Overview
Robert VIII Bertrand de Bricquebec (c.1273-3 August 1348), also known as Robert Bertrand, Baron of Bricquebec, Viscount of Roncheville, was a 14th century Norman noble. He served as Marshal of France from 1325 until 1344.
Biography
Bertrand was the eldest son of Robert VII Bertrand de Bricquebec, Baron de Bricquebec and Phillipa de Clermont-Nesle. His brother Guillaume was bishop of Noyon (1331-1338), bishop of Bayeux (1338-1347) and bishop of Beauvais (1347-1356).
In 1285, Robert went on crusade to Aragon, as a squire to his uncle Clermont de Nesle, following the massacres of the Sicilian Vespers in 1282. The French army led by King Philip III of France entered Italy, while another smaller army provided a diversion in Spain. Figueras, Castillon and Girona were taken. It is reported that during the battle of Girona in September 1285, Robert seriously wounded King Peter III of Aragon, who died soon afterwards of the wounds.
In 1321, Robert Bertrand was sent on mission in Lorraine to the bishop of Verdun and Luxembourg, regarding the bishopric of Verdun. A dispute had broken out between Edward I of Bar and John I of Bohemia, resulting in a war between the two protagonists. The mediation resulted in a short-lived truce. During August 1322, Robert accompanied his father-in-law Henri de Sully and other French knights into the service of King Edward II of England. They fought for England against King Robert I of Scotland. During the decisive meeting at the Battle of Old Byland on 14 October 1322 in Yorkshire, near Byland Abbey, the French knights remained on the battlefield after the English were defeated and were made prisoners. On 30 May 1323, a truce was signed between Edward II and Robert I, with a ransom being paid for the release of the French prisoners and on 3 June 1324, Bertrand and the surviving French knights embarked at Dover to return to France.
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