Geoffroi de Charny - Death

Death

Sir Geoffroi de Charny was killed at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, a disastrous defeat for the French in which the French king was taken prisoner to England and the French nobility lost here as well as at Crecy was almost completely wiped out. Froissart’s words vividly describe Geoffroi’s last actions, his bravery to his King and Country and his dedication to the Oriflamme at the Battle of Poitiers on September 19, 1356: “There Sir Geoffroi de Charny fought gallantly near the king (note: and his fourteen year old son). The whole press and cry of battle were upon him because he was carrying the king’s sovereign banner, the Oriflamme. Geoffroi also had before him his own banner, gules, three escutcheons argent. So many English and Gascons came around him from all sides that they cracked open the king’s battle formation and smashed it; there were so many English and Gascons that at least five of these men at arms attacked one gentleman. Sir Geoffroi de Charny was killed with the banner of France in his hand, as other French banners fell to earth.”