French Nobility. Count of Fauquembergues. A commander at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), he died leading the last offensive action against the English Army. Little is known of his life or career. He was the oldest son of Raoul II de Raineval and married in 1379. In October 1415, Valeran answered a royal summons to pursue the invading forces of Henry V. At Agincourt he was one of the commanders of the reserve forces which made up the French Army's third division. They were inactive for most of the battle, and once it became clear that the first and second French divisions had been slaughtered they began to desert in droves. Valeran and commander Robert of Bar vowed Henry's death, somehow rallied 600 mounted knights, and led them into a reckless cavalry charge across the muddy and corpse-strewn field. The two noblemen were killed and the charge was quickly repulsed. Henry, however, feared this was a sign that the French were regrouping for yet another assault, and he eventually decided to kill most of his prisoners so they wouldn't revolt under such an attack. He rescinded the order when it was confirmed that the third division was in full retreat, but by then the English had put hundreds and possibly thousands of captive French nobles to the sword. Antoine, Duke of Brabant was one of them. The Count of Fauquembergues, Robert of Bar, and Brabant were among the 14 warrior knights of Agincourt who were buried at the Church of the Cordeliers in Hesdin. The Spanish razed Hesdin in 1553. Valeran is often confused with Waleran III of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny and onetime Constable of France, who died in the same battle. They may have been cousins.
French Nobility. Count of Fauquembergues. A commander at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), he died leading the last offensive action against the English Army. Little is known of his life or career. He was the oldest son of Raoul II de Raineval and married in 1379. In October 1415, Valeran answered a royal summons to pursue the invading forces of Henry V. At Agincourt he was one of the commanders of the reserve forces which made up the French Army's third division. They were inactive for most of the battle, and once it became clear that the first and second French divisions had been slaughtered they began to desert in droves. Valeran and commander Robert of Bar vowed Henry's death, somehow rallied 600 mounted knights, and led them into a reckless cavalry charge across the muddy and corpse-strewn field. The two noblemen were killed and the charge was quickly repulsed. Henry, however, feared this was a sign that the French were regrouping for yet another assault, and he eventually decided to kill most of his prisoners so they wouldn't revolt under such an attack. He rescinded the order when it was confirmed that the third division was in full retreat, but by then the English had put hundreds and possibly thousands of captive French nobles to the sword. Antoine, Duke of Brabant was one of them. The Count of Fauquembergues, Robert of Bar, and Brabant were among the 14 warrior knights of Agincourt who were buried at the Church of the Cordeliers in Hesdin. The Spanish razed Hesdin in 1553. Valeran is often confused with Waleran III of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny and onetime Constable of France, who died in the same battle. They may have been cousins.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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