Jean I of Alençon, known as the Wise (1385 – 25 October 1415), was a French nobleman, killed at the

Battle of Agincourt The Battle of Agincourt ( ; ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected victory of the vastly outnumbered English troops agains ...

. Jean was born in Château d'

Essay An essay ( ) is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a Letter (message), letter, a term paper, paper, an article (publishing), article, a pamphlet, and a s ...

, the son of

Peter II of Alençon Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a ...

and Marie Chamaillard. In 1404, he succeeded his father as

Count of Alençon Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility.L. G. Pine, Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty'' ...

and

Perche Perche () (French: ''le Perche'') is a former Provinces of France, province of France, known historically for its forests and, for the past two centuries, for the Percheron draft horse, draft horse breed. Until the French Revolution, Perche was ...

. He was made

Duke of Alençon Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they ar ...

in 1414. He commanded the second division of the French army at the Battle of Agincourt. When the English broke through the first division, he led a countercharge. He is sometimes credited with killing Edward, Duke of York, wounding

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester (3 October 1390 – 23 February 1447) was an English prince, soldier and literary patron. He was (as he styled himself) "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of Henry IV ...

, and cutting an ornament from the crown of Henry V, King of England. He was overpowered by King Henry's bodyguard and slain before he could yield himself.

Family

In 1396, he married Marie of Brittany (1391–1446), daughter of

John IV, Duke of Brittany John IV the Conqueror Order of the Garter, KG (in Breton language, Breton Yann IV, in French Jean IV, and traditionally in English sources both John of Montfort and John V) (1339 – 1 November 1399), was Duke of Brittany and Montfort of Britt ...

. They had five children: # Pierre d'Alençon (1407,

Argentan Argentan () is a commune and the seat of two cantons and of an arrondissement in the Orne department in northwestern France. As of 2019, Argentan is the third largest municipality by population in the Orne department.

– 1408) # Jean d'Alençon, Duke of Alençon (1409–1476) # Marie d'Alençon (1410, Argentan, – 1412, Argentan) # Jeanne d'Alençon (1412, Argentan – 1420) # Charlotte d'Alençon (1413, Argentan – 1435,

Lamballe Lamballe (; ; Gallo: ''Lanball'') is a town and a former commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Lamballe-Armor. It lies on the river Gouessant east ...

) He also had two illegitimate children: # Pierre d'Alençon (d. 1424, Battle of Verneuil), Lord of Gallandon # Marguerite d'Alençon, married Jean de St-Aubin, Lord of Preaux

References

Sources

* * * People of the Hundred Years' War House of Valois-Alençon 101 Counts of Alençon Counts of Perche French military personnel killed in action John I of Alencon John I of Alencon 15th-century peers of France {{france-noble-stub