A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Jane (of Montfort)
JANE, Countess of Montfort, flourished 1341 and 1342.
The count de Montfort, heir male of Britanny, had seized that duchy in opposition to Charles of Blois, the French king's nephew, who had married the grand-daughter of the late duke. Sensible that he could expect no favour from Philip, Montfort made a voyage to England, and offered to do homage to Edward III. as king of France, for Britanny, proposing a strict alliance for the support of each other's pretensions.
Little negociation was necessary to conclude a treaty between two princes connected by their immediate interests. But the captivity of the count, who was taken prisoner by the enemy, which happened soon after, seemed to put an end to all the advantages naturally to be expected from it. The affairs of Britanny, however, were unexpectedly retrieved by Jane of Flanders, daughter of Lewis, count de Nevers, and wife of De Montfort. Roused by the captivity of her husband from those domestic cares to which she had hitherto entirely confined herself, she boldly undertook to support the falling fortunes of her family. When she received the fatal intelligence, instead of giving way to despair, the failing of weak minds, she instantly assembled the inhabitants of Rennes, where she then resided, and taking her infant son in her arms, conjured them to extend their protection to the last male heir of their ancient sovereigns; expatiated on the resources to be derived from England, entreating them to make one daring effort against an usurper, who, being allied to France, would sacrifice their ancient liberty as the price of assistance. In short, she harangued them in a strain so bold and so pathetic, that it spoke to their hearts, and inspired them with a portion of her own enthusiastic ardour: they resolved to defend her with their lives and fortunes. She then made a progress through all the other fortresses of the duchy, and induced them to adopt of similar measures; visited the garrisons, and provided every thing necessary for sustenance and defence; and having secured the whole province from surprise, shut herself up in Hennebonne, attending the English succours, and sent her son over to England. Charles of Blois opened the campaign, expecting soon to terminate a war merely conducted by a woman. Rennes soon surrendered to him. He next proceeded to Hennebonne, where the brave countess commanded in person. The garrison, actuated by her presence, made a vigorous defence. She herself performed prodigies of valour; clad in complete armour, she stood foremost in the breach, sustained the most violent assaults, and flying with active vigilance from post to rampart, encouraged her troops, and displayed skill that would have done honour to the most experienced general. Perceiving, one day, that the besiegers, occupied in a general attack, had left their camp unguarded, she immediately sallied forth by a postern with five hundred men, set fire to their tents, baggage, and magazines, and created so universal an alarm, that the enemy desisted from the assault, to cut off her communication with the town. Finding herself intercepted, she gallopped towards Auray, which she reached in safety. Five days after, she returned with her little army, cut her way through part of the camp, and entered the town in triumph.
At length, however, so many breaches were made in the walls by reiterated assaults, that the place was deemed no longer tenable, and the bishop of Leon, notwithstanding the prayers and remonstrances of the countess, had determined to capitulate; he was actually engaged in a conference respecting it with Charles of Blois, when the countess, who had ascended a lofty tower, and was casting an eager look towards the sea, descried a fleet at a distance. She instantly ran into the streets, and exclaimed, in a transport of joy—"Succours! succours! the English succours! no capitulation!" Nor was she mistaken: the English fleet soon after entered the harbour, and the troops, under the command of Sir Walter Manny, sallied from the city, attacked the camp of the besiegers, and reduced it to ashes. "On Sir Walter's return from this successful expedition," says Froissard, "the countess went forth meet him with a joyful countenance, and kissed him and his companions two or three times, like a valiant lady." Edward himself afterwards undertook her defence. The count, who had been released through a treaty between England and Philip, still attempting to defend his rights, was slain, and Edward undertook the cause of his son. Afterwards, in 1346, Charles of Blois having come with his troops to the assistance of a fortress she had reduced, she attacked him in his entrenchments in the night, dangerously wounded, and took him prisoner.