Robert Knolles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Knolles
English Knight
Blason of Robert Knolles
Born	1325 Cheshire, England
Died	1407 Sculthorpe, England
Nationality	English

Sir Robert Knolles or Knollys (around 1325 – 15 August 1407) was an important English knight. He was a key figure in the Hundred Years' War, a long conflict between England and France. With the quiet support of the English king, he managed to capture two major French cities. These were the only big cities, apart from Calais and Poitiers, that fell to King Edward III. However, his methods also made him famous for being a bit destructive. The ruined roofs of burned buildings were even called "Knollys' mitres" because of him.

Early Military Career

Robert Knolles was born in Cheshire, England. He first appeared as a captain of several castles in Brittany in the mid-1300s. These castles included Fougeray, Gravelle, and Chateaublanc.

Combat of the Thirty

In 1351, he was one of the English champions in a famous fight called the Combat of the Thirty. This was a staged battle between 30 knights from England and 30 knights from France and Brittany. During this fight, Knolles was captured.

Campaigns in France

In 1356, Knolles and 800 of his men joined a military raid led by Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster. This raid went through Normandy. Its goal was to distract King John II of France and draw his army north. This would leave the Black Prince free to start his famous Poitiers campaign.

After the Battle of Poitiers, France was in chaos. King Charles II of Navarre led a rebellion in Paris. Knolles joined the army of Charles's brother, Philip. Together, they briefly held the capital city against the Dauphin (the French king's heir) in 1358.

Adventures with the Great Company

Knolles had some of his most successful moments in the autumn of 1358. He led a large group of 2,000 to 3,000 English and Gascon soldiers. This group was known as a "Great Company." They marched into the Loire Valley and set up several military bases in important towns. One of these was Châteauneuf-Val-de-Bargis.

March to Auxerre

Knolles then moved into the Nivernais region. This area was defended by Arnaud de Cervole, an adventurer who had started the first Great Company. In 1359, Knolles reached Auxerre. The city fell after a two-month siege on March 10. After the city surrendered, Knolles was officially made a knight by two of his officers. Before this, he had only been a squire.

The capture of Auxerre was done with little violence. Knolles and his soldiers were professionals who wanted to make as much money as possible. They carefully searched the city for valuable items. They also made the citizens pay a ransom. In the end, a huge amount of money was demanded to prevent the city from being destroyed. However, only part of this ransom was paid.

Southern Campaigns

The next month, Knolles returned to Chateauneuf. There, he planned to invade the Rhône Valley with another knight, Hugh Calveley. They marched south and set up a base on the Allier River at Pont-du-Chateau. From there, they launched an invasion of the Velay region.

Knolles then met up with Calveley again to attack the important city of Le Puy. It fell in July 1359. As they continued towards the Pope's city of Avignon, their path was blocked by an army led by Thomas de la Marche. At this point, both English commanders decided to retreat and break up their companies.

Later Battles

At the end of the Breton War of Succession, Knolles took part in John de Montfort's siege of Auray in July 1364. This was just before John's big victory at the Battle of Auray in September. Knolles also joined the Black Prince at the Battle of Nájera (Navarrete) in 1367.

Campaign in France (1370)

In 1370, Robert Knolles received a large amount of land and money. This was to help him raise an army to invade northern France. He landed at Calais in August with 6,000 mounted soldiers. He led a deep raid into French territory, burning villages near Paris. However, he could not make the French King Charles V come out and fight.

Knolles then turned towards Gascony. He began capturing and strengthening castles and churches in the area between the Loir and Loire rivers. But he faced a lot of criticism from his younger commanders, like Sir John Minsterworth. They were eager for a big fight.

Battle of Pontvallain

When it became known that French armies, led by Bertrand du Guesclin, were getting close, Knolles suggested retreating into Brittany. However, most of his army refused. So, he marched away with his own group of soldiers. He left the main part of the army behind. They were completely defeated and many were killed at the Battle of Pontvallain on December 4.

Knolles spent the winter in his castle at Derval in Brittany. Afterward, he tried to get his men, and those of Minsterworth (who had joined him with his remaining troops), out of the port of Saint-Mathieu. But there were not enough ships. Most of the English soldiers had to be left behind on the shore. They were then wiped out by the French army led by Olivier V de Clisson.

In 1372, the King's Council decided that Knolles was mainly responsible for this disaster. He lost the lands he had been given for raising the army. He was also fined 10,000 marks (a type of money).

Later Life and Legacy

Sir Robert Knolles died at his home in Sculthorpe, Norfolk, on August 15, 1407. He was about 81 or 82 years old.

He also founded Trinity Hospital in Pontefract. He helped to stop the Peasants' Revolt, a large uprising of common people, in 1381.

Knolles' family symbol, his coat of arms, can be seen on the tower of Bodiam Castle in Sussex. This was a sign of loyalty to Knolles from the castle's builder, Edward Dalyngrigge. Dalyngrigge had served under Knolles in a Free Company during the Hundred Years' War.