Rodrigo de Villandrando facts for kids
Rodrigo de Villandrando (died around 1457) was a Spanish soldier from Castile. He led groups of hired soldiers, known as "routiers," in Gascony during the final part of the Hundred Years' War. He became very well-known for taking things by force from towns and people. Because of this, he was called the Emperor of Pillagers (empereur des brigands) or L'Écorcheur (the flayer).
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Early Life and Rise to Power
Rodrigo de Villandrando was born in Valladolid, Spain. His parents were Pedro de Villandrando and Agnes de Corral. He later became a count, which is a noble title, in Ribaldo and Valladolid.
Around 1410, Rodrigo traveled to France. There, he joined a group led by a man named Amaury de Séverac. Rodrigo quickly became a captain of the routiers. These were like private armies, hired by powerful lords or even church leaders. After Amaury, his protector, passed away in 1427, Rodrigo started working for Charles VII of France, the French king. In 1428, another soldier named Juan Salazar joined him and became his trusted helper. Early in his career, Rodrigo's men took goods from places like Treignac, Meymac, and Tulle.
Joining the French King
On June 11, 1430, Rodrigo and about 400 of his men fought in the Battle of Anthon. His soldiers used simple tools like billhooks (a type of cutting tool), sledge hammers, and spades as weapons. They fought for the French king against Louis II of Chalon-Arlay, who was a prince and a supporter of Philip the Good.
In 1431, John II of Aragon, a king, rewarded Rodrigo. He gave him the county of Ribadeo and the special right to eat at his royal table once a year. That same year, Rodrigo's men took goods from Saint-Clément-de-Régnat. The French also hired him to stop a rebellion by farmers. He did this by defeating the rebels at Saint-Romain-le-Puy.
In September 1432, Rodrigo's routiers, who were working for Georges de la Trémoille, defended Les Ponts-de-Cé. They held the town against attacks from Jean V de Bueil.
Marriage and Influence
Around 1433, Rodrigo was at the peak of his power. He commanded about 10,000 hired soldiers. Many of these soldiers were English and were known as "Rodrigoys." His men caused fear in the countryside of the Médoc region. They often demanded money from local lords and forced people to pay for "protection." They were always taking things and attacking towns called bastides. In 1433, he captured the castle of Lagarde Viaur and demanded a very large sum of money to give it back. In the late 1430s, his men took goods from Bor-et-Bar, Salers, and Laparade.
On May 24, 1433, Rodrigo married Margaret. She was the half-sister of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon. For 6,000 écus (a type of old French money), he bought the castles of Ussel and then Châteldon from his brother-in-law. Between 1434 and 1439, he lived in the strong fortress of Montgilbert.
Later Campaigns and Retirement
In 1436, Rodrigo's men attacked Cordes. In 1438, they hit Lauzun, Fumel, Issigeac, and Blanquefort. In 1437, his men violently took goods from the fur traders of King Charles VII at Hérisson. In 1438, he joined French forces led by Charles II of Albret and Poton de Xaintrailles. They went on a military raid, called a chevauchée, in the Bordelais and Médoc regions. They were only stopped by the strong walls of Bordeaux itself.
In 1440, Rodrigo fought with Charles of Bourbon against King Charles VII. This was part of a rebellion known as the Praguerie. In 1441, his men took goods from Changy and Pavie. In 1442, he again had the support of the French king to take things from northern Gascony. Later that year, he and Albret threatened the town of Bazas.
In 1443, a group of his men, led by Salazar, went back to Spain. On their way, they took goods from upper Languedoc and the Lauragais. After this, Rodrigo was forbidden from France. He returned to Spain, where he was made a marshal, a high military rank, of Castile. He later gave all his possessions to the church in Castile and went to live in a monastery. He passed away there around 1457.
See also
In Spanish: Rodrigue de Villandrando para niños
