French Nobility. Count of Marle and Soissons. A division commander at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), he died leading the last offensive action against the English Army. Born in Bar-le-duc, northern France, he was the son of Henry of Bar, who died on crusade in 1397. He became Count of Marle and Soissons in 1405 after the death of his mother, Marie de Coucy. Much of his short life was spent in litigation with the House of Orleans over parts of his inheritance. In October 1415 Robert joined his uncle Edward III, Duke of Bar in pursuing the invading forces of Henry V, and at Agincourt he was put in command 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. Robert and the Count of Fauquembergues 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 He rescinded the order when it was confirmed that Robert's division was in full retreat, but by then the English had put hundreds and possibly thousands of captive French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. Robert, Edward of Bar, Fauquembergues, 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.
French Nobility. Count of Marle and Soissons. A division commander at the Battle of Agincourt (October 25, 1415), he died leading the last offensive action against the English Army. Born in Bar-le-duc, northern France, he was the son of Henry of Bar, who died on crusade in 1397. He became Count of Marle and Soissons in 1405 after the death of his mother, Marie de Coucy. Much of his short life was spent in litigation with the House of Orleans over parts of his inheritance. In October 1415 Robert joined his uncle Edward III, Duke of Bar in pursuing the invading forces of Henry V, and at Agincourt he was put in command 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. Robert and the Count of Fauquembergues 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 Robert's 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. Robert, Edward of Bar, Fauquembergues, 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.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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