Sir Godémar du Fay

Family: France · Role: baron of Normandy · First appears: Book 1, Chapter 52

In Book 1, Chapter 52, Sir Godémar du Fay set out in obedience to King Philip’s order with one thousand men-at-arms and six thousand foot soldiers, including Genoese. At Blanchetaque, as the tide went out, King Edward’s English forces crossed the ford and defeated his army. Godémar fled, while some of his men made for Abbeville and others for St. Ricquier; news of the defeat led King Philip to turn back and take up quarters at Abbeville.

After Crécy, King Philip was so angry with Godémar for failing to defend Blanchetaque that he resolved to hang him. Sir John de Hainault excused him and persuaded the king to spare him, arguing that even the flower of French nobility could not have resisted the English army.

Relationship record

Life events

• The English crossed the ford and defeated Sir Godémar du Fay’s army.(Book 1, Chapter 52 · 📍 Blanchetaque)
  • With: King Edward
  • “At this ford of Blanchetaque many gallant feats of arms were performed on each side; but in the end the English crossed over, and, as they came on shore, hastened to the fields.”
• Sir Godémar du Fay fled after his army was defeated.(Book 1, Chapter 52 · 📍 Blanchetaque)
  • “When Sir Godémar du Fay found his army was discomfited, he saved himself as quickly as he could, and many with him; some making for Abbeville, others for St. Ricquier.”
• Philip de Valois turned back and took up his quarters at Abbeville.(Book 1, Chapter 52 · 📍 Abbeville)
  • With: King Philip
  • “The King of France therefore turned back, and took up his quarters at Abbeville.”
• Sir John of Hainault persuaded the King of France to spare Sir Godémar du Fay from execution.(Book 1, Chapter 59)
  • With: King Philip Sir John de Hainault
  • “But Sir John of Hainault excused him, and averted the king’s anger, by saying that it would have been difficult for him to have resisted the English army, when all the flower of the French nobility could do nothing.”

Book 1, Chapter 52

• liege: King Philip “Sir Godémar had set out, in obedience to this order, and had with him altogether one thousand men at arms and six thousand foot, with the Genoese.”

Book 1, Chapter 59

• with Sir John de Hainault (Sir John defended Sir Godémar du Fay against the king’s anger.) “But Sir John of Hainault excused him, and averted the king’s anger, by saying that it would have been difficult for him to have resisted the English army, when all the flower of the French nobility could do nothing.”
• enemies with King Philip “Before the King of France left Amiens, after the battle of Crecy, to go for Paris, he was so much enraged against Sir Godémar du Fay, for not having done his duty in defending the ford of Blanchetaque, by which means the English had entered Ponthieu, that he had determined to hang him;”
• allies with Sir John de Hainault “But Sir John of Hainault excused him, and averted the king’s anger, by saying that it would have been difficult for him to have resisted the English army, when all the flower of the French nobility could do nothing.”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of The Boy's Froissart. Made with Rho MD.