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Jean de Dunois "Le
Bâtard" born
1402
John of Orléans, Count of Dunois (French Jean d'Orléans,
Comte de Dunois, was the
illegitimate son of Louis d'Orléans
The term "Bastard of Orléans" (bâtard
d'Orléans)
was the usual name for most of his career. In his
era this was a term of respect since it acknowledged
him as a first cousin to the king and acting head of
a
Cadet branch is a term in genealogy to
describe the lineage of the descendants of the
younger sons of a monarch or patriarch. In the
ruling dynasty and nobility families of much of
Europe and Asia, the family's major assets – titles,
realms, fiefs, property and income – have
historically been passed from a father to his
firstborn.
His father died in 1407. His half legitimate brother
became an English prisoner at the Battle of
Agincourt
Marriages and progeny
He married Marie Louvet (d. 1426) in April
1422 at
Bourges, by whom
he had no children.
He married a second time to Marie of
Harcourt (d. 1464), Lady of Parthenay October
26, 1439 and had two children:
François d'Orléans-Longueville (1447–1491),
Count of Dunois, Tancarville, Longueville, and
Montgomery, Baron of Varenguebec, Viscount of
Melun, Chamberlain of France, Governor of
Normandy and the Dauphiné, Constable and
Chamberlain of Normandy, married July 2, 1466 to
Agnès de Savoie (1445–1508)-
Catherine d'Orléans
(1449–1501), married May 14, 1468 to John VII of
Saarbrucken (1430–1492), Count of Roucy
Born at Paris
(1403) Jean was the natural son of Louis I
Duc d'Orléans and Mariette
d'Enghien, Dame de Cany.
Jean was adopted and raised faithfully by Louis'
wife, Valentina Visconti.
As such Jean was close to Charles, the letigimate
heir and subsequent duc d'Orléans. Charles was
captured at the battle of
Agincourt and held prisoner for many years by the
English. The Orléanist cause (as well as that of the
dauphin's) was briefly defended by Charles d'Orléans
younger brother, Philippe, comte de Vertus, who died
suddenly in 1420. Before his death Philippe arranged
to ransom the release of Jean, who had been held
captive by the Burgundians since 1418.
He joined the civil
war in France in the time of Charles VI.
on the side of the Armagnacs, and was
captured by the Burgundians
in 1418. Released in 1420, he entered the
service of the Dauphin
Jean, who by his
own insistance, went proudly by the title "The
Bastard of Orléans" continued to fight for the
French Valois king and for the protection of the
dukedom against the English.
Jean took up with La Hire (Etienne de Vignolles) and
Jean Poton de Xaintrailles
in confronting the English when the opportunities
arose. This small force managed to make the English
occupation uncomfortable, even re-captured Le Mans
for a short time. Jean was present at dauphanist's
victory at Baugé (22 March 1421) and defeats at
Cravant (1423) and Verneuil (August 1424).
Jean and La Hire reinforced Montargis (1427) with
1,600 troops, forcing Warwick to break off his
siege.
He became one of the most active leaders in
the defense of Orléans when the city was besieged by
the English in 1428.
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Minature of Jean de Dunois |
Châteaudun, home of Jean de Dunois |
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Jean de Dunois was one of
the first military commanders to value Jeanne
d'Arc's participation. His tactful dealing with her
contributed significanly in the success of her
mission to relieve the town of Orléans and
took part in the coronation of Charles VII. In 1436
he aided in the capture of Paris.
Jean was an active commander in the post-Orléans
campaign of 1429, where he directed forces in the
capture of Jargeau and was one of the French
commanders at the victory of Patay.
He received (1439) the county of Dunois from his
half brother Charles, Duc
d'Orléans. Charles VII later made him count of
Longueville. Dunois was prominent in the conquest of
Guyenne and Normandy in
the final years of the Hundred Years War.
Made comte de Dunois,
Jean (still prefering to go by the expression 'the
Bastard') led the army that captured Le Mans the
last time (1448), and Rouen (1449). He was made
lieutenant-general of Charles VII's army, a position
just below that of Constable.
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Surrender of Mantes by the English
to Jean de Dunois |
Dunois,
de Brézé and Jacques Coeur
in the campain Guyenne |
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Dunois was the dauphin Louis' forces that relieved
Dieppe (August 1443). Dunois was one of the
commanders in the successful 1450 reconquest of
Normandy. For Dunois' heroic defense of the
Orléanists lands, duc Charles d'Orléans, upon being
released from captivity in England, presented his
half-brother the castle of Châteaudun.
After Charles VII's victory over the
English, Dunois joined in an uprising against the
king. However, he realigned himself back with
Charles VII. Later, under the monarachy of Louis XI,
Dunois participated in an uprising of nobles against
the king, the League of the Public Weal (bien
publique = general welfare) (1464-65).
Louis XI managed to settle with the nobles, and
accepted Dunois back into royal favor. Dunois,
became head of Louis XI's Council of Thirty-Six (a
kind of supreme court of inquiry and public policy
in Paris).
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Jean de Dunois
- modern statue at Châteaudun
Military
commander and diplomat, important in
France’s final victory over England in
the Hundred Years’ War. |
He died
November 24, 1468
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