André de Laval-Montmorency

[1] He wielded the sword of Bertrand du Guesclin, a symbol of Breton support for France which he had inherited from his maternal grandmother, Jeanne de Laval, who was the widow of the famous constable.

After paying his ransom he was present with Joan of Arc at the siege of Orléans, at the Battle of Patay, and at the coronation of Charles VII.

[3] He served Charles VII faithfully in all his wars, even against the dauphin (1456), and when the latter became king as Louis XI, Laval was dismissed from the marshal's office.

After the War of the Public Weal he was restored to favor, and recovered the marshal's baton, the king also granting him the offices of lieutenant-general to the government of Paris and governor of Picardy, and conferring upon him the collar of the Order of St Michael.

In 1472 Laval was successful in resisting the attacks of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, on Beauvais.