John II, Duke of Alençon

Also known as: John, Duke of Alençon / duke Alanson / duke of Alanson · Family: France · Role: duke and captain · First appears: Henry VI 14

John II, Duke of Alençon, a French duke and captain, was an enemy of John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury when French captains came before Jargeaux. In Henry VI 15, he was allied with Joan of Arc, whom he sent with three thousand horsemen to assault a city, and Guischard of Thienbrone, his servant, drew Joan from the mire. He also stood in fealty to Charles VII, who appointed him—or, according to another account, Arthur de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond—to lead a relief force to Sillie; c. 1434, the French force approached but withdrew at night without battle.

In 1438, John joined Louis XI and John, Duke of Burgundy (Henry VI 27) in rebellion against Charles VII, though “the knot of that seditious faction was dissolued” and peace was restored. He was also allied with Arthur de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond in an army sent to besiege Avranches, while later Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset took La Gerche, a town belonging to John.

Relationship record

Life events

c. 1429 · John, Duke of Alençon and Joan of Arc attacked Paris, but its defenders repelled them.(Henry VI 15 · 📍 Paris)
- With: Joan of Arc
- “and from thence sent Iohn duke of Alanson, and his sorceresse Ione la Pusell, with thrée thousand light horssemen to asssault the citie, and followed himselfe, in hope to get it, either by force or treatie. But the English capteins euerie one kéeping his ward and place assigned, so manfullie defended themselues, their walles and towers with the assistance of the Parisiens, that they repelled the Frenchmen”
c. 1434 · A French relief force approached Sillie but withdrew without attempting battle.(Henry VI 21 · 📍 Sillie)
- With: Arthur de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond
- “certeine it is at his approching to the siege, he incamped himselfe by a brooke side, ouer the which a man might haue striden, & perceiuing how stronglie the English were incamped against him, he thought it not for his profit to giue battell; & so in the night season raised & went his waie without further attempt.”
1438 · Louis XI and allied dukes rebelled against Charles VII, but the faction dissolved and peace was restored.(Henry VI 27 · 📍 France)
- With: Louis XI John, Duke of Burgundy (Henry VI 27) Charles VII
- “In this yeare, the Dolphin of France alied with Iohn duke of Alanson and Iohn duke of Burgognie, rebelled against his father king Charles: but in the end, by wise persuasions, and wittie handling of the matter, the knot of that seditious faction was dissolued, and the king with his sonne, and the other confederates openlie and apparantlie pacified.”

Henry VI 14

enemies with John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury “Thus when the Englishmen had seuered themselues into garrisons, the duke of Alanson, the bastard of Orleance, Ione le Pusell, the lord Gawcourt, and diuerse other capteins of the Frenchmen, came the twelfe daie of Iune, before the towne of Iargeaux”

Henry VI 15

allies with Joan of Arc “and from thence sent Iohn duke of Alanson, and his sorceresse Ione la Pusell, with thrée thousand light horssemen to asssault the citie”
servant: Guischard of Thienbrone “she (all filthie with mire and durt) was drawne out by Guischard of Thienbrone, seruant to the duke of Alanson.”

Henry VI 21

sworn: Charles VII (The chronicle gives John as an alternative reported appointee.) “The French king, being aduertised hereof by a post, appointed (as some saie) Arthur earle of Richmont (or as other write, Iohn duke of Alanson) with a great companie of men of warre to go to the rescue of this towne.”

Henry VI 27

enemies with John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury “Arthur of Britaine constable of France, and Iohn duke of Alanson, were sent by the French king into Normandie, with a great armie, to besiege the towne of Auranches, standing vpon the knob of an hill: where after they had laien a certeine space without gaine, the lord Talbot with a valiant companie of men came thither, and offered the enimies battell.”
allies with Louis XI “the Dolphin of France alied with Iohn duke of Alanson and Iohn duke of Burgognie, rebelled against his father king Charles”
allies with John, Duke of Burgundy (Henry VI 27) “the Dolphin of France alied with Iohn duke of Alanson and Iohn duke of Burgognie, rebelled against his father king Charles”
enemies with Charles VII “the Dolphin of France alied with Iohn duke of Alanson and Iohn duke of Burgognie, rebelled against his father king Charles”
allies with Arthur de Bretagne, Earl of Richmond “Arthur of Britaine constable of France, and Iohn duke of Alanson, were sent by the French king into Normandie, with a great armie, to besiege the towne of Auranches”

Henry VI 29

enemies with Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset “The duke of Summerset vpon further valiance, entered into the marches of Britaine, and tooke by fierce assault a towne named la Gerche, appertaining to the duke Alanson”

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Extracted from the original text of Holinshed's Chronicles — the reigns Shakespeare dramatized. Made with Rho MD.