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| Arthur III | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duke of Brittany | |
| Reign | 22 September 1457 – 26 December 1458 |
| Predecessor | Peter II |
| Successor | Francis II |
| Born | 24 August 1393 Château de Sucinio,Brittany |
| Died | 26 December 1458(1458-12-26) (aged 65) Nantes,Brittany |
| Burial | |
| Spouses | |
| Issue | Jacquetta (illegitimate) |
| Dynasty | Montfort |
| Father | John IV, Duke of Brittany |
| Mother | Joan of Navarre |
Arthur III (Breton:Arzhur), more commonly known asArthur de Richemont (24 August 1393 – 26 December 1458), was brieflyDuke of Brittany from 1457 until his death. He is noted primarily, however, for his role as a leading military commander during theHundred Years' War. Although Richemont briefly sided with the English once, he otherwise remained firmly committed to theHouse of Valois. He fought alongsideJoan of Arc, and was appointedConstable of France. His military and administrative reforms in the French state were an important factor in assuring the final defeat of the English in the Hundred Years' War.[1][2]
The name Richemont reflects the fact that he inherited the English title ofEarl of Richmond, which was held by previous dukes of Brittany, but his tenure was never recognized by the English crown. At the very end of his life he becameDuke of Brittany and Count ofMontfort after inheriting those titles upon the death of his nephewPeter II. Richemont had no legitimate issue and was succeeded inthe duchy by his other nephew,Francis II.
Arthur was a younger son of DukeJohn IV and his third wifeJoanna of Navarre, and so a member of theDucal House of Montfort. Arthur was born at theChâteau de Suscinio. After the death of his father, his mother remarriedHenry IV of England and became Queen (Dowager) of England.
Just a year before his own death, Arthur succeeded his nephewPeter II as Duke. Arthur was also titularEarl of Richmond; the earldom had often been granted to the Dukes of Brittany, but after the death of Arthur's father, the English refused to recognize his heirs as earls. Nevertheless, they continued to style themselves "Count of Richmond", while the English title was given toJohn Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford (1389–1435) in 1414.
Arthur was an important figure at the French court during the Hundred Years' War, even before becoming Duke of Brittany.
Arthur sided with theArmagnac faction against theBurgundians during theircivil conflict in France which lasted from 1410 to 1414. He then entered the service of the DauphinLouis, Duke of Guyenne, whose intimate friend he became and whose widow he later married. He profited by his position at court to obtain the lieutenancy of theBastille, the governorship of theduchy of Nemours, and the confiscated territories of Jean Larchevêque,seigneur ofParthenay.[3] He fought at theBattle of Agincourt on 25 October 1415, where he was wounded and captured. His mother Queen Dowager Joan unsuccessfully tried to have him released, only to worsen her relationship with her stepsonHenry V of England. He was released by the English in 1420 and helped persuade his brother, Duke John, to sign theTreaty of Troyes. In 1422, the English created himDuke of Touraine. However, as the English refused to give him a high command[3] he subsequently returned to the allegiance of theDauphin in 1424, and was madeConstable of France with support fromYolande of Aragon in 1425.[4]
Arthur now persuaded his brother,John V, Duke of Brittany, to conclude thetreaty of Saumur withCharles VII of France (7 October 1425). But though he saw clearly enough the measures necessary for success, he lacked the temperament and means to carry them out. The peace concluded between John and the English in September 1427, alongside his tenacity and bad temper, led to his expulsion from the court, whereGeorges de la Trémoille, whom he himself had recommended to the king, remained supreme for six years, during which Arthur tried in vain to overthrow him.[5]
As Constable of France, Arthur fought alongsideJoan of Arc during her victory at theBattle of Patay on 18 June 1429. He joined his brother John in thesiege of Pouancé in 1432, where he notably but reluctantly fought alongside English captains, as the Duke of Brittany was allied with the English at the time. Around this time he received an offer from the Duke of Bedford (who hoped to exploit the conflict between Richemont and la Trémoille), which included Trémoille's lands in Poitou in return for him switching sides. Poitou was not in English hands; still he found more prudent to seize those lands through less strenuous means.[6] On 5 March 1432 Charles VII concluded with him and with Brittany the treaty of Rennes; but it was not until June of the following year that Trémoille was overthrown. Arthur now resumed the war against the English, and at the same time took vigorous measures against the plundering bands of soldiers and peasants known asroutiers orécorcheurs.[5]
By 1435 he had regained his influence at the French court and then helped arrange theTreaty of Arras between Charles VII andPhilip III, Duke of Burgundy. This treaty cemented the peace between France and Burgundy, leading to the eventual defeat of the English. He was commander of the French army at theBattle of Formigny on 15 April 1450, the next-to-the-last battle of the Hundred Years' War which sealed the reconquest ofNormandy. In the wake of the battle he successfullylaid siege to Caen.
It was not till May 1444 that theTreaty of Tours gave him leisure to carry out the reorganization of the army which he had long projected. He now created thecompagnies d'ordonnance, and endeavoured to organize the militia of thefrancs archers. This reform had its effect in the struggles that followed. In alliance with his nephew, the duke of Brittany, he reconquered, during September and October 1449, nearly all theCotentin; and after the battle of Formigny he recovered for France the whole of Normandy, which for the next six or seven years it was his task to defend from English attacks. On the death of his nephew Peter II, on 22 September 1457, he became duke of Brittany, and though retaining his office of constable of France, he refused, like his predecessors, to do homage to the French king for his duchy. He reigned little more than a year, dying on 26 December 1458.[5]
Arthur was married three times.
His wives were as follows:
Arthur also had a natural daughter named Jacqueline who was legitimatized in 1443.
Arthur died with no known legitimate issue. He was succeeded as Duke of Brittany by his nephewFrancis II, Count of Étampes.
Chisholm, H., ed. (1911). "Arthur III (1393–1458)".Encyclopædia Britannica 11th ed.2. Cambridge University Press.
Arthur III, Duke of Brittany Cadet branch of theHouse of Dreux Born: 24 August 1393 Died: 26 December 1458 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Duke of Brittany 1457–1458 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Constable of France 1425–1450 | Succeeded by |
