Background
Jean de Brosse was born in 1375 in his father’s castle at Huriel to Pierre II de Brosse and Marguerite de Malleval. In 1422 de Brosse’s father died, leaving his son his titles and estates. They named him after his father.
Jean de Brosse was born in 1375 in his father’s castle at Huriel to Pierre II de Brosse and Marguerite de Malleval. In 1422 de Brosse’s father died, leaving his son his titles and estates. They named him after his father.
In 1419, at 44, de Brosse married Jeanne de Naillac. Probably through the influence of his family, de Brosse was made chamberlain to the Dauphin, the future Charles VII. The two soon became close friends. King Charles VI also died, and Charles VII took the title of king, though he was not crowned.
On May 16, 1423 Charles VII charged de Brosse with ensuring his safety.
Then on the 14th of July, 1426, de Brosse was made a Marshal of France. He soon began growing short of money, however, due to work on the castle of Boussac and the cost of his army.
The French government was unable to compensate de Brosse for his service, being short on money themselves. He resorted to selling off his crockery, silver, and his wife’s jewelry.
He also freed the inhabitants of Boussac from his rule, in exchange for money.
In 1428 de Brosse took part in a rebellion, however it was soon squashed and the rebels locked up. However, since the king desperately needed generals, they were granted clemency. De Brosse was among the French leaders who attempted to repel the English advance, however they failed, and in 1429 the English arrived at Orléans.
Joan of Arc tried to get the king to send her, and with the urging of de Brosse, the king was convinced and sent Joan under the escort of de Brosse and Louis de Culant.
The king also sent troops with them who joined the main French army. Because of his services, de Brosse was given a place of honor at the coronation of the king.
On May 24, 1430, Joan of Arc was captured. De Brosse tried to convince the king to save her without effect.
He ruined himself trying to raise an army.
He joined Xaintrailles and Lahire at the head of an army of 4,000. They liberated Compiegne, however Joan of Arc was no longer in the city. She had been moved to Rouen, where she was burned on May 30, 1431.
De Brosse tried to avenge her by taking Rouen, however his plan failed, and he returned to Boussac.
Upon his arrival at Boussac after his defeat, de Brosse learned of his wife’s death. Overwhelmed, he never left Boussac again for the rest of his life.
He died in June 1433. Because of the great debts de Brosse had at the time of his death, his creditors threatened to have him excommunicated postmortem, and the dispersal of his mortal remains.
The king however, raised enough money to pay off the debts, and de Brosse’s body was left in the abbey at Prébenoît.