Jean, or Jehan de Beaumanoir,

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

for

Charles of Blois Charles of Blois-Châtillon (131929 September 1364), nicknamed "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 until his death, via his marriage to Joan, Duchess of Brittany and Countess of Penthièvre, holding the title against the cl ...

, and

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Josselin Josselin (; ) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. History St Meriadek is said to have founded a chapel there during the 4th century. Much later Josselin became a stronghold of the House of Rohan. An ...

, is remembered for his share in the famous

Combat of the Thirty The Combat of the Thirty (, ), occurring on 26 March 1351, was an episode in the Breton War of Succession fought to determine who would rule the Duchy of Brittany. It was an arranged fight between selected combatants from both sides of the co ...

during the War of Breton Succession (1341–1364) between the warring parties of competing claimants for the Dukedom.

Origin

Jean IV de Beaumanoir was the son of Jean III de Beaumanoir, Lord of Beaumanoir and Merdrignac and Marie de Dinan-Montafilant, known as “Marie du Guildo”, and the nephew of Robert. Jean IV succeeded his father as Lord of

Merdrignac Merdrignac (; ) is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France. Geography The River Meu forms most of the commune's northern border. Climate Merdrignac has a oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification ...

. He was also a friend and a comrade in arms of

Bertrand du Guesclin Bertrand du Guesclin ( br, Beltram Gwesklin; 1320 – 13 July 1380), 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' W ...

, a fellow Breton Knight and Constable of France.

Marriage and Issue

First Marriage

Jean first married Tiphaine de Chemillé, who gave him two sons, who died both childless: * Jean V de Beaumanoir (died in 1385) buried in the abbey of Saint-Magloire de Léhon, married to Tiphaine du Guesclin, lady of Plessis-Bertrand, without posterity, * Robert (died in 1407), Lord of Beaumanoir after his brother, buried in Saint-Magloire Abbey in Léhon, without alliance or posterity,

Second Marriage

Jean then married Marguerite de Rohan, daughter of Alain VII of Rohan and widow of

Olivier V de Clisson Olivier V de Clisson (23 April 1336 – 23 April 1407), nicknamed "The Butcher", was a Breton soldier, the son of Olivier IV de Clisson. His father had been put to death by the French in 1343 on the suspicion of having willingly given up the c ...

. They had three daughters who married into the most prominent breton families of the time: *Jeanne who became the wife of Charles de Dinan, Lord of Montafilant and baron of Châteaubriant, *Isabeau who married Jean de Tournemine, Lord of La Hunaudaie, and *Marguerite who married Gallehaut de Rougé, baron of Derval.

War of Breton Succession

During the War of the Succession in Brittany (1341-1365), Jean embraces the cause of

Charles de Blois Charles of Blois-Châtillon (131929 September 1364), nicknamed "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 until his death, via his marriage to Joan, Duchess of Brittany and Countess of Penthièvre, holding the title against the cl ...

against John de Montfort for the ducal crown of Brittany and is one of the heroes who stands out most at the

battle of La Roche-Derrien The Battle of La Roche-Derrien was one of the battles of the Breton War of Succession; it was fought on 20 June 1347 during the night between Anglo-Breton and Franco-Breton forces. Approximately 4,000–5,000 French, Breton and Genoese ...

(1347).

Combat of the Thirty

Robert Bemborough Sir Robert Bemborough (d.1351) was a medieval knight who led the Montfortist faction during the Combat of the Thirty. This was an arranged battle between thirty knights from both sides during the Breton War of Succession, a struggle for control of ...

, the English captain of

Ploërmel Church Saint-Armel Ploërmel (; ; Gallo language: ''Pieurmè'') is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. On 1 January 2019, the former commune Monterrein was merged into Ploërmel. Character of the town The ...

, who supported the rival claimant John de Montfort, was the nearest enemy leader. In 1351, Beaumanoir sent him a challenge, which resulted in an "emprise" — an arranged chivalric combat — which took place near Ploërmel, between picked combatants. Beaumanoir commanded thirty Bretons, Bemborough a mixed force of twenty Englishmen (including Sir

Robert Knolles Sir Robert Knolles or Knollys ( – 15 August 1407; aged 81-82) was an important English knight of the Hundred Years' War, who, operating with the tacit support of the crown, succeeded in taking the only two major French cities, other tha ...

and Sir

Hugh Calveley Sir Hugh Calveley (died 23 April 1394) was an English knight and commander, who took part in the Hundred Years' War, gaining fame during the War of the Breton Succession and the Castilian Civil War. He held various military posts in Brittany a ...

), six German mercenaries and four Breton partisans of Montfort. The battle, fought with swords, daggers, spears, and axes, mounted or on foot, was extremely vicious. When de Beaumanoir was badly wounded and asked for water, his fellow combatant Geoffroy du Bois is supposed to have said to him "Drink your blood, Beaumanoir; your thirst will pass" (''Bois ton sang, Beaumanoir, la soif te passera''). De Beaumanoir's men emerged victorious, and he became an icon of medieval

chivalry Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It was associated with the medieval Christianity, Christian institution of knighthood; knights' and gentlemen's behaviours we ...

Battle of Auray

When his faction was eventually defeated at the

Battle of Auray The Battle of Auray took place on 29 September 1364 at the Breton-French town of Auray. This battle was the decisive confrontation of the Breton War of Succession, a part of the Hundred Years' War. In the battle, which began as a siege, a Bre ...

in 1364, de Beaumanoir helped to negotiate the Treaty of Guérande, which ended the war, receiving in return the title of Marshal of Brittany.

References

*Châteaux celtes et chimères - Chevaliers et Héros » (consulté le 28 mars 2017) *Jacques de Dinan, Seigneur de Beaumanoir » (consulté le 28 mars 2017) *Peter Meazey, Dinan au temps des Seigneurs, Guimgamp, Éditions de la Plomée, 1997 (ISBN 2912113008), p. 160 *Dezobry et Bachelet, Dictionnaire de biographie, t. 1, Ch. Delagrave, 1876, p. 249

Notes

14th-century French people 14th-century Breton people 1310 births 1360s deaths Medieval French knights {{France-hist-stub