Arthur III, Duke of Brittany
A French military commander who fought beside Joan of Arc and reshaped the army that finally expelled the English from France.
1393–1458 (age 65)·Duke of Brittany from 1457 to 1458·Birthday: August 24
Biography
Arthur de Richemont’s life was a saga of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption set against the brutal backdrop of the Hundred Years' War. Born into Breton nobility, his path was never simple; he was captured at Agincourt and even briefly sided with the English before a decisive realignment to the French crown. His true legacy was forged as Constable of France, a title he earned through sheer grit and tactical brilliance. Richemont was a hard-nosed reformer who dismantled the unruly mercenary bands that plagued the country, replacing them with a disciplined standing army. This professional force, honed under his command, became the instrument that broke English power, culminating in victories like the Battle of Formigny. His brief tenure as Duke of Brittany was a late-life coda to a career spent not in a ducal palace, but on campaign, relentlessly forging the military backbone of a resurgent France.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1393
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1393Born
1398Started school
1406Became a teenager
1409Could drive
1411Could vote
1414Turned 21
1423Turned 30
1433Turned 40
1443Turned 50
1453Turned 60
1458Died at 65
Key Achievements
- Appointed Constable of France, the nation's highest military office, in 1425.
- Played a key command role alongside Joan of Arc during the Loire Campaign of 1429.
- Led the French army to a decisive victory at the Battle of Formigny in 1450, a major step toward ending the Hundred Years' War.
- Implemented crucial military reforms that professionalized the French army and improved its discipline.
- Served as Duke of Brittany for the final year of his life, from 1457 to 1458.
Did You Know?
He was captured at the age of 21 at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
His nickname, 'The Justiciar,' reflected his reputation for severe discipline within the army.
He initially fought against the French crown as a partisan of the Duke of Burgundy before switching sides.
A statue of him on horseback stands in front of the Château de Dinan in Brittany.
“A crown is not won by waiting in a castle, but by riding onto the field.”
