Seguin de Badefol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seguin de Badefol
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|---|---|
| Born | 1330 |
| Died | 1366 |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Poitiers |
Seguin de Badefol was a famous leader during the Middle Ages. He led a very large group of soldiers who were sometimes called "routiers" or "brigands." These groups often roamed the land after big wars, looking for work or sometimes causing trouble. Seguin de Badefol commanded about 2,000 troops, making his group one of the biggest of its kind, known as the "Tard-Venus."
Contents
Early Life and Family
Seguin de Badefol was born in the year 1330. His birthplace was the castle of Badefols-sur-Dordogne in France. His father was Seguin Gontaut de Badefol. His mother was Margaret de Bérail. She was the daughter of Arnaud de Cervole. Seguin was sometimes called Chopin Badefol.
Military Actions and Campaigns
Seguin de Badefol was a skilled military leader. He took part in many important events during his time.
Fighting at Poitiers
In 1356, Seguin de Badefol fought in the famous Battle of Poitiers. This was a major battle during the Hundred Years' War. After the battle, in 1360, a peace agreement called the Treaty of Brétigny was signed. This left many soldiers, like Seguin, without a job.
Leading the Brigands
Without official work, Seguin de Badefol gathered his own army. In 1361, he led a group of "brigands" or "routiers." These were soldiers who acted independently. He joined forces with another leader named Bertucat d'Albret. Together, they raided areas like Languedoc, Roussillon, Toulouse, and Rouergue.
Key Battles and Victories
In 1362, Seguin and Bertucat captured the town of Montbrun-les-Bains. They also took goods from Saint-Flour, Cantal. Later, Seguin joined Petit Meschin in the Battle of Brignais. They fought against Jacques de Bourbon, who was the Count of La Marche.
Refusing to Leave France
In 1363, many routiers were asked to go to Italy. However, Seguin de Badefol refused to leave France. He returned to the Languedoc area. He continued to raid with other leaders like Meschin, Louis Rabaud, Arnaud du Solis, and Espiote. On September 13, they captured the town of Brioude.
Controlling the Rhône Region
By 1364, Seguin's group was causing trouble. They devastated the region between Lyon and Mâcon. Seguin agreed to leave Clermont-Ferrand in May 1364. But he did not go straight to Gascony. Instead, he stayed and took control of the Saône and Rhône river regions. He captured about sixty castles, including Anse, Rhône.
Dealing with the Pope
After eight months, in July 1365, Pope Urban V wanted Seguin's army to leave the kingdom. The Pope gave King John II of France 40,000 florins (a type of money) to pay Seguin's company. To make sure Seguin would leave, the Pope held Seguin's father and brothers as hostages. After much discussion, the Pope paid the "Tard-Venus" to leave. The Pope then officially removed Seguin from the church, a process called excommunication, around August 1365.
Raids in Auvergne
Seguin Badefol's troops also raided many towns in the Auvergne region. These included Puy, Chaise-Dieu, Montferrand, Chilhac, Riom, Nonnette, Issoire, and Saint-Bonnet Arsis. They caused a lot of damage in the area. Finally, after holding Brioude for over a year, Seguin Badefol left the town for a fee. He then went back to Gascony, his home region, with his treasures.
Later Life and Death
In Gascony, Seguin de Badefol was hired by Charles II of Navarre. However, while working for Charles, Seguin was poisoned. Some say he was poisoned with figs in Pamplona in December 1365. Other historians, like Germain Butaud, believe he was poisoned in Falces in February 1366, after eating quince and pears.
