Predecessor John III House House of Blois Role Duchy of Brittany | Successor John IV Name Charles Duke Grandchildren Louis II of Naples | |
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Reign 30 April 1341 – 29 September 1364 Issue John I of Blois-Chatillon
Guy
Henry
Marie, Lady of Guise
Marguerite, Countess of Angouleme Father Guy I of Blois-Chatillon Died September 29, 1364, Auray, France Spouse Joan, Duchess of Brittany (m. 1337) Children Marie of Blois, Duchess of Anjou, John I of Blois-Chatillon, Marquerite of Blois-Chatillon Parents Margaret of Valois, Countess of Blois, Guy I, Count of Blois Similar People Bertrand du Guesclin, Thomas Dagworth, Louis I - Duke of Anjou, John II of France, Charles - Count of Valois | ||
Charles i duke of brittany
Charles of Blois-Châtillon (1319 – 29 September 1364) "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 to his death via his marriage to Joan of Penthiève, holding the title against the claims of John of Montfort. He was later canonized as a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church for his devotion to religion. This canonization was later annulled, although he remains beatified.
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Biography
Charles was born in Blois, son of Guy de Châtillon, 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 1400 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. He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million écus, and resumed the war against the Montforts.
Family
By his marriage to Joanna, he had five children:
Death and legacy
Charles de Châtillon died in 1364 in the Battle of Auray, which with the second treaty of Guerande in 1381, determined the end of the Breton War of Succession as a victory for the Montforts.
Charles de Châtillon was canonized as a 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 IV 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 30 September.