BERTRAND DU, Count of Longueville, constable of France under Charles V., was born at the castle of Lamotte-Broux, near Rennes in Brittany. His birth, the exact date of which is not known, is variously assigned to the years 1314, 1318, and 1320. At the proper age he was put under the care of a tutor; but he had little taste for learning, and it was found impossible to teach him either to read or write. But in all manner games and exercises he displayed a most precocious dexterity; and at the tournament given at Rennes in 1338, on the occasion of the marriage of Jeanne-la-Boiteuse with Charles of Blois, he was eleven times victorious, and gained the great prize of the day, which he presented to the friend who had lent him the arms and horses he had fought with. He grew up strong and tall, but ill-made, and, as he himself said, so ugly, that he knew he would never please the ladies; "but," he added, "I shall make myself dreaded by the enemies of my king." Entering on the military career, he distinguished himself by many deeds of chivalrous daring against the English, who had at that time overrun the fairest provinces of France; and when the battle of Poitiers threw King John into the hands of Edward of England, he alone upheld the fortunes of his country, and checked in many places the victorious progress of the foe. Du Guesclin's next great exploit was the defeat of the allied forces of England and Navarre at the famous battle of Cocherel, on the banks of the Eure. For this achievement, which established Charles V. on the throne, Du Guesclin was made Comte de Longueville and Maréchal de Normandie. His usual good fortune, however, was clouded towards the close of this same year (1364), by a sad disaster. At the battle of Auray in Brittany, he was taken prisoner by the English under the redoubtable Sir John Chandos. After peace was restored between France and England, Du Guesclin, who had been ransomed for 100,000 crowns, was once more free to serve his country. An opportunity was not long wanting. A great number of French and English adventurers whom the peace had thrown out of employment had joined their forces, and under the title of Les grandes Compagnies, were laying waste the richest provinces of France. Du Guesclin, who had been commissioned by Charles V. to get rid of them either by violent or by gentle means, induced them to take service with him against the Moors, whom he professed himself anxious to drive out of Spain. His real motive, however, was to help Henry of Trastamare, who was then at issue with his brother Peter the Cruel for the throne of Castile. As the "compagnies" were passing Avignon, they demanded from the Pope, then living there, a reversal of the sentence of excommunication, formerly pronounced against them, and a black-mail of 200,000 florins. The Pope refused to grant either request; but when he saw the "compagnies" laying waste the country, and carrying their devastations into Avignon itself, he gave them his blessing and half the required amount of gold. Du Guesclin, without difficulty, placed his friend, Henry of Trastamare, on the throne of Castile; but the dethroned Don Pedro invoking the assistance of the Black Prince, once more took the field, and in the engagement which followed, Du Guesclin's army was annihilated. Seeing resistance useless, he surrendered to his noble captor, saying, "J'ai du moins la gloire de ne remettre mon épée qu'au plus vaillant prince de la terre." When the subject of his ransom was mentioned, "I am but a poor knight," said Du Guesclin. "Then I shall only ask you for a hundred francs, or less, if you choose," said the chivalrous Englishman. Du Guesclin, however, declining to rate himself so meanly, offered 100,000 gold florins. "It is too much," said the Black Prince, "and if it be true that you are a poor knight, whence will you get the means?" "The kings of France and Castille are my friends," said he, Guiana. "and will not allow me to want for anything; and there are, besides, a hundred Breton chevaliers who would sell their lands to make up the sum." He was no sooner free than he took the field again in the interest of Henry, routed and slew Don Pedro; and after many bloody encounters with the Moors, seated his friend securely on the Castilian throne. His last exploit in the service of France was to drive back the English from the walls of Paris, which they had threatened; and he afterwards re-annexed to the French crown many places that had long groaned under the English yoke. He failed, however, in some enterprises in Brittany; and his enemies having maligned him to the king—who was foolish enough for a moment to doubt the honour of the warrior who had saved France and his throne—Du Guesclin, stung by the affront, resolved to quit his country and seek an asylum with his friend Henry of Castille. On his way into exile, he found his old brother-in-arms, Saucerre, engaged in the siege of Randam. The governor of the town, reduced to the last extremity, offered to surrender, if he were not relieved within fifteen days. In this interval Du Guesclin fell sick and died (July 13, 1380), and the next day the governor of Randam, marching out of the town at the head of his garrison, laid the keys of the gate on the breast of the dead knight.

The name of Du Guesclin is still held in veneration by the French. His bravery, his gentleness, his generosity, and his modesty, have all contributed to make him one of the most popular heroes of France. His name is generally associated with that of Bayard, as the two last examples of all knightly virtues and accomplishments.