Siege of Rennes (1356–1357) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Rennes (1356-1357) |
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| Part of the War of the Breton Succession | |||||||||
 Map of Rennes during the siege
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 House of Montfort, Brittany.svg){kind=small} Kingdom of England |
House of Blois, Brittany.svg){kind=small} Kingdom of France |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Henry of Grosmont |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 1,500–4,000 men | Weak garrison | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The siege of Rennes was an important event during the War of the Breton Succession. This war was part of the larger Hundred Years' War between England and France. The siege happened in the city of Rennes, France, from October 1356 to July 1357.
This was not the first time Rennes had been attacked. It was besieged twice before in the same war, in 1341 and 1342. After the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, where the French king was captured, Henry of Grosmont, the Duke of Lancaster from England, decided to attack Rennes. He hoped that capturing this city would help end the war.
Contents
How the Siege Unfolded
Instead of a direct attack, Duke Henry of Lancaster chose to surround the city. He wanted to cut off its supplies and starve the people inside. This is called a blockade. Even though he had many more soldiers, he thought this was a better plan.
At that time, the city's main defenses were its old Gallo-Roman walls. These walls had been fixed up in the century before. The areas outside these walls, called suburbs, were largely destroyed during the siege.
After the Battle of Poitiers, brave French lords like Guy XII de Laval and Viscount de Rohan rushed to Rennes. They wanted to help defend the city against the English.
The main leader of Rennes's defense was Guillaume de Penhoët, also known as the Twisted Lame One. He lived in the city's castle. He was helped by Bertrand de Saint-Pern, who was the city's commander.
Because the English used a blockade, the siege lasted a long time. There weren't many big battles. However, the siege became famous for the clever tricks (or "ruses") the defenders used.
The "Miracle" of St. Savior Church
In February 1357, people in Rennes heard strange sounds underground. They realized that Lancaster's army was digging a tunnel under the city walls. The English hoped to sneak soldiers into the city this way.
Guillaume de Penhoët quickly came up with a plan. He told people living near the walls to hang copper basins with metal balls inside their homes. The vibrations from the digging would make the balls rattle, helping them find the exact spot of the tunnel.
Once they found the tunnel, the defenders dug their own tunnel to meet it. A group of soldiers, led by Saint-Pern, attacked the English tunnel diggers (called sappers). They then set fire to the wooden supports of the tunnel, making it collapse.
A writer named Alain Bouchart later wrote that this counter-tunnel was dug right under a crucifix in the church of Saint-Sauveur. A legend grew that a statue of the Virgin and Child in the church miraculously came to life. It supposedly pointed with its finger to where they needed to dig. Because of this story, people began to honor this statue, calling it Notre-Dame of the Miracles and Virtues.
The Clever Pig Trick
Another very famous story from the siege involves a large group of pigs. Lancaster knew the people inside Rennes were running out of food. So, he had 2,000 to 4,000 pigs fed right outside the city's Mordelais gates. He hoped this would tempt the hungry people of Rennes to come out and fight for the food.
But Captain Penhoët had another clever idea. He had a female pig (a sow) hung from a small gate (a postern) in the city wall. The sow's loud calls attracted all the other pigs. Before the English could react, the entire herd of pigs ran into the city!
The people of Rennes burst out laughing from the walls. They made fun of the English soldiers, who were completely shocked by the trick. The defenders shouted, "You owe us wages, because we are now your pig-keepers!"
Du Guesclin Arrives
Later, more supplies reached the city thanks to Bertrand Du Guesclin. He was a very famous and brave French knight. He entered Rennes with carts full of food. He tricked the English duke into thinking that the carts were bringing German soldiers, which distracted them.
Du Guesclin's arrival greatly encouraged the people inside the city. In the weeks that followed, there were many small attacks and duels (fights between two people). Du Guesclin himself became famous for winning a duel against an English knight named Bramborc.
What Happened Next
Historians have different ideas about how the siege ended. Some say it was lifted in February or March 1357 when other French forces arrived. However, most sources agree that the city had to pay a large sum of money to Lancaster. This is called paying a ransom.
One history book says the siege ended because of a treaty (an agreement) between France and England. Another source says that on July 5, 1357, the siege was lifted. Rennes had to pay 100,000 ecus (a type of old French coin), with 20,000 paid right away. This was a deal made between Lancaster and the people of Rennes.
However, another history book from 2006 says it was a surrender. But because Rennes had defended itself so bravely, the city was not completely looted and destroyed by the English.
See also
Sources
- Dom Morice (1742). Charles Osmont. ed. L'Histoire de Bretagne. I. Paris.
