During the Battle of Poitiers, many great lords and knights fought bravely near the King of France. Among them were the Lord of Pertney and Saintonge, the Lord of Montendre, and the Lord John of Saintre. Sir John of Saintre was known as one of the best knights in France, but he was so badly wounded in the battle that he never fully recovered his health.
Another brave knight, the Lord Richard d’Angle, fought very close to the king. He showed great courage that day, but he was left on the field among the dead, as everyone believed he had been killed.
Also near the king was the Lord of Charny, who carried the royal banner. This was a great honor, but it also made him a target. Many enemies attacked him because of the banner he held. His own banner, which showed three silver shields on a red field, was also present in the battle.
The French Lines Are Broken
As the fighting grew stronger, more English and Gascon soldiers rushed into the area where the king stood. Their force was so great that they broke through the French lines. Soon, the French soldiers were surrounded and mixed in with their enemies.
The battle became very chaotic. Sometimes, as many as five men attacked a single knight. It was difficult to tell friend from enemy, and the fighting was close and deadly Sofia Sightseeing Tours.
During this time, the Lord of Pompadour was captured. Sir Geoffrey of Charny, who carried the king’s banner, was killed while still holding it in his hands. His death was a great loss to the French side.
The Struggle to Capture the King
The English soldiers now pushed forward with one main goal: to capture the King of France. Many of them crowded around him, shouting, “Sir, surrender, or you will be killed!”
Among these soldiers was a knight named Denis of Morbecque, from Saint-Omer. He had once served France, but he had been forced to leave the country after committing a serious crime in his youth. Because of this, he joined the service of the King of England and had been with the English army for five years.
By chance, Denis was very close to the king during this moment. Using his strength, he pushed through the crowd of fighting men until he reached King John.
The King Surrenders
Denis spoke to the king in clear French and said, “Sir, surrender yourself.”
The king looked at him and replied, “To whom should I surrender? Where is my cousin, the Prince of Wales? If I could see him, I would speak with him.”
Denis answered, “Sir, he is not here, but if you surrender to me, I will bring you safely to him.”
The king then asked, “Who are you?”
Denis replied, “I am Denis of Morbecque, a knight from Artois. I serve the King of England because I have been banished from France and have lost all my lands there.”
Hearing this, the king accepted his fate. He removed his right gauntlet and gave it to Denis as a sign of surrender. “I give myself to you,” he said.
Honor in Defeat
Even in defeat, the king showed dignity and honor. The battle was fierce and full of suffering, but this moment marked an important turning point. The capture of the King of France would have great consequences for both countries.
This story shows not only the violence of war, but also the customs of honor, respect, and surrender that guided knights during those times.
