Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu facts for kids
Raoul II of Brienne (born in 1315 – died November 19, 1350) was a French nobleman. He was the son of Raoul I of Brienne, Count of Eu and Jeanne de Mello. When his father passed away in 1344, Raoul II became the Count of Eu and Guînes. These were important titles, meaning he ruled over certain lands. He also took over his father's job as the Constable of France, which was a very high military position in the kingdom.
His Family Life
In 1340, Raoul II married a woman named Catherine. She was the daughter of Louis II, Baron de Vaud. Catherine lived until 1388. Raoul and Catherine did not have any children together.
Captured and His Fate
In 1346, Raoul II was involved in a big fight called the Battle of Caen. During this battle, he was captured by an English knight named Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent. Raoul was held as a prisoner for a few years.
In 1350, he was allowed to go back to France. The idea was that he would try to gather money to pay for his freedom. However, when he arrived in France, he was immediately arrested. The king at the time, John II of France, ordered that Raoul be put to death. This happened very quickly, and the reasons for it are still not fully clear today. Some people believed that Raoul might have secretly promised his castle and the County of Guînes to Thomas Holland in exchange for his release.
