Bertrand du Guesclin was born at Motte-Broons near Dinan, in Brittany, first-born son of Robert du

Guesclin and Jeanne de Malmaines. His date of birth is unknown but is thought to have been
sometime in 1320. His family was of minor Breton nobility, the seigneurs of Broons.[1]
Bertrand's family may have claimed descent from Aquin, the legendary Muslim king of Bougie in
Africa, a conceit derived from the Roman d'Aquin, a thirteenth-century French chanson de
geste from Brittany.[2]

Service in Brittany[edit]

Guesclin at the Battle of Cocherel

He initially served Charles of Blois in the Breton War of Succession (1341–1364). Charles was

supported by the French crown, while his rival, Jean de Montfort, was allied with England.

Knight[edit]
Du Guesclin was knighted in 1354 while serving Arnoul d'Audrehem, after countering a raid by Hugh
Calveley on the Castle of Montmuran. In 1356–57, Du Guesclin successfully
defended Rennes against an Breton-English siege by Henry of Grosmont, using guerrilla tactics.
During the siege, he killed the English knight William Bamborough who had challenged him to
a duel.
The resistance of du Guesclin helped restore Breton-French morale after Poitiers, and du Guesclin
came to the attention of the Dauphin Charles.

Battle of Cocherel[edit]
When he became King in 1364, Charles sent Du Guesclin to deal with Charles II of Navarre, who
hoped to claim the Duchy of Burgundy, which Charles hoped to give to his brother, Philip. On 16
May, he met an Anglo-Navarrese army under the command of Jean de Grailly, Captal de
Buch at Cocherel and proved his ability in pitched battle by routing the enemy. The victory forced
Charles II into a new peace with the French king, and secured Burgundy for Philip.

Battle of Auray[edit]
On 29 September 1364, at the Battle of Auray, the army of Charles of Blois was heavily defeated
by John IV, Duke of Brittany and the English forces under Sir John Chandos. De Blois was killed in
action, ending the pretensions of the Penthievre faction in Brittany. After chivalric resistance, Du
Guesclin broke his weapons to signify his surrender. He was captured and ransomed back to
Charles V for 100,000 francs.[3]

Service in Castile[edit]
In 1366, Bertrand persuaded the leaders of the "free companies", who had been pillaging France
after the Treaty of Brétigny, to join him in an expedition to Castile to aid Count Henry of
Trastámara against Pedro I of Castile. In 1366, du Guesclin, with Guillaume Boitel, his faithful
companion, leader of his vanguard, captured many fortresses (Magallón, Briviesca and finally the
capital Burgos).

Count of Trastamara[edit]
After Henry's coronation at Burgos, he proclaimed Bertrand his successor as Count of Trastámara
and had him crowned as King of Granada, although that kingdom was yet to be reconquered from
the Nasrids. Bertrand's elevation must have taken place at Burgos between 16 March and 5 April
1366.[4]

Battle of Najera[edit]
Henry's army was however defeated in 1367 by Pedro's forces, now commanded by Edward, the
Black Prince, at Nájera. Du Guesclin was again captured, and again ransomed to Charles V, who
considered him invaluable.[5] However, the English army suffered badly in the battle as four English
soldiers out of five died during the Castilian Campaign. The Black Prince, affected by dysentery,
soon withdrew his support from Pedro.

Battle of Montiel[edit]
Du Guesclin and Henry of Trastámara renewed the attack, defeating him at the decisive Battle of
Montiel (1369).
After the battle, Pedro fled to the castle at Montiel, from whence he made contact with du Guesclin,
whose army were camped outside. Pedro bribed du Guesclin to obtain escape. Du Guesclin agreed,
but also told it to Henry who promised him more money and land if he would only lead Pedro to
Henry's tent. Once there, after crossed accusations of bastardy, the two half-brothers started a fight
to death, using daggers because of the narrow space. At a moment when they fought on the floor,
Pedro got the upper side and was about to finish Henry. But then Du Guesclin, who had stayed
inactive for he was compromised to both, made his final choice. He grabbed Pedro's ankle and
turned him belly-up, thus allowing Henry to stab Pedro to death and gain the throne of Castile.
[6]
 While turning Pedro down, du Guesclin is claimed to have said "Ni quito ni pongo rey, pero ayudo
a mi señor" (I neither remove nor put a King, but I do help my Sire), which has since that moment
become a common phrase in Spanish, to be used by anyone of lesser rank who does what he is
ordered or expected to do, avoiding any concern about the justice or injustice of such action, and
declining any responsibility.[citation needed]
Bertrand was made Duke of Molina, and the Franco-Castilian alliance was sealed.