Pierre de Brézé

Who was Pierre de Brézé?

Pierre de Brézé was a French soldier and politician in the service of King Charles VII. He had made his name in the English wars when in 1433 he joined with Yolande, queen of Sicily, the constable Richmond and others, in chasing from power Charles VII's minister La Trémoille. He was knighted by Charles of Anjou in 1434, and presently entered the royal council. In 1437 he became seneschal of Anjou, and in 1440 of Poitou. During the Praguerie he rendered great service to the royal cause against the dauphin Louis and the revolted nobles, a service which was remembered against him after Louis's accession to the throne.

He fought against the English in Normandy in 1440-1441, and in Guienne in 1442. He was granted the defunct title of comte d'Évreux in 1441 for his role in the strategic maneuvers during the siege of Pontoise led by Charles VII that finally defeated the English in the Ile de France. In the next year he became chamberlain to Charles VII, and gained the chief power in the state through the influence of Agnès Sorel, superseding his early allies Richmond and Charles of Anjou. The six years of his ascendancy were the most prosperous period of the reign of Charles VII. His most dangerous opponent was the dauphin Louis, who in 1448 brought against him accusations which led to a formal trial resulting in a complete exoneration of Brézé and his restoration to favour. He fought in Normandy in 1450-1451, and became seneschal of the province after the death of Agnes Sorel and the consequent decline of his influence at court.