Jeanne de Clisson ‘Lioness Of Bretagne’: Her Black Painted Ships With Red Sails Terrorized English Channel
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Among many brave and rebellious women of old times that conquered the world was also Jeanne de Clisson (1300-1359). She took revenge for the death of her husband.
Known as the 'Lioness of Bretagne,' she became a famous pirate that stalked the English Channel and ravaged the French coastline.
Jeanne de Belleville, aka Jeanne de Clisson. source
According to legend, Jeanne de Clisson's black-painted ships with red sails sowed terror in the region for thirteen years.
However, it wasn't without reason.
Jeanne de Clisson was born Jeanne de Belleville in Belleville-sur-Vie, a castle and fortress on the western coast of France.
She was a good mother and a happy wife to Breton nobleman Olivier de Clisson. Jeanne was a good and loyal French noblewoman for most of her life.
Jeanne's Husband Must Go To War
In April 1341, the War of Succession of Brittany broke out, and France went to war with England. The Breton War of Succession (1341–65) was an essential historical episode of the Hundred Years War (1337–1453, the conflict between England and France).
When Jean III, duke of Brittany, dies without leaving an heir, his duchy is disputed by two sides. On one side, by his niece, Jeanne de Penthievre, the wife of Charles de Blois, and on the other, by Jean de Montfort, Thus the duchy of Brittany becomes an issue even beyond its borders.
As a result, King Philip VI of France defends the party of his nephew Charles de Blois; several Bretons gather under the banner of Montfort (the half-brother of the deceased duke.) Jeanne's husband, Olivier, chose to back his friend, Charles de Blois, in his claim to the duchy.
Clisson Castle at night. Image credit: Brice44 - CC BY-SA 3.0
In 1342, as one of the military commanders defending the city Vannes in northwestern France, Olivier de Clisson was taken prisoner, but he was soon released in a prisoner exchange.
Jeanne's Husband Was Not Trusted
Strangely, Charles de Blois became convinced that Olivier should not be trusted anymore. According to him, his friend was a traitor and had already defected to the English side. King Philip VI also believed Olivier was working for the English. On 19 January 1343, Olivier and fifteen other Breton lords were invited to a tournament on French soil.
He was suspected of not having defended the city to his fullest and accused of treason. He was arrested, taken to Paris, and tried.
On 2 August 1343, he was beheaded. His execution shocked Jeanne, his wife, and the whole nation.
Enraged, Jeanne Took To The Sea And Became A Cruel Pirate
After the death of her husband, Jeanne de Clisson made an important decision in her life as a widow and mother. She wanted to avenge her husband, who she believed was cunningly captured and executed at the court of the French king.
She did not intend to sink into mourning but gathered a small group and launched terrible attacks on French garrisons. When she could no longer stay on the continent, she moved to England and became a pirate.
Execution of Olivier IV de Clisson. Painting is attributed to Loyset Liédet, Flemish illuminator (v.1420-v.1483) in the "Chronicles of Lord Jehan Froissart. Image credit: Liédet, Loyset - Public Domain
She sold the family property, sold her belongings, and decided to fight the French country not on the land but from the sea. She attacked from the fog without warning; she always left one survivor to spread the word of her doings. King Philip VI was furious and wanted to capture Jeanne. His soldiers hunted her, raiding her ship and killing her crew. On one occasion, she barely escaped with her children.
After this incident that could end tragically, Jeanne began rowing toward England. It took five days and nights, during which one of her sons died. Finally, she was rescued and arrived at Morlaix of Brittany in northwestern France.
Now she was ready to continue her revenge using the Black Fleet. With the English king's help and Breton's support, Jeanne prepared three black-painted warships with red sails. According to legend, her ships successfully sowed terror among French boats in the English Channel for thirteen years.
Her pirates burned cities, massacring French noblemen; her pirate crew attacked French ships during the Breton succession war from 1343 to 1356. She always left one (or three, in another version) sailors alive on the boats she attacked to ensure the French king was told she was in charge. It is possible, but not confirmed that she had concluded an alliance with England.
When King Philip VI died in 1350, the 'Lioness of Brittany' remained faithful to the Montfort House, supported by the English.
She finally abandoned piracy in 1356 and married Sir Walter Bentley, one of the faithful lieutenants of King Edward III, with whom she spent peaceful days in the coastal town of Hennebont. She died around 1359.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Updated on September 27, 2022
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesReferences:
Wagner J. A. Encyclopedia of the Hundred Years War
Duncombe, L. Sook. Pirate Women
Charles River Editors. History’s Famous Women Pirates
More From Ancient Pages
-
A Rare Pre-Roman Tomb Unearthed In Pompeii
News | Sep 22, 2015
-
Ötzi Had Dark Skin, Bald Head And Anatolian Ancestry- DNA Reveals
Evolution | Aug 16, 2023
-
On This Day In History: Last Inca Emperor Atahualpa Captured By Francisco Pizarro – On Nov 16, 1532
News | Nov 16, 2016
-
Food In Ancient Roman Funerary Meals Was Similar To That Consumed During Life
Archaeology | Aug 30, 2022
-
Merovech – Legendary King Of The Franks And The Merovingian Dynasty
Featured Stories | Jan 18, 2019
-
1,000-Year-Old Palace Kitchen With A Cannonball Inside An Oven Found At Harput Castle In Elazig, Turkey
Archaeology | Aug 28, 2023
-
Mystery Of Giant Ancient Statues And A Vanished Civilization With Unusual Physical Characteristics – Strange American Connection – Part 2
Civilizations | Aug 20, 2020
-
North America Is Named After An Italian Explorer
Ancient History Facts | Mar 1, 2016
-
On This Day In History: ‘Principia Mathematica’ Monumental Work Published By Isaac Newton – On July 5, 1687
News | Jul 5, 2016
-
Preserved Mixtec Codices: Codex Zouche-Nuttall – Beautiful ‘Folding Screen Of Historical Events Of Mixtec People Of Oaxaca
Artifacts | Dec 3, 2017
-
900-Year-Old Crypt At Old Dongola: Magical Inscriptions And Mysterious Signs Found
Archaeology | Sep 12, 2015
-
Tusayan Pueblo Ruins And Split Twig Figurines Tell Story Of People Who Once Inhabited The Grand Canyon
Civilizations | Nov 13, 2018
-
Early Humans Were Probably Driven To Extinction By Climate Change- Study Suggests
Civilizations | Oct 15, 2020
-
The Oldest Denisovan Fossils Ever Discovered Shed New Light On Early Hominins As They Spread Across Eurasia
Archaeology | Nov 30, 2021
-
Sacred Crystals Of The Cherokee – Myths, Traditions And History Explained
Featured Stories | Jun 3, 2019
-
When And Why Was Yakuza, The Japanese Mafia Founded?
Ancient History Facts | Jun 12, 2021
-
Ancient Maya Destroyed Their Environment 2,000 Years Ago – Effects Are Still Visible Today
Civilizations | Sep 9, 2015
-
Complete Neolithic Cursus Discovered On Isle of Arran, Scotland
Archaeology | Sep 7, 2023
-
Skilled Nabataeans Celestially Aligned Petra’s Wonderful Architecture
Featured Stories | Mar 6, 2014
-
600-Year-Old Axe Heads Used In The Battle Of Grunwald Found in Poland
Archaeology | Sep 1, 2020