James Sparrow alias
Hugh Alan Kennedy


Coat of Arms
of Hugh Alan Kennedy


 

Hugh was the son of Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure and Agnes Maxwell, and was related to the Scottish royal family.  The Kennedys ruled the Carrick region of Scotland from their Castle of Dunure.   

He was a priest, known as « Frier Hew », who left the Blackfriars Monastery in Ayr and went to France as a mercenary soldier with the Earl of Buchan to fight the English.  He distinguished himself at the Battle of Bauge in 1421 and at the Siege of Montargis with Dunois and La Hire in 1427.  In 1428, before Joan of Arc’s coming, he forced his way into Orleans with food for the people.  He was at the Battle of the Herrings in 1429.  He took part in the Council of War, knelt with Joan of Arc at the Thanksgiving in Orleans Cathedral, was present at the crowning of Charles VII, and held Lagny against the Duke of Bedford in 1432.

In 1434-36 he was Squire of the Stables in the household of King Charles, and was sent as French Ambassador to his own home country of Scotland in a mission to fetch Princess Margaret to marry the Dauphin Louis.  He returned to Holy Orders as a canon regular in the Monastery of St John of Sens, helped by King Charles VII of France sending a petition to the pope.  The Scottish king also petitioned the pope, and Hugh was made Provost of the Chapel Royal in St Andrews.  Later he became Treasurer of Glasgow and Archdeacon of St Andrews.

Hugh was Counsellor to King Charles, who gave him the Chatellenie of Gournay-sur-Marne for his lifetime… and leave to wear one fleur-de-lys in his coat of arms. 

Today, two schools near his Scottish home wear a uniform of blue and yellow in honour of Hugh Kennedy's service to France.
 

Biography supplied 2008  by Jean Brittain. I would like to give my sincere thanks to Jean for her kind contribution to the History page. Also for sending me her private photos from the castle in Scotland,  home of Sir Alan Hugh Kennedy.  Information updated October 2010 by Jean Brittain


 


Hugh Kennedy of Ardstinchar
e-book par Jean Brittain

Amazon.com
and
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Scotlands First Golfer ?
paperback
by Jean Brittain


 





      

Artwork ©Linda

 

It is an immense joy for me to announce that my dear friend Jean BRITTAIN from Scotland has written a book about Sir Hugh Alan Kennedy, to all of us "Catherine readers" a well known character, who played a minor, but important role in Belle Catherine and  Catherine and Arnaud. It was the Scottish Chevalier Kennedy who took over at Carlat, when Arnaud de Montsalvy had to go to the valley of the lepers!
It is now also the story of a great friendship between Linda and Jean, who came to know each other via youtube, where an unknown person, while watching one of my first video clips, asked once if it would be possible to show her which actor played Sir Hugh Alan  Kennedy,
who was by no means a fictional character, but a Scottish Chevalier who was also one of the Captain's of Jeanne d'Arc together with La Hire, Xaintrailles and Jean de Dunois. Her request fascinated me as it did also my sister. So we decided to create the portrait of Sir Hugh alan Kennedy. I am very happy to say that Jean mentions in her book also the Catherine series and Juliette Benzoni!

Thank you very much dear Jean, may you have a great success with your stupendous book about a dashing Scottish Chevalier, who came to middle age France - never knowing that  over six hundred years later he would captivate a Scottish and Swiss girl...!

Jean  Brittains beautiful message to Linda... 

It's been exciting to watch how the award-winning 'Catherine' sites have grown over the years.  Linda Compagnoni was an immense help with her knowledge of Hugh Kennedy's fictional appearances in Juliette Benzoni's books, and I wish her and her sister the very best from Scotland - success, honour and love.  


The friendship between France and Scotland was well known; indeed there had long been an alliance between them more popularly known as the Auld Alliance French :Vielle Alliance. This friendship was forged because the two countries were at war with England though for different reasons. Charles V was the first king to employ Scotsmen in his bodyguard, but it is principally with Charles VII that the alliance was properly employed by the creation of the first elements of Scot Guards who were maintained by tradition in the King’s Household until the 18th century and again under the Restoration.


9th February 1429, an English supply convoy was sent from Paris towards Orléans under the protection of John Fastolf. A messenger from the Orléans garrison informed Charles de Bourbon, Count of Clermont, who commanded French troops in the region. It was decided that French troops should be assembled to intercept the convoy. The principle commander, Charles de Bourbon ordered that the French captains leaving Orléans should not take independent action without his support. The Bastard of Orléans, Xaintrailles and La Hire, but especially John Stuart, impatient to cross swords, did not wait and hurled themselves on the "goddamns". Behind the improvised defences of wagons and barrels full of fish, the English bowmen awaited the enemy. Demoralized, Charles de Bourbon retreated and resumed his responsibility in the lamentable check of this battle.


 


The Scots


Scottish Archer


The Scots at the Siege of Orléans


 

www.maidofheaven.com thank you very much Ben D. Kennedy  for letting us use the coat-of-arms  for Juliette Benzoni's birthday card


 

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