Xaintrailles, Jean Poton, seigneur de

(unknown-1461)

   military figure

   A companion-in-arms to joan of arc, Jean Poton, seigneur de Xaintrailles began as a mercenary (1424) in the service of the duke of Burgundy, then went over to fight for King charles vii. Captured by the Burgundians at Mons-en-Vimeu (1421), then ransomed, he became a comrade-in-arms to Joan of Arc and took part in the victory at Patay over the English commander Talbot, whom he took as a prisoner (1429). He also apparently attended the coronation of the dauphin at Reims (July 1429), and fought at Compiegne. Captured in 1431, he was exchanged for Talbot and, in 1444, fought under the dauphin Louis in a campaign against the swiss. He served as a leader of the French armies (1450), reconquered Normandy, and led the victorious procession of Charles Vii into Rouen (1451). in 1455, Xaintrailles conquered Guyenne and was named a marshal of France.