Captal de Buch facts for kids
The Captal de Buch was a special title for important nobles in a region of France called Gascony during the Middle Ages. It was like being a "chief lord." One of the most famous people to hold this title was Jean III de Grailly, captal de Buch.
Contents
What Was a Captal de Buch?
The word captal comes from a Latin word meaning "first" or "chief." It was used for some of the most important nobles in a part of France called Aquitaine. Think of them as "principal lords." This title was only used by a few families, including the lords of Buch.
Buch was a town and port located on the Atlantic coast. It was in the Arcachon Bay, a place that was important for trade and travel.
How the Title Changed Hands
The title of Captal de Buch became part of the Grailly family in 1307. This happened when Pierre de Grailly married Asalide. She was the heiress, meaning she inherited the title from her family. The Grailly family came from Savoy and were known as strong fighters.
Jean III de Grailly: A Famous Captal
The most famous person to hold the Captal de Buch title was Jean III de Grailly, captal de Buch. He was a very well-known soldier who lived from 1343 to 1376. People called him "the captal de Buch" because he was so famous.
Jean de Grailly was a close friend of the Black Prince. The Black Prince was an important English leader. Jean de Grailly strongly supported England against France. This was during the first part of the Hundred Years' War.
Key Battles and Roles
Jean de Grailly was a skilled cavalry leader. He played a big part in the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. This was a major battle where he led horsemen.
In 1364, he led his troops through the countryside between Paris and Rouen. However, he was defeated by a French commander named Bertrand du Guesclin. Jean de Grailly was taken prisoner in the Battle of Cocherel.
He was set free the next year. He then received a new area of land called Nemours. He promised loyalty to the French king, Charles V. But he soon gave up this land. He went back to supporting the English king.
In 1367, he fought in the Battle of Navarrete. In this battle, his old opponent, Du Guesclin, was captured. Jean de Grailly was given the job of keeping Du Guesclin safe.
Final Years
In 1371, Jean de Grailly was made the constable of Aquitaine. This was a high military position. But the next year, he was captured again. He was held in a prison in Paris called the Temple.
The French king offered him many tempting deals. But Jean de Grailly refused to switch sides. He stayed loyal to the English king. He remained a prisoner until he died five years later.
