Candé, Segré, Duretal, Baugé and of Lude.
Jeanne de Clisson (1300–1359), also known as Jeanne de Belleville and the Lioness of Brittany, was a French / Breton former noblewoman who became a privateer to avenge her husband after he was executed for treason by the French King Philip VI. She crossed the English Channel targeting French ships and often slaughtering their crew. It was her practice to leave at least one sailor alive to carry her message of vengeance.
Jean II de Rieux Breton Lord of Rieux, Rochefort and Ancenis, initially in the service of Brittany, but also eventually a Marshal of France in the service of King Charles VI. He was the great-grandfather of Jean IV de Rieux.
The House of Clermont is a noble family of the French region of Picardy dating from the 10th century and included both the early counts of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis as well as many Constables of France. The house eventually merged with the House of Nesle with the marriage of Raoul II of Clermont and Gertrude of Nesle. The family is the sometimes referred to as the House of Clermont-Nesle.
Henri IV de Sully, Grand Butler of France, Treasurer of France, Lord of Sully was a 13th-14th century French noble.
Guillaume Bertrand was a French prelate of the 14th century.
Sir Walter Bentley was an English knight who fought during the Hundred Year's War.
Geoffroy d'Harcourt, called "the Lame", Viscount of Saint-Sauveur, was a 14th century French nobleman and prominent soldier during the early stages of the Hundred Years' War.
Olivier IV de Clisson (1300–1343), was a Breton Marche Lord and knight who became embroiled in the intrigue of Vannes and was subsequently executed by the King of France for perceived treason. He was the husband of Jeanne de Clisson who eventually became known as the Lioness of Brittany.
Henri de Silly, seigneur de La Roche-Guyon, damoiseau de Commercy, baron d'Aquigny was a French noble, military commander, and courtier during the French Wars of Religion. The eldest son of Louis de Silly, seigneur de La Roche-Guyon and Anne de Laval, he initially entered the service of the duc d'Anjou brother to the king. After the death of Charles IX, Anjou returned to France as Henri III. He served in the new king's household as either an écuyer or échanson before becoming a gentilhomme de la chambre. He was infuriated when Jeanne de Cossé, who had been due to marry him, was instead married to the king's favourite Saint-Luc and departed court. Affiliating himself with the king's brother the duc d'Alençon he raised troops in Normandie for indeterminate purpose. He further involved himself in plots to both kidnap and poison Henri III.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
