The Combat of the Thirty,The Breton War of Succession was part of the greater Hundred Years War and
The Combat of the Thirty,The Breton War of Succession was part of the greater Hundred Years War and was an ongoing conflict between House of Montfort and House of Blois for control of the Duchy of Brittany. For over two decades the two factions did battle, with the English backing Montfort and the French backing Blois. In 1351 the Montfort knight Robert Bemborough was challenged to single combat by the Blois knight Jehan de Beaumanoir. Bemborough upped the ante by suggesting that perhaps a special battle should be planed between 20 or 30 men instead. Beaumanoir agreed, and both factions called a truce so that the combat could be arranged.On the 26th of March, 1351 the two forces met in a field between Ploërmel and Josselin. Both sides chose thirty of their best men, the Anglo Bretons brought seven knights and 23 squires/men at arms, while the Franco Bretons brought ten knights and twenty squires. Along with the combatants were a few thousand spectators who came to watch the combat and enjoy the spectacle. The two sides formed lines and fought on foot, eventually pairing off into side duels and bouts of single combat. After several hours of fighting, resulting in four dead on the French side and two dead on the English side, half time was called and the combatants took a short break, complete with a siesta, snacks and refreshments. When the battle resumed, the English leader, Robert Bemborough was wounded and killed, causing English lines to buckle. However a German mercenary named Croquart rallied the English, who formed a tight defensive phalanx which the French attacked again and again withe less and less success. Then a French squire named Guillaume de Montauban mounted a horse and charged into the English lines, breaking it up and allowing the French to successfully surround the individual combatants. The English surrendered, albeit with complaints of cheating as it was agreed that the combat was to be conducted on foot. Regardless the Franco Bretons were declared the winners, and the Anglo Bretons were held for ransom for a small pittance. The battle resulted in the deaths of nine Englishmen and six French. -- source link
Tumblr Blog : peashooter85.tumblr.com
#history#middle ages#medieval history#combat#medieval combat