John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury

John Talbot
1st Earl of Shrewsbury
Detail of illuminated miniature from the Talbot Shrewsbury Book showing John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, KG, identified by a talbot dog, presenting the book to Margaret of Anjou, Queen of England, 1445. His robe displays several encircled Garters.
Tenure	20 May 1442 – 17 July 1453
Other titles	1st Earl of Waterford 7th Baron Talbot 10th Baron Strange 6th Baron Furnivall
Known for	Military activity during the Hundred Years' War
Born	c. 1387 Blackmere castle, Shropshire 52°58′40″N 2°39′24″W / 52.97767°N 2.65680°W / 52.97767; -2.65680
Died	17 July 1453 (aged 65–66) Castillon-la-Bataille, Gascony
Cause of death	Slain in battle
Buried	St Alkmund's Church, Whitchurch
Offices	Lieutenant of Ireland Lord High Steward of Ireland Constable of France
Spouse(s)	Maud Neville, 6th Baroness Furnivall (m. c. 1407, d. 1422) Margaret Beauchamp ​ ​ (m. 1425)​
Issue	John, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury John, 1st Viscount Lisle Eleanor Butler Elizabeth, Duchess of Norfolk
Occupation	Soldier
Military career
Allegiance	Kingdom of England
Service/branch	English army
Years of service	1404–1453
Conflicts	Glyndŵr Rising Siege of Harlech (1409) Hundred Years' War Battle of Verneuil (1424) Siege of Orléans (1428–9) Battle of Patay (1429) (POW) Siege of Saint-Denis (1435) Battle of Castillon (1453) †

John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, 1st Earl of Waterford, 7th Baron Talbot, KG (c. 1387 – 17 July 1453), known as "Old Talbot", was an English nobleman and a noted military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He was the most renowned in England and most feared in France of the English captains in the last stages of the conflict. Known as a tough, cruel, and quarrelsome man,^[1] Talbot distinguished himself militarily in a time of decline for the English. Called the "English Achilles" and the "Terror of the French", he is lavishly praised in the plays of Shakespeare. The manner of his death, leading an ill-advised charge against field artillery, has come to symbolize the passing of the age of chivalry.^[2] He also held the subsidiary titles of 10th Baron Strange of Blackmere and 6th Baron Furnivall jure uxoris.