Guyenne (herald)

Guyenne was a servant of the Lord of Guyenne, active during the Hundred Years' War. He later became a herald of the Maid of Orléans, Jeanne d'Arc. His family served the Dauphin Charles VII.

Biography

On 21 April 1429, Guyenne was sent to become a herald of Jeanne d'Arc, alongside Ambleville. Introduced to the Maid by Jean d'Alençon, the duke noted that the boys would be useful to the cause as heralds were diplomatically immune.

Later that month, forced into inactivity by the English while stationed at Blois, awaiting entry into Orléans, Jeanne sent Guyenne to the English with a message. When he did not return, Jeanne set off to retrieve the boy. At the base of the Renart Gate, Jeanne shouted at the English soldiers there to give back her herald. The men mocked her, saying that they had used the boy for target practice. Guyenne was held within Les Tourelles, one of the largest towers on the southern bank of the Loire. The other herald boy, Ambleville later joined him.

On 7 May, during the Siege of Orléans, led by Jeanne herself, Guyenne and Ambleville were freed from Les Tourelles alongside many other French prisoners. Later, the two heralds joined Jeanne in a feast at the residence of Jacques Boucher, treasurer of Orléans.

Behind the scenes

The boy with the surname Guyenne, was a historical figure and character appearing in the 2016 novel Assassin's Creed: Heresy, written by Christie Golden.

Guyenne was part of the king's household. His birth name is lost to history, as on becoming a herald he renounced his surname and became "Guyenne" after the lord's province he served. However, such a name was also provocative, as the lordship of the region was claimed by the Henry II of France and VI of England, as a descendant of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Heresy