Arnaud de Cervole
Encyclopedia
Arnaud de Cervole, also de Cervolles, de Cervolle, Arnaut de Cervole or Arnold of Cervoles (c. 1300 - 25 May, 1366), known as l'Archiprêtre (The Archpriest
), was a French
mercenary
soldier
during the Hundred Years' War
.
in the Périgord
somehere around the year 1300. Even though a layman, he possessed the ecclesiastical fief
of Velines
in Dordogne
; because of it he was called the Archpriest of Vélines (Archiprêtre de Velines).
In the early 1350s, he commanded a band of 80 men in South-West France. In 1356, he was wounded and captured after fighting in the forces of the Count of Alençon at the Battle of Poitiers
.
In 1358, Arnaud and his troops laid siege to Avignon
and forced Pope Innocent VI
to pay him a thousand gold florins
. After the Pope paid the ransom, Arnaud discharged his troops on the spot, pocketed the money and left, leaving his men ever more furious and dangerous.
to deal with English brigands, dispatching him with a small royal army led by the Comte de Tancarville and the Comte de la Marche. http://www.maisonstclaire.org/timeline/1361.html This army was defeated at the Battle of Brignais
, where Arnaud was captured.
to lead a new Crusade to the Holy Land. The purpose was to clear the Pope's domains of mercenary bands with the added benefit of striking a blow against the Turks. Although the Archpriest did set about collecting mercenaries together, the project progressed slowly and many had dispersed again by the end of the year. A fresh attempt was made in 1366 but supply problems caused discontent. On 25th May, 1366, Arnaud de Cervole was murdered by his own men.
's novel Timeline
and its film adaptation
, where he is played by Lambert Wilson
.
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
), was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
during the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
.
Early career
He was born in Lot-et-GaronneLot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot and Garonne rivers.-History:Lot-et-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
in the Périgord
Périgord
The Périgord is a former province of France, which corresponds roughly to the current Dordogne département, now forming the northern part of the Aquitaine région. It is divided into four regions, the Périgord Noir , the Périgord Blanc , the Périgord Vert and the Périgord Pourpre...
somehere around the year 1300. Even though a layman, he possessed the ecclesiastical fief
Ecclesiastical fief
In the feudal system of the European Middle Ages, an ecclesiastical fief, held from the Church, followed all the laws laid down for temporal fiefs. The suzerain, e.g...
of Velines
Vélines
Vélines is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
in Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
; because of it he was called the Archpriest of Vélines (Archiprêtre de Velines).
In the early 1350s, he commanded a band of 80 men in South-West France. In 1356, he was wounded and captured after fighting in the forces of the Count of Alençon at the Battle of Poitiers
Battle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
.
In 1358, Arnaud and his troops laid siege to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
and forced Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...
to pay him a thousand gold florins
Italian coin florin
The Italian florin was a coin struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard. It had 54 grains of nominally pure gold worth approximately 200 modern US Dollars...
. After the Pope paid the ransom, Arnaud discharged his troops on the spot, pocketed the money and left, leaving his men ever more furious and dangerous.
Battle of Brignais
In 1362, he was hired by the French king John IIJohn II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
to deal with English brigands, dispatching him with a small royal army led by the Comte de Tancarville and the Comte de la Marche. http://www.maisonstclaire.org/timeline/1361.html This army was defeated at the Battle of Brignais
Battle of Brignais
The Battle of Brignais was fought on 6 April 1362, between forces of the Kingdom of France under Jacques de Bourbon and the Free Companies, led by Petit Meschin and Seguin de Badefol...
, where Arnaud was captured.
A failed crusade
In 1365, he was approached by Pope Urban VPope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
to lead a new Crusade to the Holy Land. The purpose was to clear the Pope's domains of mercenary bands with the added benefit of striking a blow against the Turks. Although the Archpriest did set about collecting mercenaries together, the project progressed slowly and many had dispersed again by the end of the year. A fresh attempt was made in 1366 but supply problems caused discontent. On 25th May, 1366, Arnaud de Cervole was murdered by his own men.
In popular culture
Arnaud (as Arnaut) appears as a character in Michael CrichtonMichael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
's novel Timeline
Timeline (novel)
Timeline is a science fiction novel by Michael Crichton that was published in November 1999. It tells the story of a group of history students who travel to 14th Century France to rescue their professor...
and its film adaptation
Timeline (film)
Timeline is a 2003 science fiction action film, directed by Richard Donner. It stars Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Billy Connolly, David Thewlis, Gerard Butler and Anna Friel. It is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton...
, where he is played by Lambert Wilson
Lambert Wilson
Lambert Wilson is a French actor. He is internationally known for his portrayal of The Merovingian in The Matrix He was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, the son of Georges Wilson, who was an actor, theatrical manager and director of the Theatre National de Paris.Wilson screen tested for The...
.