Jean le Meingre Boucicaut, Marshal of France, c.1366-1421
French soldier of the chivalric tradition (as opposed to the more careful approach favoured by du Guesclin), that had led to so many disasters in the first period of the Hundred Years War. His career began during the long break in the war at the end of the fourteenth century. His early career included the battle of Roosebeke, which ended the Flemish revolt led by Philip van Artevelde. He was involved in the crusade against the Turks that ended in the crushing defeat at Nicopolis (25 September 1396), where he was captured by the Turks, although soon ransomed, after which he played a key part in the defence of Constaninople (1398-9), before returning to France. When the Hundred Years War restarted, Boucicaut was appointed as commander of one part of the French army that was defeated at Agincourt, 25 October 1415, where he was once again captured, and was one of the few captives to survive when what appeared to be an attack on his camp forced Henry V to order the execution of his prisoners. Boucicaut had still not been ransomed when he died in 1421.
How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (11 November 2000), Boucicaut, Jean le Meingre, Marshal of France, c.1366-1421, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_boucicaut.html