John Chandos

Lore & Background

John Chandos was the son and heir of Sir Edward Chandos, lord of the manor of Radbourne, Derbyshire. He trained in the arts of war and distinguished himself as a young knight. On the eve of the Battle of Sluys, he was sent ashore with Sir Reginald Cobham and Sir Stephen Lambkin to reconnoitre the French fleet, finding the enemy vessels ranged in three compact lines. He was a leading figure at Crécy and, as Chief of Staff to the Black Prince, designed the strategy that won Poitiers in 1356. In 1360, he was created a knight banneret and made Viscount of Saint-Sauveur by Edward III, though the Herald of John Chandos suggested the banneret was conferred before the Battle of Najera in 1367. On 29 September 1364, he led Duke John de Montfort's forces to victory at Auray, ending the Breton War of Succession. He later became constable of Aquitaine and, after disagreeing with Edward over taxation of the Guyennois, retired to his property in Normandy.

Reader's Guide

John Chandos's significance lies in his role as a military strategist and administrator during the Hundred Years' War. Froissart's description of him as 'wise and full of devices' underscores his reputation for tactical innovation, credited with planning the English victories at Crécy, Poitiers, and Auray. His death in a minor skirmish at the bridge of Lussac in 1369 was regretted on both sides; Charles V of France reportedly said that had Chandos lived, he would have found a way to make a lasting peace. Froissart noted that French knights regretted his death, believing he could have established peace if captured. Chandos's legacy includes a cenotaph maintained near Mazerolles, and his herald wrote a significant poem, The Life of the Black Prince. He appears in historical novels by Arthur Conan Doyle and Gordon R. Dickson, reflecting his enduring cultural influence as a model of chivalric and strategic excellence.

Did You Know?

• Chandos was a founding member and the 19th Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1348.
• He was created a knight banneret in 1360, allowing him to hold a banner in battle.
• His death occurred when his long coat made him slip on frost during a skirmish at the bridge of Lussac.
• Chandos Herald, his herald, wrote a poem titled The Life of the Black Prince.