Guesclin

Guesclin, Bertrand du, a great French general, was born in Brittany about 1320. He distinguished himself in the Brittany Succession War as a partisan of Charles de Blois, and during the Hundred Years' War was the only French leader who equalled the great English captains. He gained some successes while King John was a prisoner in England, and before the accession of Charles V. had driven the enemy from the heart of the kingdom. In 1364 he defeated Charles the Bad of Navarre at Cocherel, but in the autumn of the same year was himself defeated and captured by Sir John Chandos at Auray. After his ransom he led the army of Henry of Trastamare against the Black Prince, who supported Pedro the Cruel. The result of the battle of Najera, or Navarette, was that Du Guesclin was again a prisoner (1367).

Having been ransomed, he nevertheless again met Don Pedro, and this time defeated him at Montiel and gave the crown to his brother and foe. Soon after this he was made Constable of France, and brought his career to a glorious end by gaining back almost the whole of his country from the English.