French Nobility. First Duke of Alencon. He was a division commander at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), and died in action. Legend has it he was killed fighting Henry V himself. Born at the Chateau d'Essay in Orne, he succeeded his father as Count of Alencon and Perche in 1404, and created a duke when Alencon was elevated to a duchy in 1414. He would hold this title just over a year. At Agincourt Alencon commanded the second division of the French Army along with the Duke of Bar, and among all the French combatants he was singled out by chroniclers for his determined fighting. When it became clear that the English were routing the first division under Albret and Boucicaut, he furiously launched the second attack with his 6000 men. Sources agree that he battled his way into the Duke of York's division, where Henry also ended up, but from there the details vary. He was credited with killing York (or at least knocking him off his horse, causing him to be trampled to death), and wounding Henry's brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, before taking on the English monarch one-on-one. By the time he was cut down by the royal bodyguard, Alencon had allegedly beaten Henry to his knees and hacked off part of the crown on his helmet. Some accounts claim that the duke, realizing he was hopelessly surrounded, attempted to surrender and was killed before Henry could intervene. He and 13 fellow nobles were buried together at a monastery church in the nearby town of Hesdin. The Spanish completely destroyed Hesdin in 1553.
French Nobility. First Duke of Alencon. He was a division commander at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), and died in action. Legend has it he was killed fighting Henry V himself. Born at the Chateau d'Essay in Orne, he succeeded his father as Count of Alencon and Perche in 1404, and created a duke when Alencon was elevated to a duchy in 1414. He would hold this title just over a year. At Agincourt Alencon commanded the second division of the French Army along with the Duke of Bar, and among all the French combatants he was singled out by chroniclers for his determined fighting. When it became clear that the English were routing the first division under Albret and Boucicaut, he furiously launched the second attack with his 6000 men. Sources agree that he battled his way into the Duke of York's division, where Henry also ended up, but from there the details vary. He was credited with killing York (or at least knocking him off his horse, causing him to be trampled to death), and wounding Henry's brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, before taking on the English monarch one-on-one. By the time he was cut down by the royal bodyguard, Alencon had allegedly beaten Henry to his knees and hacked off part of the crown on his helmet. Some accounts claim that the duke, realizing he was hopelessly surrounded, attempted to surrender and was killed before Henry could intervene. He and 13 fellow nobles were buried together at a monastery church in the nearby town of Hesdin. The Spanish completely destroyed Hesdin in 1553.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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