Richard Aston

Also known as: sir Richard Aston · Family: England · Role: captain general of the English marches · First appears: Henry IV 17

c. 1405, Richard Aston, also known as sir Richard Aston, served as captain general of the English marches and lieutenant of the English pale for the earle of Summerset. From Calais he led two hundred men-at-arms, two hundred archers, three hundred footmen, and wagons carrying provisions and artillery against the besieging force of Waleran, Count of Saint-Pol.

His enemies in this action included Dampier, Seneschal of Ponthieu, Weriners, Vineles, Noielles, John de Hangests, Rambures, Lionel Darreis, Peter Rasser, Combernard, Boid Chanon, John Chanon, Stenebecke, Robert Berengueuill, Morell de Saucuses, and Courbet de Rempeupret. The English attack scattered the besiegers: “the Flemings and footmen began to flie,” while the men-at-arms withdrew and the Genoese offered little resistance, leaving the French force slain or put to flight.

Relationship record

Life events

• c. 1405 · Richard Aston led English forces that defeated and scattered Waleran’s besieging army.(Henry IV 17)
  • With: Waleran, Count of Saint-Pol
  • “The next daie there issued foorth of Calis two hundred men of armes, two hundred archers, and three hundred footmen, with ten or twelue wagons laden with vittels and artillerie, conducted by sir Richard Aston knight, lieutenant of the English pale for the earle of Summerset, capteine generall of those marches. The Frenchmen aduertised that the Englishmen were comming to remooue the siege, issued not foorth of their lodgings, but kept them within their closure. Neuerthelesse, the Englishmen shot so sharpelie and closelie togither, that the Flemings and footmen began to flie: the men of armes fearing the slaughter of their horsses, ran awaie with a light gallop. The Genowaies which had spent the most part of their shot at the assaults made to the castell, shewed small resistance, and so all the number of the French part were slaine and put to flight.”