Joanna of Flanders defends the city of Hennebont in 1342 during the Breton War of Succession!
She personally led a contingent of 300 knights to burn down the camp of the besiegers!
This would be described as "the boldest and most remarkable feat ever performed by a woman." π§΅
She personally led a contingent of 300 knights to burn down the camp of the besiegers!
This would be described as "the boldest and most remarkable feat ever performed by a woman." π§΅
The Breton War of Succession broke out in 1341 when Duke of Brittany John of Montfort died without a heir.
There were two candidates to succeed him: his younger half-brother, John, Count of Montfort, and his niece, Joan of Penthièvre, daughter of his brother Guy.
There were two candidates to succeed him: his younger half-brother, John, Count of Montfort, and his niece, Joan of Penthièvre, daughter of his brother Guy.
Joan of Penthièvre was married to Charles of Blois, a powerful French nobleman who was also the son of the sister of Philip VI, King of France.
War broke out between Montfort faction and Blois faction!
It soon became connected to Hundred Years' War which had started in 1337.
War broke out between Montfort faction and Blois faction!
It soon became connected to Hundred Years' War which had started in 1337.
The English backed the Montfort faction and the French backed the Blois.
John of Montfort had some initial success but soon ended up captured and imprisoned.
His wife Joanna of Flanders took over control of the Montfort faction!
John of Montfort had some initial success but soon ended up captured and imprisoned.
His wife Joanna of Flanders took over control of the Montfort faction!
Joanna set up her headquarters in Hennebont and prepared for a large army of the Blois faction which arrived the next year in 1342 and besieged the town.
During the siege Joanna was dressed in armor and encouraged the defenders of the town!
Everything depended on this siege.
During the siege Joanna was dressed in armor and encouraged the defenders of the town!
Everything depended on this siege.
Chroniclers wrote that "the valiant countess, armed and riding a great charger from street to street, was cheering and summoning everyone to the cityβs defence, and commanding the women of the town, ladies and all, to take stones to the walls and fling them at the attackers"!
But her most inspiring feat happened during the assault of the city by the Blois forces.
She observed the defense of the city from towers and noticed that all the elite enemy soldiers were participating in the assault while their camp was poorly guarded.
She observed the defense of the city from towers and noticed that all the elite enemy soldiers were participating in the assault while their camp was poorly guarded.
Joanna remounted her charger war horse, "fully armed as she was" and decided to personally lead a force of 300 men-at-arms who were guarding a gate that wasn't under attack to raid the enemy camp which was "devoid of anyone but a few boys and servants."
It was a risky plan.
It was a risky plan.
Joanna of Flanders personally raids the enemy camp!
The few boys and servants who were left were no match for the Duchess and her knights!
No mercy was shown. They were all killed and the camp was set on fire, earning Joanna the nickname "Jeanne la Flamme", Joanna the Flame.
The few boys and servants who were left were no match for the Duchess and her knights!
No mercy was shown. They were all killed and the camp was set on fire, earning Joanna the nickname "Jeanne la Flamme", Joanna the Flame.
The Blois forces found out what happened. They shouted "Treachery! Treachery!" and rushed to the camp!
Joanna quickly "rallied her men and, realising there was no way back to the town without grave loss, rode off in another direction," retreating to the castle of Brest!
Joanna quickly "rallied her men and, realising there was no way back to the town without grave loss, rode off in another direction," retreating to the castle of Brest!
But Joanna returned the next day!
She embarrassed the Blois besiegers again by managing to return to Hennebont at dawn. She sneaked into the town with 500 reinforcements, entering "to a triumphant blast of trumpets and drums and other instruments"!
She embarrassed the Blois besiegers again by managing to return to Hennebont at dawn. She sneaked into the town with 500 reinforcements, entering "to a triumphant blast of trumpets and drums and other instruments"!
This was to great dismay of the besiegers who had taunted the defenders the previous day shouting "Go and find your countess!"
Joanna's deeds were greatly praised by the chroniclers who indeed described it as "the boldest and most remarkable feat ever performed by a woman."
Joanna's deeds were greatly praised by the chroniclers who indeed described it as "the boldest and most remarkable feat ever performed by a woman."
But the siege continued and the defenders became demoralized again due to enemy siege machines slowly smashing down the walls.
There were talks of surrender but Joanna of Flanders kept insisting to wait on English help from the sea.
There were talks of surrender but Joanna of Flanders kept insisting to wait on English help from the sea.
"I see the aid I've desired so long!"
Finally, the Montfort ally Sir Amaury de Clisson appeared with a "vast fleet of English vessels, great and small," heading for Hennebont!
The English reinforcements helped to deter the besiegers and the city of Hennebont was saved.
Finally, the Montfort ally Sir Amaury de Clisson appeared with a "vast fleet of English vessels, great and small," heading for Hennebont!
The English reinforcements helped to deter the besiegers and the city of Hennebont was saved.
But the siege of Hennebont was not the only time Joanna personally fought in a battle!
The same year she went to England for reinforcements and on the way back her English fleet was intercepted by the Blois fleet of Spanish and Genoese mercenaries. Fierce fighting followed!
The same year she went to England for reinforcements and on the way back her English fleet was intercepted by the Blois fleet of Spanish and Genoese mercenaries. Fierce fighting followed!
On board of one of the ships, Joanna of Flanders also participated in fighting.
Jean Froissart describes that "the countess that day was worth a man; she had the heart of a lion, and had in her hand a sharp glaive, wherewith she fought fiercely."
She was victorious again.
Jean Froissart describes that "the countess that day was worth a man; she had the heart of a lion, and had in her hand a sharp glaive, wherewith she fought fiercely."
She was victorious again.
The War of the Breton Succession raged on for many years. Joanna's husband John was released in 1343 but died soon in 1345. Joanna took over control of the faction again and took refuge in England with her son.
The Montfort faction would ultimately win the war in 1365.
The Montfort faction would ultimately win the war in 1365.
There were many other interesting things that happened during the War of Breton Succession!
The famous "Combat of the Thirty" happened in 1351, supposedly to honor both ladies leading the factions at the time, Joanna of Flanders and Joan of Penthièvre.
aristocraticfury.substack.com
The famous "Combat of the Thirty" happened in 1351, supposedly to honor both ladies leading the factions at the time, Joanna of Flanders and Joan of Penthièvre.
aristocraticfury.substack.com
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