Battle of Champtoceaux facts for kids

The Battle of Champtoceaux, sometimes called the Battle of l'Humeau, was the first major fight in the War of the Breton Succession. This war lasted 23 years. It was a fight over who would rule the Duchy of Brittany, a powerful region in France. This local conflict soon became part of the bigger Hundred Years War between England and France.

This battle could have ended the war quickly. John of Montfort, a leader of one side, was captured. However, his wife, Joanna of Flanders, and their young son, John, managed to escape. With England's help, they kept fighting. This allowed the resistance to grow and eventually change the course of the war.

Why Did the War Start?

The War of the Breton Succession was a political struggle. It was about who would inherit the Duchy of Brittany. The Duke, John III, Duke of Brittany, died on April 30, 1341, without a direct heir.

Two people claimed the title:

• His half-brother, John of Montfort.
• His niece, Joan.

Joan was married to Charles of Blois. Charles was also the nephew of King Philip VI of France. In medieval times, family ties were very important. So, the French king felt he had to support his nephew's claim.

England Gets Involved

King Philip VI didn't want a big war in Brittany. Travel there was hard, and people spoke a different language. He tried to get John and Charles to agree. But then, Edward III, King of England stepped in.

King Edward III offered help to John of Montfort. He promised troops and money. In return, John would have to promise loyalty to Edward for Brittany. If John won, it would help Edward's claim to be the rightful king of France. This was a bit strange because John's claim to Brittany followed a rule called Salic law. This law said women could not inherit. But Edward ignored this law for his own claim to the French throne.

King Philip was worried about English soldiers in Brittany. He feared they would move into Normandy and other parts of France. So, he decided to win the war quickly before English troops arrived. John of Montfort also acted fast. He had fled Paris to avoid being arrested for working with Edward III. He arrived in Nantes to gather his supporters.

Charles's Army Advances

By late September 1341, Charles of Blois had a strong army. It included 5,000 French soldiers and 2,000 mercenaries from Genoa. He also had many Breton soldiers. His army set up camp in Angers, in the Loire Valley.

By early October 1341, Charles was ready to move. John of Montfort had already captured many castles and towns in eastern Brittany. These included Rennes, Dinan, and the strong castle at Champtoceaux. This castle guarded the Loire Valley. Charles decided to attack Champtoceaux first. His main goal was to reach Nantes.

On October 10, Charles arrived near Champtoceaux with part of his army. He began to besiege the castle. The rest of his army was moving slower. But their presence worried many of John's supporters. John knew that people could quickly switch sides in these wars. So, he had to act. He gathered a small group of followers and rode to help Champtoceaux.

The Battle of Champtoceaux

John of Montfort's attempt to save Champtoceaux was a disaster. His soldiers were spread out in many garrisons. He could only gather a few men from Nantes for this fight. This small force was no match for Charles's army. John also knew that English help would not arrive until the next year.

John stopped at a small farm called l'Humeau, three miles from Champtoceaux. He expected to find some of his supporters there. He hoped they could tell him where Charles's army was. To his surprise, he found Charles himself there! John's men almost captured Charles's bodyguards. Charles quickly barricaded himself in the farmhouse tower. John's men tried to break in but failed.

For two days, the two rivals faced each other in a strange standoff. John's men kept trying to get into the tower, but Charles's defenses held. Meanwhile, the main French army kept getting closer. Some of John's supporters arrived to help, leading to small, bloody fights. But these fights did not stop Charles's army from moving towards Nantes.

The Siege of Nantes

Eventually, John gave up at Champtoceaux. He rode quickly to Nantes, with French cavalry chasing him. He had lost many of his supporters and mercenaries near Champtoceaux. The castle fell on October 26, once people knew John had fled.

When John reached Nantes, the townspeople were not happy. They were upset about the defeat at Champtoceaux and the losses. They agreed to support him only if he promised to surrender if no help arrived within a month.

John's forces made several attacks from the city walls in the following days. The French army fought back and began attacking smaller forts held by John's men. French soldiers executed captured defenders in front of the city walls. This made the people of Nantes even more unhappy. John found it hard to get men to join his attacks.

At the end of October, one attack ended badly. John's mercenaries deserted during the fight. This left the townspeople to be defeated by a larger French force. Some captured Montfortists were beheaded. Their heads were thrown into the city using a catapult. On November 2, the angry city council forced John to surrender. He was then imprisoned in the Louvre in Paris.

What Happened Next?

After John's capture, his allies and lands in Brittany quickly disappeared. They either deserted him or were taken by the French army. During the winter, Charles captured all of eastern Brittany. By spring, he had most of western Brittany too.

Only the port of Brest remained. It was held by John's wife, Joanna of Flanders, and a few English adventurers led by Walter Manny. It was at the Battle of Brest in July 1342 that the promised English reinforcements finally arrived. This arrival turned the war's tide once again.

John of Montfort was released in 1343 because of a peace agreement. But he had to stay on his lands in eastern Brittany. He escaped French custody in March 1345. He fled to England and then returned to Brittany. He tried to take back Quimper but failed. He died in September 1345.

His young son, also named John, was raised in England. He was still free and would continue the war when he grew up. John's son eventually defeated Charles at the Battle of Auray in 1364. This battle finally ended the long war.