Duke of Normandy (son of King Philip)

Family: France · Role: duke · First appears: Book 1, Chapter 37

In 1345, Monsegur’s defenders sought a month-long truce, hoping that King Philip or the Duke of Normandy would arrive in force; otherwise, they would submit to the King of England. Soon after Christmas, the Duke, commander-in-chief of the French army, set out to join it and ordered his marshals, Lord of Montmorency and Lord of St. Venant, to advance with the van. The army then closely besieged Angoulême, whose governor was Sir John Norwich.

On the eve of the Purification, the Duke agreed to Sir John Norwich’s request for a one-day truce. Angoulême surrendered on Candlemas Day; the Duke pardoned its inhabitants, received their homage, and appointed Sir Anthony de Villiers governor with a hundred soldiers. After Damazan fell following fourteen days of assault, he gave the castle and its dependencies to Borgne de Nully. Tonniens surrendered on terms protecting its defenders’ lives and property and securing their passage to Bordeaux, while Port St. Marie was taken by assault.

The Duke’s army besieged Aiguillon until the beginning of October. He ordered a bridge built across the river, and the French crossed it and attacked the castle, but could not take it; their subsequent attempts also failed. The lords advised him to send the Constable of France and the Earl of Tancarville to ask King Philip whether to continue the siege. Soon afterwards, King Philip ordered his son to raise it and return to defend France. As the French withdrew, the knights inside Aiguillon, led by Sir Walter Manny’s pennon, attacked them and took more than forty prisoners. The Duke arrived in France soon after and was joyfully received by his parents.