Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

THE HIST OR Y OF BRIT T AN Y  47

middlemen between Bordeaux and
England, and exporting salt from Guérande Bertrand du
Guesclin
and linen cloth from Vitré, Locronan and
Léon. The population of Brittany, less A minor noble man born
in about 1320 near
seriously affected by the great plagues than Broons, Bertrand du
that of France, reached 800,000. Refugees Guesclin showed his
prowess as a warrior
from Normandy settled in the east, while during the War of the
many impoverished petty noblemen left Du Guesclin kneeling before Breton Succession. He
was also victorious at
to seek their fortune in France. During the Charles V some famous jousts and
duels, such as the one he
Hundred Years’ War, Breton mercenaries fought in Dinan with Sir Thomas Canterbury. In the
fighting on both sides won renown for their service of Charles V, he retook part of France from
prowess. Three of them – Bertrand du the English, and defeated the king of Navarre at
Cocherel in 1364. He led compagnies (bands of
Guesclin, Olivier de Clisson and Arthur de mercenaries) to Spain. He was taken prisoner by
Richemont – became constables (chief the Black Prince at Najera in 1367, but returned to
the battlefield. He was made a constable of France,
military officers) of France. and died during a siege in 1380.
Noblemen enlarged their castles, turning
them into impressive resi dences. There
was a lack of morality, however, and this Flamboyant Gothic with the aus terity of
reached its nadir in the depraved treatment granite, the local building material. The
of children and their cruel murder, in a first texts in Breton appeared and, with
satantic ritual, committed by Gilles de Rais, the advent of printing in 1484, printed
com panion-at-arms of Joan of Arc, at the books were produced; one of the first was
Château de Tiffauges, near Nantes. Catholicon, a Breton-French-Latin lexicon.
In the 15th century, a typically Breton A uni versity was founded in Nantes in 1460.
variant of the Gothic architectural style
developed, combining the delicacy of the The End of Independence
François II (1458–88), the incapable and
debauched Duke of Brittany, was powerless
to prevent the increasing use of royal
power in France, where Louis XI abolished
the last great vas sals in 1477. The king then
turned his attention to Brittany, the only
major fiefdom that still remained to be sub-
jugated. Forced into a war, François II was
defeated in 1488. By the Treaty of Le Verger,
the duke was forced to sub mit to the king if
his successor was to rule Brittany. He died
soon after. His daughter and successor,
The execution of Gilles de Rais in 1440 Anne of Brittany, was not yet 12 years old.

1460 1488 Battle of 1514 Death of
Foundation of St-Aubin-du- Anne of Brittany
the University Cormier. Treaty
Dance of Death (late of Nantes of Le Verger
15th century)
1440 1460 1480 1500 1520
1499 Anne
1440 Execution of 1491 Anne of of Brittany
child-murderer Brittany marries marries
Gilles de Rais Charles VIII of Louis XII Anne
France of France of Brittany

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