Pierre Bessonneau was a French commander of the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...

. His father was a squire of

Louis I of Anjou Louis I, Duke of Anjou (23 July 1339 – 20 September 1384) was a French prince, the second son of John II of France and Bonne of Bohemia. His career was markedly unsuccessful. Born at the Château de Vincennes, Louis was the first of the Ang ...

and Pierre also became a squire, this time to the dauphin Charles (the future

Charles VII of France Charles VII (22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461), called the Victorious () or the Well-Served (), was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461. His reign saw the end of the Hundred Years' War and a ''de facto'' end of the English claims to ...

). In 1427 he took part in the defence of

Pontorson Pontorson () is a commune in the Manche department in north-western France. Geography Pontorson is situated about 10 kilometres from the Mont Saint-Michel, to which it is connected by highway and a walking path along the river Couesnon. The ...

. He took part in the

Siege of Orléans The siege of Orléans (12 October 1428 – 8 May 1429) marked a turning point of the Hundred Years' War between France and England. The siege took place at the pinnacle of English power during the later stages of the war, but was repulsed by F ...

(1428–29) as master general and overseer of the king's artillery. He was present at Charles' coronation at

Reims Reims ( ; ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, and the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 12th most populous city in Fran ...

on 17 July 1429. In 1434 he was back in the entourage of Louis of Anjou. On 27 December 1444 he was replaced as master of the artillery by

Gaspard Bureau Gaspard Bureau (died 1469) was a French ballistics expert and inventor, as well as lord of Montfermeil, Nogent-sur-Marne, Villemomble and other places. He was a brother of the artillery commander Jean Bureau. Life Gaspard was the third son of Simon ...

Sources

*Georges Minois, ''Charles VII'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Bessonneau People of the Hundred Years' War