John Chandos

Sir John Chandos, Viscount of Saint-Sauveur in the Cotentin, Constable of Aquitaine, Seneschal of Poitou, KG (died 31 December 1369) was a medieval English knight who hailed from Radbourne Hall, Derbyshire. Chandos was a close friend of Edward, the Black Prince and a founding member and 19th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1348. Chandos was a gentleman by birth, but unlike most commanders of the day he held no title of nobility.

Described by the medieval historian Froissart as "wise and full of devices", as a military strategist Chandos is believed to have been the mastermind behind three of the most important English victories of the Hundred Years War: the Battle of Crecy, the Battle of Poitiers and the Battle of Auray. His death in a minor skirmish was regretted by both sides.

Origins
Chandos was the son and heir of the lord of the manor of Radbourne, Derbyshire, which had been held by his family from the time of the Norman Conquest. Inevitably, he trained in the arts of war and distinguished himself as a young knight.

Military career
Chandos was one of the commanders who led the sixteen-year old Edward's troops to victory at the Battle of Crécy. As Edward's Chief of Staff, he designed the strategy that won victory at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

On 29 September 1364, Chandos led the forces of Duke John de Montfort to victory at the Battle of Auray, winning the Breton War of Succession and enabling de Montfort to become John V, Duke of Brittany.

In reward for his service, Chandos was created the lieutenant of France, the vice-chamberlain of England and was given the viscounty of Saint-Sauveur in the Cotentin. During the Hundred Years' War, he became constable of Aquitaine and seneschal of Poitou. Later, however, after disagreeing with Edward over how the Guyennois should be taxed, he retired to his property in Normandy.

In 1369, the French launched a successful counterattack, regaining much territory and forcing Edward to recall Chandos.

He was mortally wounded after a night skirmish at Lussac-les-Châteaux in Poitou. He became entangled in his robes after slipping on frost, and was stabbed in the face by a squire, James de St. Martin de Bagnac. He died at the castle of Morthemer on 31 December.

His passing was mourned on both sides; In his book, "A Brief History of The Hundred Years' War" Desmond Seward states that Charles V of France ("Charles the Wise") is reported to have said that "had Chandos lived, he would have found a way of making a lasting peace". Froissart is more circumspect, but says that "I have heard him at the time regretted by renowned knights in France; for they said it was a great pity he was slain, and that, if he could have been taken prisoner, he was so wise and full of devices, he would have found some means of establishing a peace between France and England".

Sir John Chandos was the founder of the Canto family in Portugal, which is believed to have later spread through Madeira and Azores (pt:Canto (apelido)).

Chandos Herald
John Chandos' herald was known as Chandos Herald, and he wrote a significant poem entitled, The Life of the Black Prince. The poem details many of the Prince's exploits in the Hundred Years' War, including the Castilian civil war, the battle of Crecy, and the battle of Poitiers (though these last two only briefly).

Cultural influence
John Chandos is one of the characters in Arthur Conan Doyle's historical novel "The White Company" (1892) and in his later novel "Sir Nigel" .

John Chandos appears as a character in the video game Bladestorm: The Hundred Year War, in which he is seen as the right-hand guardian of Edward, the Black Prince. He also appears in the Dragon Knight series of writer Gordon R. Dickson as a protagonist of Baron Sir James Eckert.