Laval, Andre De, Seigneur De Loheac
LAVAL, ANDRE DE, SEIGNEUR DE LOHEAC (c. 1408-1485), French soldier. In 1423 he served in the French army against England, and in 1428 was taken prisoner by John Talbot, 1st earl of Shrewsbury, after the capitulation of Laval, which he wa? defending. After paying his ransom he was present with Joan of Arc at the siege of Orleans, at the battle of Patay, and at the coronation of Charles VII. He was made admiral of France in 1437 and marshal in 1439. He served Charles VII. faithfully in all his wars, even against the dauphin (1456), and when the latter became king as Louis XL, Laval was dismissed from the marshal's office. After the War of the Public Weal he was restored to favour, and recovered the marshal's baton, the king also granting him the offices of lieutenant-general to the government of Paris and governor of Picardy, and conferring upon him the collar of the order of St Michael. In 1472 Laval was successful in resisting the attacks of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, on Beauvais.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)