François de Surienne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François de Surienne
|
|
|---|---|
Coat of arms of François de Surienne, KG
|
|
| Born | c. 1398 |
| Died | 8 April 1462 |
| Occupation | Mercenary, gunner, engineer |
| Title | Lord of Loigny, Pisy, and Châteaugirard |
| Relatives | Perrinet Gressart (fr) (uncle) Rodrigo Borgia (nephew) |
| Awards | Order of the Garter (1447-11-27) |
François de Surienne (born around 1398 – died April 8, 1462) was a Spanish soldier who fought for money (a mercenary). He was also a skilled engineer who knew a lot about building strong forts and using cannons. He was very active in areas of France like Normandy and Burgundy during the 1400s.
François de Surienne was known by many names, including Francisco de Soriano. Because he was born in Aragon, people in France often called him "the Aragonese." He was a brave adventurer who fought for the English side during the Hundred Years' War. He became a very trusted leader and agent for them.
Thanks to his hard work and family connections, he gained important titles, lands, and jobs in France. He is especially remembered for attacking the town of Fougères in Brittany in 1449. This attack broke a peace agreement between England and France. Because the English did not support him, Surienne decided to stop working for them. He then served Charles VII of France, the French king, for the rest of his life.
Contents
Who Was François de Surienne?
"François de Surienne" is the French version of his original name. His name had many different spellings because of the various ways people spoke in his home country of Aragon. Some of these names include Soriano, Sarriera, and Sureda.
He was the nephew of a man named Perrinet Gressart. Perrinet owned Passy castle. François de Surienne married Étiennette de Grésille in 1426. Some people believe he might have been related to the famous Borgia family. He might even have been the uncle of Rodrigo Borgia, who later became Pope Alexander VI. His daughter, Jeanne, married Richard Aux-Épaules, who was a loyal helper to Surienne. Richard became the castle commander of Longny for his father-in-law.
His Life and Career
Important Titles and Roles
François de Surienne, also called "the Aragonese," held many important positions. He was the lord of Pisy, Châtel-Gérard, and Loigny. He also served as a bailli (a type of local official) for Chartres and Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier.
He was a captain of towns like Montargis, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and Pont-Audemer. He was also the governor of Le Mans and the commander of Portchester Castle. For the King of England, he was the governor of Lower Normandy. He was even made a knight of the Garter, which is a very special award. He was also an advisor to the King of England. Later, he became an advisor and important official (Chamberlain) for the Duke of Burgundy. He was also the grand master of the Duke's artillery, meaning he was in charge of all the cannons.
The Attack on Fougères
François de Surienne became a Knight of the Garter on November 27, 1447. At this time, he was a soldier working for the English. He captured many towns. Then, on March 23, 1449, he took control of the Breton town of Fougères. This happened even though there was a peace agreement, or truce, between France and England.
His action became the reason to break the truce. This started the final part of the Hundred Years' War. He began this attack from the city of Condé-sur-Noireau. This city was under the control of an English knight named Sir John Fastolf.
Working for the Burgundians
After serving the King of England for twenty years, Surienne joined the service of Duke Philip III of Burgundy. He was known as one of the bravest soldiers of his time. He went with the Duke as a governor during a campaign against the city of Ghent.
During the peaceful years when he was in charge of artillery, he helped make cannons better. For example, he is thought to have invented "trunnions." These are parts that help cannons move up and down. This invention made cannons much easier to use.
François de Surienne passed away on April 8, 1462, when he was about 64 years old.
