Charles, Duke of Brittany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blessed Charles of Blois-Châtillon
Duke of Brittany
Reign	30 April 1341 – 29 September 1364
Predecessor	John III
Successor	John IV
Born	c. 1319 Blois (France)
Died	29 September 1364 (aged 44–45) Auray
Spouse	Joan, Duchess of Brittany
Issue	John I, Count of Penthièvre Marie, Duchess of Anjou Margaret, Countess of Angoulême
House	House of Blois-Châtillon
Father	Guy I, Count of Blois
Mother	Margaret of Valois

Charles de Châtillon
Statue of Blessed Knight Charles Châtillon de Blois in the Church of Notre-Dame de Bulat-Pestivien (Bretagne)
Duke of Brittany, Patron of Europe
Born	c. 1319 Blois, France
Died	29 September 1364 (aged 44 – 45) Battle of Auray, Auray, France
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	14 December 1904 (confirmation of cultus) by Pope Pius X
Feast	29 September (General Roman Calendar)
Attributes	sword, tabard with Brittany's coat of arms, armor, shield
Patronage	Army soldiers, agricultural workers

Charles of Blois-Châtillon (born around 1319 – died September 29, 1364) was a very religious French nobleman. People often called him "the Saint." He became the Duke of Brittany in 1341 through his marriage to Joan, Duchess of Brittany. He ruled Brittany until his death, even though another nobleman, John of Montfort, also claimed the title.

Charles was known for his deep religious faith. After his death, there was a long effort to have him recognized as a saint. This process was supported by his cousin, Charles V of France, but opposed by his rival, John of Montfort. The effort slowed down for a while but was restarted much later. Charles of Blois was officially recognized as "Blessed" in 1904.

Life of Charles of Blois

Charles was born in Blois, a town in France. His father was Guy I, Count of Blois, and his mother was Margaret of Valois. Margaret was the sister of King Philip VI of France.

From a young age, Charles was very religious. He loved reading religious books, but his father thought it wasn't suitable for a knight. As he grew up, Charles showed extreme devotion. He would put small stones in his shoes to make walking uncomfortable. He also slept on straw instead of a soft bed. Every night, he would confess his sins. He even wore a rough, scratchy shirt called a cilice under his armor during battles. Despite these practices, he was a skilled military leader. His strong religious beliefs inspired loyalty in his soldiers.

His Marriage and Family

On June 4, 1337, Charles married Joan the Lame in Paris. Joan was the niece and heir of John III, Duke of Brittany. This marriage was very important because it gave Charles his claim to rule Brittany.

Together, Charles and Joan had five children:

• John I, Count of Penthièvre (1340–1404)
• Guy
• Henry (died 1400)
• Marie of Blois, Duchess of Anjou (1345–1404)
• Margaret of Blois, Countess of Angoulême

The Breton War of Succession

Charles and his wife, Joan, fought against the House of Montfort for control of Brittany. This long conflict was called the Breton War of Succession (1341–1364). The King of France supported Charles.

During this war, Charles made some very difficult decisions. For example, after the sieges of Quimper and Guerande, he ordered harsh actions against civilians. In 1347, after some early victories, Charles was captured by the English army. His captor was Thomas Dagworth.

Charles was held prisoner in England for nine years. While there, he often visited English graveyards to pray. He would recite Psalm 130. His squire, a young assistant, did not like this. The squire said that the people buried there had killed his family and burned their homes.

Charles was finally released in 1356 after a large ransom was paid. It was about half a million écus, a type of old French coin. When he returned to France, he decided to walk barefoot in winter from La Roche-Derrien to Tréguier Cathedral. He did this to show his devotion to Saint Ivo of Kermartin. People heard about his plan and put straw and blankets on the road to protect his feet. But Charles chose a different path to avoid them. His feet became so sore that he couldn't walk for 15 weeks. After he recovered, he continued the war against the Montforts.

Charles was killed in battle during the Battle of Auray in 1364. This battle was a major turning point. The war ended with the Montforts winning, as decided by the second Treaty of Guerande in 1381.

Becoming a Blessed Saint

Charles was buried in Guingamp. The Franciscans, a religious group, began to promote him as a saint and martyr, even though it wasn't officially approved yet. Many people visited his tomb and left gifts, called ex votos. In 1368, Duke John IV of Brittany asked Pope Urban V to stop this unofficial worship. The Pope agreed, but the local bishops couldn't stop the people.

However, Charles's family worked hard to have him officially recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. With pressure from Charles V of France, Pope Urban agreed to start an investigation. Pope Urban died in 1370. The investigation continued under the next Pope, Pope Gregory XI. A report was sent to Avignon, where the Pope was living at the time. Three cardinals were appointed to review the case.

The Pope later moved back to Rome in 1376 and died in 1378. The documents for Charles's case likely went to Rome. For a long time, nothing more happened with his cause for sainthood. In 1454, Charles's grandson encouraged his relatives to keep trying.

The process was finally reopened in 1894. On December 14, 1904, Charles de Châtillon was officially declared "Blessed Charles of Blois" by Pope Pius X. His feast day is celebrated on September 30.

Images for kids

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  Image of S.Charles de Châtillon in the book Vie des Saints", Yann-Vari Perrot, publishing in 1912 (page 692)

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  The Saint Charles de Châtillon de Blois, battles gallery, Versailles castle, France

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  The Saint Charles de Châtillon in the glass window of the Church Saint-Pierre in Plounéour-Trez, France

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  The Saint Charles de Châtillon in the glass window of the Church Saint-Malo in Dinan, France

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  Statue of Blessed Knight Charles Châtillon de Blois in the Church of Notre-Dame de Bulat-Pestivien (Bretagne)

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  The Knight Charles de Blois-Châtillon, with his army, in the attack of Siege of Hennebont in 1342, an epic battle during the war of succession of Brittany

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  "The Knight Charles de Châtillon is taken prisoner". Jean Froissart, Chroniques (Vol. I), Koninklijke Bibliotheek in 1816

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  Battle of Auray, 1364

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  "War of Breton Succession" (1341–1364), Jean Froissart, Paris, 9th century

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  Battle of Auray in the glass window of the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, Rennes

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  Battle of Auray 1364, "Chroniques"

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  Battle of Auray, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris

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  First Siege of Vannes in 1342 by Charles de Blois-Châtillon

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  Charles de Blois-Châtillon, was taken prisoner after the battle of Roche Derrien in 1347

See also

• John of Montfort
• Counts of Blois
• Luis de la Cerda, also known as Louis of Spain, a commander of Charles during the Breton War of Succession
• Dukes of Brittany family tree
• House of Châtillon
• Olivier IV de Clisson