GIIESCLIN, BERTRAND Du, Count of Longueville, constable of France, the most eminent French gen. of the 14th c., was born of an ancient family in the district of Rennes, sometime between 1314 and 1320. As a boy he was remarkably dull, and could never be taught either to read or write, but exhibited a passion for military exer cises. In his 17th year he 'bore away the prize a tournament at Rennes, and from this time was always successful in such encounters. In the contests between Charles de Blois and Jean de Montfort for the dukedom of Brittany, be took part with the for mer. After king John had been taken prisoner by the Black Prince at the battle of Poictiers, in 1336, Guesclin rendered important services to the dauphin, afterwards Charles V. He took Melun and several other fortified towns, freed the Seine from the English, and on Charles's accession to the throne in 1364, was created governor of Pon torson. In May of the same year he gained the battle of Cockerel, and was rewarded by the title of count of Longueville and marshal of Normandy. On Sept. 29 lie was defeated and taken prisoner by the English, under sir John Chandos. at the battle of Aunty, but was liberated on payment of a ransom of 100,000 livres, paid by the king, the pope, and several other priuces. Ile now supported Henry, count of Trastamare,
against Pedro the cruel, king of Castile, but was defeated and taken prisoner by the Black Prince. Being again ransomed on payment of a large sum, to which even the enemy contributed from feelings of respect, Guesclin renewed the contest, and in 1369. defeated and slew Pedro, and placed the crown of Castile on the of Henry of Trastamare. As an acknowledgment of his services, Henry created Gaeselin count of Burgos, duke of Molina, and constable of Castile. He was, however, soon recalled by Charles V. of France, at that time hard pressed by the English, and raised by that monarch to the dignity of constable of France. In the year 1370 Gttesclin opened his campaigns against the English, and in a short time the whole of their possessions were in the hands of the French, with the exception of a feW fortified towns. While assisting his friend Sancerre in the siege of Chilteau-neuf de Bandon, in Languedoc, GLICI8Clill was taken ill, and died July 3, 1380. Charles V. caused him to be interred with great pomp beside his own burial-vault at St. Denys.—Cornpare Guyard the Berville, Iti.y/o/re de Bertrand du Guesclin (Paris, 1767).