Guichard d'Angle facts for kids
Guichard d'Angle (born around 1310, died 1380) was a brave knight from a region in France called Poitou. He was also a special member of the Order of the Garter, which is a very old and important group of knights in England. Guichard was a close friend and helper of Edward the Black Prince, who was a famous English prince and warrior. Guichard came from a noble family in a town called Angles-sur-l'Anglin.
Contents
Early Life and Battles
Guichard d'Angle first appears in records as a knight in 1346. That same year, he bravely led the defense of Niort against an attack by Henry of Lancaster.
In 1349, Guichard worked as a French deputy commander in Saintonge. The next year, he was given an important job as a "seneschal," which was like a governor or chief officer for a region. In 1351, he was captured during a battle in Saintes. He was later set free in 1353 after a payment called a "ransom" was made.
A Knight in Changing Times
Before the famous Battle of Poitiers (1356), Guichard took control of the fortress of Rochefort. The French prince, called the dauphin, then made him the castle's commander. Guichard fought for the French side at the Battle of Poitiers. He was captured again but was released after another ransom.
In 1360, Guichard was in Paris with Dauphin Charles. He helped with early talks for a peace agreement between England and France. However, he did not sign the final Treaty of Brétigny. Instead, Guichard was given the important task of handing over the fortress of La Rochelle to the English, as agreed in the treaty. By 1361, the English king officially became the ruler of Guichard's lands.
Serving the English Crown
From 1364 to 1372, Guichard worked for the English government in Aquitaine, a region in France. He was even made a marshal, which is a high military rank. He joined the Black Prince's journey to Spain during the Castilian Civil War between 1366 and 1369. He fought bravely in the Battle of Najera in 1367.
After the Spanish campaign, Guichard was sent on a mission to Rome. While he was away, fighting started again. He later joined John of Hastings, another important earl, on a raid into the Loire valley. Guichard was also with John Chandos, a famous English knight, when Chandos was badly wounded. Soon after, Guichard became the governor of Poitou.
In 1370, Guichard took part in the attack on Limoges with Prince Edward's forces. He spent the winter of 1371–1372 in England, where he was made a Knight of the Garter.
Captured and Freed Again
On June 22, 1372, Guichard was captured again during the Battle of La Rochelle while returning to the continent. He was captured along with Hastings. This time, he could not pay his own ransom because the French had taken his lands. He was transferred to a French knight named Olivier de Mauny in 1374 and was finally exchanged for another prisoner in 1375.
Later Life and Honors
After his release, Guichard was chosen to be a tutor for Richard, Prince of Wales. When Richard became king in 1377, he honored Guichard greatly. King Richard made Guichard the Earl of Huntingdon for the rest of his life and also gave him extra money as a pension.
