Battle of Champtoceaux - Charles' Advance

Charles' Advance

By the end of September 1341, Charles of Blois had 5,000 French soldiers, 2,000 Genoese mercenaries and an unknown but large number of Breton soldiers in his army which was camped at Angers in the Loire Valley. Overall command of the force was given to John, Duke of Normandy advised by the veteran Duke of Burgundy, although Blois wielded the real authority within the army. By the time he was ready to move at the start of October, Montfort had captured and garrisoned most of the castles and towns in Eastern Brittany including Rennes, Dinan and numerous others including the strong castle which guarded the Loire Valley at Champtoceaux. This stronghold was the first objective on the march of The French army, which was aimed at Nantes, the regional capital and centre of power. Charles of Blois arrived off the castle on the 10 October and laid a siege whilst he waited for the remainder of the force, which contained almost all the significant French generals of the day (spared from the English war by a truce until summer 1342). This army was moving more slowly but its presence was already causing a number of John's supporter’s alarm, and mindful of the speed with which supporters disappeared in medieval dynastic struggles, John was forced to act, scraping together a band of followers and riding to the relief of Champtoceaux.