Charles I, Duke of Brittany
| Blessed Charles of Blois-Châtillon | |
|---|---|
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| Duke of Brittany | |
| Reign | 30 April 1341 – 29 September 1364 |
| Predecessor | John III |
| Successor | John IV |
| Born | c. 1319 Blois (France) |
| Died | 29 September 1364 (aged 44–45) Auray |
| Spouse | Joanna, Duchess of Brittany |
| Issue | John I of Blois-Châtillon Guy Henry Marie, Lady of Guise Margaret, Countess of Angoulême |
| House | House of Blois |
| Father | Guy I of Blois-Châtillon |
| Mother | Margaret of Valois |
| Charles de Châtillon | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Britanny Patron of Europe |
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| Died | Auray |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
| Beatified | 1904 by Pie X |
| Canonized | 1364 (annulled) by Pope Urban V |
| Feast | 29 September (General Roman Calendar) |
| Patronage | -Army soldiers -Agricultural workers |
Charles of Blois-Châtillon (1319 – 29 September 1364) "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 to his death via his marriage to Joan of Penthiève, holding the title against the claims of John of Montfort. He was later canonized as a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church for his devotion to religion. This canonization was later annulled, although he remains beatified.
Charles was born in Blois, son of Guy de Châtillon, count of Blois, by Margaret of Valois, a sister of king Philip VI of France. He was a devout man, who took piety to the extreme of mortifying his own flesh. It is said that he placed pebbles in his shoes, wore ropes tight with knots near his flesh and confessed every night in fear of sleeping in a state of sin. He was nevertheless an accomplished military leader, who inspired loyalty by his religious fervour.
On 4 June 1337 in Paris, he married Joanna of Penthièvre, heiress and niece of duke John III. Together, Charles and Joanna de Châtillon fought the House of Montfort in the Breton War of Succession (1341–1364), with the support of the crown of France. Despite his piety, Charles did not hesitate in ordering the massacre of 1400 civilians after the siege of Quimper. After initial successes, Charles was taken prisoner by the English in 1347. Thomas Dagworth was the official captor of Charles of Blois. He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million écus, and resumed the war against the Montforts.
By his marriage to Joanna, he had five children:
Charles de Châtillon died in 1364 in the Battle of Auray, which with the second treaty of Guerande in 1381, determined the end of the Breton War of Succession as a victory for the Montforts.
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