Jean de Dunois

Who was Jean de Dunois?

John of Orléans, Count of Dunois was the illegitimate son of Louis d'Orléans by Mariette d'Enghien.

The term "Bastard of Orléans" was the usual name for most of his career. In his era this was a term of respect since it acknowledged him as a first cousin to the king and acting head of a cadet branch of the royal family during his half-brother's captivity.

His father died in 1407. His legitimate half-brother, Charles, Duke of Orléans, became an English prisoner at the Battle of Agincourt and remained so for several decades. This left him the only adult male of the house of Orléans.

He joined the civil war in France in the time of Charles VI on the side of the Armagnacs, and was captured by the Burgundians in 1418. Released in 1420, he entered the service of the Dauphin Charles, fighting in the Hundred Years' War against English forces.

The future count Dunois led the French defenses at the siege of Orléans. Together with Joan of Arc he relieved the siege. He joined her on the campaigns of 1429 and remained active after her death.