A remarkable part of the history of Brittany – The ‘Combat of Thirty’
The ‘Combat of the Thirty’ – A medieval Breton event that was certainly one of its kind…
Hollywood could not have dreamt it up – 30 knights on opposing sides were to fight each other to the death in medieval France by arrangement between the two leaders of the rival factions. This part of the history of Brittany is completely true, although some of the facts were distorted later on as the truth started to lose ground against propaganda.
The Breton war of succession was a struggle between the House of Montfort, which was supported by the King of England, and the house of Blois, which was supported by the King of France.
In AD 1351 a challenge was issued by Jean de Beaumanoir, marshal of Brittany for Charles of Bois, to the medieval knight, Robert Bemborough of the Montfort side. Eventually it was agreed that a fight would take place with 30 knights on each side.
After a hard fought and extremely bloody battle the Franco-Breton Blois faction emerged victorious. Robert Bemborough was killed along with eight others on the Montfort side.
Two of the earliest medieval chroniclers, Jean le Bel and Jean Froisart, reportedly stated that this was a chivalrous fight in honour of the women who were left in charge of the houses of Blois and Montfort because Monsieur Blois was in prison and Monsieur Montfort was dead.
The two French chroniclers go on to say that both sides conducted themselves with supreme honour and bravery and to that end there were no losers. Apart from the death and gore, the battle bore all the hallmarks of a tournament with refreshments available!
Later on as the years passed and Brittany became part of France, songs and poems on the history of Brittany changed the truth somewhat and made the English out to be invading villains. This may very well have been true, but it nonetheless totally overshadowed what the battle was all about and the behaviour of the soldiers in it.
The battle took place 660 years ago in between the towns of Josselin and Ploermel. Today you may visit the obelisk which marks the site of the battle. The obelisk was erected in 1819, bearing words very different from how Le Bel saw the battle of chivalry and bravery.
Whether or not you believe in the latter day conviction about the Combat of the Thirty, that the “English got what they deserved,” one thing is for sure – This medieval Breton event was one of its kind.
The history of Brittany is there for discovery, If you want to visit this beautiful area, why not take a look at Vintage Travel’s collection of luxury villas in Brittany?