Charles, Duke of Brittany

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Charles of Blois-Châtillon
CarlosIdebritania.jpg
Duke of Brittany
Reign 30 April 1341 – 29 September 1364
Predecessor John III
Successor John IV
Born c. 1319
Blois (France)
Died 29 September 1364 (aged 44–45)
Auray
Spouse Joanna, Duchess of Brittany
Issue John I of Blois-Châtillon
Guy
Henry
Marie, Lady of Guise
Marguerite, Countess of Angoulême
Full name
His Royal Highness The Duke of Anjou Charles Chatillon
House House of Blois
Father Guy I of Blois-Châtillon
Mother Margaret of Valois
Saint Charles de Châtillon
Duke of Britanny
Patron of Europe
Died Auray
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified 1904 by Pie X
Canonized 1364 by Pope Urban V
Feast 29 September (General Roman Calendar)
Patronage -Army soldiers
-Agricultural workers

Charles of Blois-Châtillon (1319 – 29 September 1364) "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 to his death via his marriage to Joan of Penthiève, holding the title against the claims of John of Montfort. He was later canonized as a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church for his devotion to religion. This canonization was later annulled, although he remains beatified.

Charles was born in Blois, son of Guy de 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 of Penthièvre, heiress and niece of duke John III. Together, Charles and Joanna de Châtillon 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.[1] He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million ecús, and resumed the war against the Montforts.

Family

By his marriage to Joanna, he had five children:

Death and legacy

Charles de Châtillon died in 1364 in the Battle of Auray, which determined the end of the Breton War of Succession with the victory of the Montforts.

Charles de Châtillon was canonized as a Saint of the Roman Catholic church for his devotion to religion. The canonization process was nullified by Pope Gregory XI at the request of Duke John IV of Brittany, Charles' final opponent in the Breton War of Succession and the recognized Duke of Brittany under the first Treaty of Guerande.

Subsequently, in 1904, Charles de Châtillon was beatified and therefore may be referred to as the Blessed Charles of Blois. His Roman Catholic Feast Day is 30 September.[lower-alpha 1]

  • Image of S.Charles de Châtillon in the book Vie des Saints", Yann-Vari Perrot, publishing in 1912 (page 692)

  • The Saint Charles de Châtillon de Blois, battles gallery, Versailles castle, France

  • The Saint Charles de Châtillon in the glass window of the Church Saint-Pierre in Plounéour-Trez, France

  • The Saint Charles de Châtillon in the glass window of the Church Saint-Malo in Dinan, France

  • Statue of Blessed Knight Charles Châtillon de Blois in the Church of Notre-Dame de Bulat-Pestivien (Bretagne)

  • The Knight Charles de Blois-Châtillon, with is army, in the attack of Siege of Hennebont in 1342, an epic battle during the war of succession of Brittany

  • "The Knight Charles de Châtillon is taken prisoner". Jean Froissart, Chroniques (Vol. I), Koninklijke Bibliotheek in 1816

  • Battle of Auray, 1364

  • "War of Breton Succession" (1341–1364), Jean Froissart, Paris, 9th century

  • Battle of Auray in the glass window of the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, Rennes

  • Battle of Auray 1364, "Chroniques"

  • Battle of Auray, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris

  • First Siege of Vannes in 1342 by Charles de Blois-Châtillon

  • Charles de Blois-Châtillon, was taken prisoner after the battle of Roche Derrien in 1347

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ See the Franciscan Description of the Blessed Charles of Blois

References

  1. ↑ Historical Note Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell 2002 pg 405

External links

Charles, Duke of Brittany
Born: 1319 Died: 1364
Regnal titles
Preceded by
John III		 Duke of Brittany jure uxoris
1341–1364
With: Joan
disputed by John of Montfort and John IV		 Succeeded by
John IV
Preceded by
Joan
as sole countess		 Count of Penthièvre jure uxoris
1337–1364
With: Joan		 Succeeded by
Joan
as sole countess
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