Karl (Brittany)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles of Blois

Karl von Blois , called the Blessed (* approx. 1319 ; † September 29, 1364 at Auray ) was by marriage Duke of Brittany , Count of Penthièvre and Goëllo as well as Vice Count of Limoges and Lord of Guise .

He was a younger son of Count Guido I of Blois and Margaret of Valois. On his father's side he belonged to the old noble Châtillon family , on his mother's side he was a nephew of King Philip VI. of France . In 1342 he inherited the Guise estate from his father .

He married Johanna von Dreux in 1337 . Since the death of her father Guido von Penthièvre in 1331, she was the sole heir to Countess von Penthièvre and Goëllo. From then on, Karl ruled the counties from their right . Johanna was also the niece and potential heir of Duke Johann III. of Brittany . When the latter died in 1341 without direct descendants, Johanna inherited the Vice-County of Limoges and the Duchy of Brittany from him. Before Karl and Johanna could take possession of the duchy, however, a half-brother of the late duke, Johann von Montfort , also made claims to the duchy.

Charles of Blois is captured at the Battle of La Roche-Derrien (1347, Bibliothèque nationale de France)

While Karl and Johanna had the French crown on their side, Johann enjoyed the support of England, which resulted in a war that lasted more than 20 years, the War of Breton Succession (1341-1364). Despite his piety, Karl did not hesitate to order the murder of 2,000 residents after the siege of Quimper . After initial successes, he was able to maintain his rule mainly in eastern Brittany, while the west around Brest and Hennebont was held by the Montfort party and the English. In 1347, Karl was captured by the English at the Battle of La Roche-Derrien, which he spent in the Tower of London . When he was released nine years later for a ransom of half a million Écus , he took the war against the Montforts, i.e. H. meanwhile Johann V , up again, but fell in the battle of Auray in 1364 , which meant the end of the war and the victory of the Montforts.

He was considered a strictly religious man who drove piety to the point of self-flagellation. He was said to have pebbles in his shoes, to wear knotted ropes close to his skin, and to confess every night for fear of going to sleep in sin. He was an experienced military leader who drove his soldiers on with his religious zeal. Because of his piety he was canonized, but this was opposed by Duke John V by Pope Gregory XI. was withdrawn.

progeny

Bust in the Battle Gallery of the Palace of Versailles

From his marriage to Johanna von Dreux, Karl had several children, including:

literature

Web links

Commons : Charles de Blois  - collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
Johanna Count of Penthièvre
(de iure uxoris )
1337–1364 		Johann
Johanna Count of Goëllo
(de iure uxoris)
1337–1364 		Johann
Johann III. Vice Count of Limoges
(de iure uxoris)
1341-1364 		Johann
Johann IV. Duke of Brittany
(de iure uxoris)
1345–1364 		Johann V.
personal data
SURNAME Karl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Charles the Blessed; Charles of Blois
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Brittany, Count of Penthièvre, Count of Goëllo, Vice-Count of Limoges
DATE OF BIRTH around 1319
DATE OF DEATH September 29, 1364
Place of death Auray