Charles I, Duke of Brittany
| Charles of Blois Châtillon | |||||
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| Duke of Brittany | |||||
| Reign | 30 April 1341 – 29 September 1364 | ||||
| Predecessor | John III | ||||
| Successor | John V | ||||
| Born | c. 1319 Blois (France) |
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| Died | 29 September 1364 (aged 44-45) Auray |
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| Spouse | Joanna, Duchess of Brittany | ||||
| Issue | John I of Blois-Châtillon Guy Henry Marie, Lady of Guise Marguerite, Countess of Angoulême |
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| House | House of Blois | ||||
| Father | Guy I of Blois-Châtillon | ||||
| Mother | Margaret of Valois | ||||
| Saint Charles de Chatillon | |
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| Duke of Britanny Patron of Europe |
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| 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", claimed the title Duke of Brittany from 1341 to his death. Charles de Châtillon canonized as Saint of the Roman Catholic church for his devotion to religion. This canonization was later annulled denying him the Church designation of Saint; he remains "the Blessed."
Charles Chattilon de Blois was the nephew of the new King of France Philip VI of Valois, chosen by Peerage of France against the claims of Edward III, by virtue of the Salic law. He also inherited the rights to the Duchy of Brittany by the House of Penthièvre.
Charles Chattilon was born in Blois, son of Guy de Chatillon, 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[edit]
By his marriage to Joanna, he had five children:
- John (Jean) I of Châtillon (1340–1404) - also known as Jean de Blois
- Guy
- Henri (d. 1400)
- Marie (1345–1404), Lady of Guise, married in 1360 Louis I, Duke of Anjou
- Marguerite, married in 1351 Charles de la Cerda (d. 1354)
Death and legacy[edit]
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.
Next Charles de Châtillon canonized as 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 V 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 September 30.[a]
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The Saint Charles de Chattilon de Blois, battles gallery, Versailles castle, France
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The Saint Charles de Chattilon in the glass window of the Church Saint-Pierre in Plounéour-Trez, France
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The Saint Charles de Chattilon in the glass window of the Church Saint-Malo in Dinan, France
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"The Knight Charles Chattilon de Blois, with is army, in the attack of Siege of Hennebont in 1342, an epic battle during the war of succession of Brittany
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Battle of Auray in the glass window of the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, Rennes
See also[edit]
- Château de Blois
- Counts of Blois
- Dukes of Brittany family tree
- Lordship of Nanteuil
- House of Châtillon
Notes[edit]
- ^ See the Franciscan Description of the Blessed Charles of Blois
References[edit]
- ^ Historical Note Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell 2002 pg 405
External links[edit]
- The Saint Charles of Blois Chattilon
"Charles, duke of Brittany". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
"Charles de Blois". The American Cyclopædia. 1879.- Treccani.it, l'Enciclopedia italiana
- House of de Châtillon (-sur-Marne), Champagne (Soissonnais),Bourgogne, Ponthieu & Ternois, Genealogy and Heraldry
- House of de Nanteuil Le-Haudouin, Genealogy and Heraldry
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Charles I, Duke of Brittany
Born: 1319 Died: 1364 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by John III |
Duke of Brittany jure uxoris with Joanna disputed with John IV and John V 1341–1364 |
Succeeded by John V undisputed from 1364 under the Treaty of Guérande |
| Preceded by Guy |
Count of Penthièvre jure uxoris with Joanna 1337–1364 |
Succeeded by Jean de Blois |
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