GUESCLIN, BERTRAND DU, was born in 1314, at the castle of Motto Bren near Rennes. He was of a very strong make, but exceedingly plain; and accordingly be used to say, "I am very ugly, and shall never please the ladies; but I shall make myself dreaded by the enemies of my king." He could never learn to read or write, although he had a muter • but he received in the house of his father that military education which was usually given to the nobles of his time. At the age of seventeen he distinguished himself at a toures meet, and having immediately afterwards entered on his military career, he fought successfully in many battles and sieges against the English. By degrees he rose in rank; and after the capture of King John of France at the battle of Poitiers, he upheld by his efforts the cause of Franco against the formidable Black Prince, and obtained many advantages over the English. A short time after the accession of Charles V., in 1364, he gained a great victory at Cocherel over the army of the king of Navarre, for which he was rewarded with the office of marshal of Normandy, and created Count de Longueville. In the same year he was defeated by the English, and was obliged to sur render to Sir Jobn Chandos. Peace being soon afterwards concluded, Du Gueulin was liberated on the payment of a ransom of 100,000 franca. At that time a great number of soldiers who were disbanded on the conclusion of peace, as well as many nobles of various nations, united' under several leaders, and oppressed the country under the name of the 'grand compagniee' Charles commissioned Du Guesclin to rid France of this annoyance, leaving him the choice of his own means. Du Guesclin persuaded many of these adventurers who had served under his command to accompany him to Spain, in order to fight against the Saracens. Ile gave them 200,000 golden florin's, and pro mised that they would meet somebody on thu road who would give them eu equal sum. The compagnics following him with the greatest enthusiasm, marched upon Avignon, which at that time was the papal residence. The pope had excommunicated the commutes : they now asked for absolution and 200,000 francs. The absolution was granted, but the money was refused. Tne compagnies however, beginning to ravage the environs and to menace the town, obtained 100,000 francs, besides the absolution.
Du Guesclin did not lead his new troops against the Saracens, but against Peter the Cruel, king of Castile, and in support of his natural brother Henry of Trastamare. Peter was driven from his throue, and
Henry established in his place. Du Guesclin was rewarded with wealth and honours by Henry, and returned to France; but Peter having ob tained assistance at Bordeaux from the Black Prince, returned with a formidable army led by his ally. Du Guesclin, who hastened to the assistance of Henry, was defeated and takeu prisoner. He remained for some time at Bordeaux, but a friend of his adroitly hinting to the Black Prince that some people believed that he kept Du Guesclin in prison only because be was afraid of restoring him to liberty, the chivalrous prince ecut for Du Gueaclin, telling him that ho asked only 100 francs for his ransom, or even leas, if he thought that sum too large. Du Guesclio offered 100,000 golden florins ; and on the prince saying that it was too much, he declared that he would not give less than 70,000 golden ferias, and that, although be was himself a poor knight, his friends the kings of Castile and France would pay that sum.
Du Guesclia again joined Henry of Trastamare against Peter the Cruel, who, in spite of the assistance given to him by the Moorish kings of Spain, was defeated and put to death, and his rival estab lished on the throne of Castile. In 1369, when war had begun again between France and England, Du Guesclin was successful in nearly every engagement, and took from the English many places, which were reunited to France. He was afterwards employed in Bretagne with great success; but having at last met with some reverses, he was calumniated to the king, who loudly manifested his discontent. Du Guesclin felt the injury so deeply that he resigned his command, and resolved to go to Spain, in order to spend the remainder of his life with Henry of Trastamare, whom he had established on the throne of Castile. All the representations of his friends against this resolution were unavailing. His only wish, before leaving his country for ever, was to assist his friend Sancerre in the capture of the castle of 'tandem. lie died during the siege of that place in 1380, in the 66th year of his age.
Du Gueaclin is one of tho most popular heroes of France, and his life has often been written. His first biography was published at Abbeville in 1487, entitled' Le Triomphe des Neuf Preux, ou Histoire de Bertrand Du Guesclin.'