Jeanne de Clisson

The Execution of Olivier IV de Clisson and the Collapse of the Truce of Malestroit (1343–1345)

Though the Truce of Malestroit was meant to pause hostilities between England and France until September 29, 1346, tensions quickly escalated. By early 1345, war fully resumed, but even before then, Philip VI of France had already violated the spirit of the truce through a series of politically motivated executions, shocking the nobility and further fueling the Breton War of Succession.

Philip VI Ends the Truce with Executions (1343–1344)

• On August 2, 1343, Philip VI ordered the execution of Olivier IV de Clisson in Paris, a shocking move that set a precedent for further purges of Breton nobles loyal to John of Montfort.
• On November 29, 1343, fourteen more Breton lords were executed, including:
  • Geoffroi de Malestroit
  • Jean de Montauban
  • Alain de Quédillac
  • Denis du Plessis
  • Guillaume II des Brieux and his brothers, Jean and Olivier
• These executions targeted key Montfortist supporters, signaling that Philip VI had no intention of maintaining peace.

The Suspicion and Execution of Olivier IV de Clisson

• Olivier IV de Clisson had been a commander in the defense of Vannes against the English in 1342, alongside Harvey VII, Lord of Léon.
• Both were captured by the English, but Olivier’s release was secured through a prisoner exchange for Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, and for an unusually low ransom.
• This led to rumors that Clisson had not defended Vannes to his fullest, and Charles of Blois accused him of treason.

Philip VI’s Betrayal and the Brutal Execution (August 2, 1343)

• After the peace treaty was signed, Olivier was invited to Paris under the pretext of attending a tournament.
• Instead, he was arrested, tried, and executed by beheading at Les Halles—without a public trial or full evidence of guilt.
• His corpse was posthumously desecrated:
  • His body was hanged by the armpits at Montfaucon gallows in Paris.
  • His severed head was placed on a pike at the Sauvetout Gate of Nantes.

Shock and Condemnation by the Nobility

• The French nobility was appalled by the execution, as Philip VI had failed to publicly prove Clisson’s guilt.
• Such posthumous desecration was normally reserved for common criminals, not nobles.
• Jean Froissart and his contemporaries harshly condemned Philip VI’s actions, as they violated:
  • Chivalric traditions—nobles were expected to be treated honorably, even in betrayal.
  • The feudal right of allegiance—many nobles saw loyalty as a personal choice, not an unbreakable obligation.

Consequences: The Full Resumption of War (1345–1362)

• Despite the Truce of Malestroit, Philip VI’s executions had already reignited hostilities before the official resumption of war.
• By February 1345, Edward III was already preparing for a new military campaign, expecting the war to fully restart once the truce expired.
• Although full-scale hostilities did not officially recommence until 1345, the Breton War of Succession would now continue until 1362, fueled by the brutality of Philip VI’s reprisals.

Philip VI’s execution of Olivier IV de Clisson and other Breton nobles was a major political miscalculation, as it alienated the nobility, further escalated tensions, and ensured that war would continue for decades.

Jeanne de Clisson’s Revenge and War Against the French Crown (1343–1345)

Following the execution of her husband, Olivier IV de Clisson, in August 1343, Jeanne de Clisson swore vengeance against King Philip VI of France and Charles of Blois, believing their actions constituted a cowardly and unjust murder. She took up arms against the French monarchy, launching a personal war of retribution, which would earn her the title of the “Lioness of Brittany.”

Jeanne’s Oath of Vengeance and Initial Campaign

• After Olivier IV’s execution, Jeanne took her two young sons, Olivier and Guillaume, to Nantes, where she showed them their father’s severed head, still displayed on a pike at the Sauvetout Gate.
• Determined to exact revenge, she:
  • Sold off the de Clisson estates to raise funds.
  • Gathered a force of loyal men from among her husband’s supporters.
  • Began targeting French strongholds and military outposts in Brittany.

Key Attacks by Jeanne de Clisson

Jeanne’s forces struck against French garrisons and noble supporters of Charles of Blois, engaging in brutal raids and massacres:

1. Touffou Castle (near Bonnes) – One of the first fortifications she attacked.
2. A castle occupied by Galois de la Heuse, a French officer serving Charles of Blois – Jeanne and her men massacred the entire garrison, sparing only one survivor as a warning.
3. Château-Thébaud, located 20 km southeast of Nantes – This garrison, once controlled by her husband, was recaptured by Jeanne and her forces.

Her merciless tactics, especially the massacres of French soldiers, earned her a fearsome reputation and made her a legendary figure in Breton resistance against France.

Conviction and Confiscation of the de Clisson Estates (1343)

• In 1343, a French court convicted Jeanne de Clisson of treason, officially stripping her of all remaining lands and titles.
• This effectively made her an outlaw, but she continued her campaign against the French monarchy.

English Support and Funding

• English records from 1343 show that King Edward III granted Jeanne an income from lands controlled by the English in Brittany.
• This indicates that her anti-French activities aligned with English interests, making her a valuable ally in the ongoing conflict.

Legacy and Continued Resistance

• Jeanne’s revenge campaign did not end with land-based raids—she would soon turn to piracy, attacking French ships in the English Channel with a fleet of black-painted ships.
• Her relentless campaign against France ensured that she remained one of the most formidable figures in the Breton War of Succession.

The execution of Olivier IV de Clisson in 1343 had unintended consequences for the French monarchy, as it created one of the most determined and ruthless enemies of the Capetian cause in Brittany—a woman who would not rest until she had avenged her husband’s death.

Jeanne de Clisson: The Lioness of Brittany and Her Black Fleet (1343–1356)

Following the execution of her husband, Olivier IV de Clisson, and her campaign of vengeance against the French monarchy, Jeanne de Clisson turned to piracy, launching a relentless war at sea against France. With the backing of King Edward III of England and Breton sympathizers, she assembled a fleet of three warships, painted blackwith blood-red sails, earning her the legendary moniker "The Lioness of Brittany."

The Black Fleet and Jeanne’s War on the French

• Outfitting three warships, including her flagship, My Revenge, Jeanne took to the English Channel, hunting down French ships with ruthless efficiency.
• Each time she and her crew intercepted a French vessel, they would slaughter the entire crew, leaving only a few survivors to spread the tale—a psychological tactic meant to terrorize the French navy and merchant fleets.
• Her merciless attacks soon made her one of the most feared figures at sea, and she became a symbol of Breton resistance against French rule.

Piracy and Raids on Normandy

• Jeanne’s vendetta extended beyond the Channel—she reportedly led raids on coastal villages in Normandy, pillaging towns and putting them to sword and fire.
• These coastal assaults further demonstrated that she was not merely a pirate, but a privateer acting in revenge and defiance of the French Crown.

Thirteen Years of Relentless Piracy (1343–1356)

• For over a decade, Jeanne de Clisson continued to terrorize French waters, operating as a privateer for the English, disrupting French naval operations and trade routes.
• Her legend grew, as she became one of the most feared and infamous female pirates in history, though her campaign was driven by personal vengeance rather than pure profit.

Legacy of the Lioness of Brittany

• Jeanne’s Black Fleet helped weaken French naval control during the early phases of the Hundred Years' War, indirectly aiding England’s war effort.
• Her unrelenting pursuit of vengeance against the French monarchy cemented her as one of the most extraordinary figures in medieval history.
• Despite her piratical reputation, Jeanne is remembered as a Breton patriot, an avenger, and one of the few women in history to wage a personal naval war against a kingdom.

For thirteen years, the Black Fleet of Jeanne de Clisson haunted the Channel, making her one of the most feared privateers of the Middle Ages, leaving an indelible mark on French and Breton history.

Jeanne de Clisson’s Role in the Battle of Crécy and Her Tragic Ordeal at Sea (1346)

During the Battle of Crécy (August 26, 1346), Breton pirate Jeanne de Clisson, known as "The Lioness of Brittany," used her Black Fleet of three ships to supply English forces, aiding Edward III’s invasion of northern France. However, following the battle, she suffered a devastating personal tragedy when her flagship was sunk, leaving her and her two young sons stranded at sea.

Jeanne de Clisson’s Role at Crécy

• As an English ally, Jeanne de Clisson played a key logistical role, supplying Edward III’s forces south of Calais.
• Her pirate fleet had long harassed French supply lines, making her one of Philip VI’s most hated enemies.
• During or shortly after the battle, her flagship was sunk, stranding Jeanne and her two sons on a makeshift raft in the English Channel.

Five Days Adrift and the Death of Guillaume de Clisson

• Jeanne, along with her two sons—nine-year-old Olivier and seven-year-old Guillaume—was left adrift for five days.
• Exposure to the elements took its toll, and young Guillaume died of exposure, a devastating blow to Jeanne.
• The grieving mother and her surviving son, Olivier, were finally rescued by Montfortist supporters and taken to Morlaix, Brittany, a stronghold of John of Montfort’s faction.

Impact and Aftermath

• Jeanne’s alliance with England remained unbroken, and she continued her war against the French monarchy.
• Her surviving son, Olivier de Clisson, would later become a powerful nobleman and military leader, ultimately serving as Constable of France under Charles V—a remarkable turn given his mother’s anti-French vendetta.
• The death of Guillaume marked yet another personal loss for Jeanne, further fueling her relentless pursuit of vengeance against the French crown.

Jeanne de Clisson’s aid to the English at Crécy, followed by her harrowing ordeal at sea, solidified her legend as a fierce and determined warrior, a widowed noblewoman turned privateer who defied France for over a decade.

The Final Years of Jeanne de Clisson, the "Lioness of Brittany" (1346–1359)

After spending over a decade as an anti-French privateer in the English Channel, Jeanne de Clisson, the "Lioness of Brittany," transitioned from her pirate career to a noble life on land, settling in English-controlled Brittany.

Marriage to Walter Bentley (1346)

• In 1346, Jeanne married Walter Bentley, an English military commander and deputy of King Edward IIIduring the Hundred Years' War.
• Bentley was a veteran of the Breton War of Succession and had achieved military success at the Battle of Mauron (August 4, 1352), defeating the French-backed forces of Charles of Blois.
• For his service, Edward III granted Bentley extensive lands and castles, including:
  • Beauvoir-sur-Mer
  • Ampant
  • Barre
  • Blaye
  • Châteauneuf
  • Ville Maine
  • The islands of Noirmoutier and Bouin

Jeanne de Clisson’s Retirement in Brittany (1352–1359)

• After years of maritime warfare, Jeanne settled at the Castle of Hennebont, a fortified port town in Montfortist-controlled Brittany.
• Hennebont had been a stronghold of the Montfortist cause, aligning with her long-standing support for John of Montfort’s claim to the Duchy of Brittany.
• She lived out her final years there, passing away in 1359.

Her Son, Olivier de Clisson, and His Future Role

• Jeanne’s son, Olivier de Clisson, had been taken to England in his youth, where he was raised at the court of Edward III.
• He grew up alongside John IV de Montfort, who would later become Duke of Brittany.
• Olivier later returned to France and became a powerful noble and military leader, eventually serving as Constable of France under Charles V, despite his mother’s lifelong war against the French Crown.

Legacy of Jeanne de Clisson

• Jeanne’s legend as a feared privateer and relentless enemy of France cemented her place in history as one of the most formidable female warriors of the medieval era.
• Her marriage to Walter Bentley and later retirement marked the end of her active resistance against the French monarchy, but her loyalty to England and the Montfortist cause endured.
• Her son’s political and military career ensured that the de Clisson name remained influential in both Brittany and France long after her death.

Jeanne de Clisson’s final years in Hennebont (1352–1359) marked the conclusion of a remarkable life, transitioning from vengeful pirate to noblewoman, yet always remaining loyal to the English-backed Montfortist cause in Brittany.