Charles I d'Albret

File:Coat of arms of Charles dAlbret.svg

Coat of arms of Charles I

Charles I d'Albret (December 1368 – 25 October 1415) was the Lord of Albret and the Constable of France from 1402 until 1411, and again from 1413 until 1415. He was also the co-commander of the French army at the Battle of Agincourt where he was killed by the English forces led by King Henry V.

Biography

Charles was born into an old Gascon family, the son of Arnaud, Lord of Albret, and Margaret de Bourbon.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He served under Bertrand du Guesclin as a young man and fought at the battle of Roosebeke.Template:Sfn He was made the constable of France by Charles VI in 1403, but dismissed when the Burgundian faction gained power at court.Template:Sfn He was restored to his office in 1413 when the Armagnac faction regained power.Template:Sfn An important figure at the French court, he is the subject of two of Christine de Pizan's Autres Ballades (#2 and #3).Template:Sfn

Although nominal commander of the French army in the Agincourt campaign together with Marshal Boucicaut, the two professional soldiers could not exercise effective control over the higher-ranking French nobles on the day of the battle. Constable d'Albret was killed at Agincourt during the battle on 25 October 1415, against the English troops led by King Henry V.Template:Sfn He was interred at the Friary church in Vieil-Hesdin.Template:Sfn

Family

He married Marie de Sully,Template:Sfn daughter of Louis de Sully and Isabel de Craon,Template:Sfn on 27 January 1400 and had issue:

• Jeanne d'Albret (1403–1433), married in 1422 John I, Count of Foix.Template:Sfn She was his second wife; the only one of his three wives who bore him issue.
• Charles II d'Albret (1407–1471),Template:Sfn married Anne of Armagnac (born 1402), the daughter of Bernard VII of Armagnac, Count of Charolais and Bonne of BerryTemplate:Sfn
• Guillaume d'Albret, Lord of Orval, died at the Battle of the Herrings in 1429, no issue
• Jean d'Albret, died without issue
• Catherine d'Albret, married Charles de Montagu (1363–1409)Template:Sfn

See also

• Albret