Biography of Bernard Brocas 1330-1395
In 1330 Bernard Brocas was born to John Brocas of Clewer in Berkshire. He grew up with the Edward "Black Prince" at Windsor Castle [Map].
After 1330 Bernard Brocas and Agnes Vavasour (age 2) were married. They were subsequently divorced.
On 26 Aug 1346 the army of King Edward III of England (age 33) defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince" (age 16), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 33), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36) and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 30).
The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield (age 36), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38), Bernard Brocas (age 16), Thomas Felton (age 16), James Audley (age 28), Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh (age 59), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 18), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 51), John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth (age 66), Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 37), Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 19), William Scrope (age 21), Stephen Scrope (age 21), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 16), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28), Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle (age 42), Nicholas Longford (age 61), Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 27), Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings (age 28), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 48), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 34), Thomas West (age 34), John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby (age 43), John Wingfield (age 26), Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy (age 25), Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon (age 43) (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux (age 37), John Devereux (age 44), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 26), Richard Pembridge (age 26) and John Sully (age 63).
The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France (age 52) was wounded. William de Coucy (age 60) and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy (age 33) and were killed.
Charles Valois Count Alençon (age 49) was killed. His son Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons (age 9) succeeded Count Alençon.
Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. His son Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.
Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders (age 42) was killed. His son Louis Dampierre III Count Nevers II Count Flanders (age 15) succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.
King John I of Bohemia (age 50) was killed. His son Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg (age 30) succeeded IV King Bohemia.
Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 26) was killed. His son John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Jean IV de Harcourt (age 39) was killed.
Around 1354 [his son] Bernard Brocas was born to Bernard Brocas (age 24) and [his wife] Agnes Vavasour (age 26).
On 19 Sep 1356 the army of Edward "Black Prince" (age 26) defeated the French and Scottish army led by King John "The Good" II of France (age 37) at the Battle of Poitiers
King John "The Good" II of France was captured by three captains including Ivon aka John Fane.
The the English army included: Bernard Brocas (age 26), Thomas Felton (age 26), James Audley (age 38), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 43), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 28), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 61), Edward Despencer 1st Baron Despencer, Baron Burghesh (age 21), Ralph Ferrers (age 27), William Scrope (age 31), William Montagu 2nd Earl Salisbury (age 28), Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 37), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 58), William Ufford 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 18), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 44), John Willoughby 3rd Baron Willoughby (age 33), Thomas Arderne (age 19), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 36), Richard Pembridge (age 36), Jean Grailly (age 25), Robert de Fouleshurst (age 26) and John Sully (age 73)
John Savile of Shelley and Golcar (age 31) probably fought having received letters of protection to travel overseas.
Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon (age 53) protected the baggage train.
The French and Scottish army included: King John "The Good" II of France, Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy (age 14), Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche (age 12), Archibald "Grim" Douglas 3rd Earl Douglas (age 26), John "Sans Terre" Artois 1st Count of Eu (age 35); all captured.
Guichard d'Angle 1st Earl Huntingdon and William Douglas 1st Earl Douglas (age 33) fought.
Peter Bourbon Duke Bourbon (age 45) was killed. His son Louis Bourbon II Duke Bourbon (age 19) succeeded II Duke Bourbon.
On 03 Apr 1367 the forces of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile (age 32) commanded by Edward "Black Prince" (age 36) defeated the army of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile (age 33) at the Battle of Nájera at Nájera [Map]. The English forces included John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 27), William Scrope, Peter Courtenay (age 21), John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux (age 30), John Savile of Shelley and Golcar (age 42), Bernard Brocas (age 37) and Thomas Banastre (age 33).
The forces of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile included Bertrand Geusclin (age 47). The battle achieved little since Bertrand Geusclin escaped.
John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 36) was killed. His son Robert Ferrers 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 9) succeeded 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. Margaret Despencer Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
Edward "Black Prince" thereafter returned home, taking Peter's daughters Constance (age 13) and Isabella (age 12) as hostages to ensure Peter would pay the money owed to Edward. Constance married John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, Isabella married Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York (age 25).
Before 1380 Bernard Brocas (age 49) and Mary des Roches (age 44) were married.
Before 1380 [his son] Bernard Brocas (age 25) and [his daughter-in-law] Joan Middleton or Banbury were married.
In 1380 [his wife] Mary des Roches (age 45) died.
Before 1395 Bernard Brocas (age 64) and Katharine de la Plaunche (age 54) were married.
On 20 Sep 1395 Bernard Brocas (age 65) died. He was buried at the Chapel of St Edmund, Westminster Abbey [Map] in Westminster Abbey.
On 19 Oct 1398 [his former wife] Katharine de la Plaunche (age 58) died.