Comte de Dunois

Jean d'Orléans
Frankrig, 1403-1468

Fransk greve og ridder.

Dunois et Longueville, Jean, Bastard of Orléans, greve af (se også Longueville)(ca. 1403-1468), uægte søn af den af hertugen af Burgund myrdede hertug Ludvig af Orléans. Var bestemt til gejstlig, men løb af lære og og sluttede sig til Dauphin Karl (VII), i hvis tjeneste han kæmpede heldigt mod englænderne. Forsvarede 1429 Orléans mod englænderne, som han ved Jeanne d'Arcs hjælp tvang til at opgive belejringen. Efter nye sejre fik han grevskabet Dunois (1436) og Longueville (1442), fratog 1455 englænderne Normandiet og Guyenne. (HK3/1921)


Jean d'Orléans (1402-1468), comte de Dunois et Longueville, dit "Le Bâtard d'Orléans"
Born at Paris (1403) Jean was the natural son of Louis I duc d'Orléans and Mariette d'Enghien, dame de Cany. Jean was adopted and raised faithfully by Louis' wife, Valentina Vosconti. As such Jean was close to Charles, the letigimate heir and subsequent duc d'Orléans. Charles was captured at the battle of Agincourt and held prisoner for many years by the English. The Orléanist cause (as well as that of the dauphin's) was briefly defended by Charles d'Orléans younger brother, Philippe, comte de Vertus, who died suddenly in 1420. Before his death Philippe arranged to ransom the release of Jean, who had been held captive by the Burgundians since 1418.
Jean, who by his own insistance, went proudly by the title "The Bastard of Orléans" continued to fight for the French Valois king and for the protection of the dukedom against the English. Jean took up with La Hire (Etienne de Vignolles) and Poton de Xaintrailles in confronting the English when the opportunities arose. This small force managed to make the English occupation uncomfortable, even re-captured Le Mans for a short time. Jean was present at dauphanist's victory at Baugé (22 March 1421) and defeats at Cravant (1423) and Verneuil (August 1424). Jean and La Hire reinforced Montargis (1427) with 1,600 troops, forcing Warwick to break off his siege.
He became one of the most active leaders in the defense of Orléans when the city was besieged by the English in 1428. Jean was one of the first military commanders to value Jeanne d'Arc's participation. His tactful dealing with her contributed significanly in the success of her mission to relieve the town of Orléans. Jean was an active commander in the post-Orléans campaign of 1429, where he directed forces in the capture of Jargeau and was one of the French commanders at the victory of Patay.
Made comte de Dunois, Jean (still prefering to go by the expression 'the Bastard') led the army that captured Le Mans the last time (1448), and Rouen (1449). He was made lieutenant-general of Charles VII's army, a position just below that of Constable. Dunois was the dauphin Louis' forces that relieved Dieppe (August 1443). Dunois was one of the commanders in the successful 1450 reconquest of Normandy. For Dunois' heroic defense of the Orléanists lands, duc Charles d'Orléans, upon being released from captivity in England, presented his half-brother the castle of Châteaudun.
After Charles VII's victory over the English, Dunois joined in an uprising against the king. However, he realigned himself back with Charles VII. Later, under the monarachy of Louis XI, Dunois participated in an uprising of nobles against the king, the League of the Public Weal (bien publique = general welfare) (1464-65). Louis XI managed to settle with the nobles, and accepted Dunois back into royal favor. Dunois, became head of Louis XI's Council of Thirty-Six (a kind of supreme court of inquiry and public policy in Paris).