Tard-Venus

The Tard-Venus (Latecomers) were a medieval group of Bandits or bandes de routiers that ravaged the area around Lyon in the last years of the reign of King John II of France.

When the Treaty of Brétigny was signed May 8, 1360, the peace that resulted left many soldiers and those who provided services to the armies without employment. While the King of England evacuated his forces from France and paid them Some captains of the garrisons, knights and squires left to find employment as mercenaries for the King of Navarre. Additionally the German mercenaries, as well as mercanaries and adventurers from Brabant, Gascony, Flanders, Hainault, Breton and France were left to fend for themselves. Dismissed, they formed bands and began to pillage.

In Champagne, they captured the castle of Joinville , siezing a considerable amount of booty for ransom. They roamed and looted the Champagne region and devastate the bishoprics of Langres, Toul and Verdun then penetrated Burgundy supported by some Burgundian knights and squires.

After settling around Besançon, Dijon and Beaune, they took and plundered Vergy, Gevrey-in-Beaune and ravaged the region.

In all there may have been 15000 men in these groups. The most powerful captains, included

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