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' Blow of Jarnac is said in reference to a blow violent, unforeseen and considered, wrongly , like unfair or pernicious. In its direction first and of fencing, it is about one blow to the back of the knee or the thigh. Á the time when it became famous, the blow was unforeseen and it is what gave him its significance.

The expression became soon synonymous with skill. However, it took starting from the Dictionary of Trévoux (fine of the 18th century) a pejorative direction which it has still sometimes today. Emile Littré restores the Acception origin, a skilful and extremely honest blow:

GUI of Jarnac Chub, in a duel, on July 10th, 1547, split of a reverse of its sword the bulge with its adversary François de Vivonne, lord of Chateigneraie. This blow was found very skilful and provides a proverbial expression, which took an odious direction; but it is a wrong of the use, because the blow of Jarnac did not have only the honest one, and the duel occurred in all the rules of honor. Following that, a jarnac was also said for a poignard.

Detail of the business

Guy Chabot of Saint-Froze, seventh baron of Jarnac, had married in March 1540 with Louise de Pisseleu, sister of the duchess of Stamps, mistress of François I {{er}}. The dolphin, the future Henri II, had made run the noise, at the instigation undoubtedly of its mistress Diane of Poitiers, that Chabot had with his/her mother-in-law, Magdelaine de Puyguyon, second wife of its father, the baron Charles Chabot, of the favors of all kinds.

The duchess of Stamps, outragée, required of his/her royal lover justice of these libelous noises, and François I {{er}} could only reach its request. The culprit, the dolphin, feared the anger of his father, and it was the Chestnut grove, friend of the dolphin and frightening swashbuckler, who devoted themselves to say that it was him the author of these noises, and that it had done besides nothing but repeat what Guy Chabot to him had said.

Chub could not, in its turn, that to ask for to the king the permission of avenge his honor, but François I {{er}} refused it all its life, quite conscious that they were there only “quarrels of jealous women”.

In 1547, with the advent of Henri II, Chabot renewed its request, which was then accommodated favorably. But the reputation of the Chestnut grove as a fencer was such as Chabot took in the interval of the lessons with an Italian hired killer who up to that point taught a blow of unknown reverse to him (Jarnac is thus not the inventor of the blow which bears its name). This fencing master had also envisaged to exploit a weakness of the Chestnut grove: an old wound received with the knee, by choosing an heavy weapon, the sword with two hands, in order to tire it, and to slow down it in its displacements.

The duel took place on July 10th 1547. The beginning of the meeting was in favor of the Chestnut grove, big favorite, until the moment when Chabot could place this blow of reverse, which split the Jarret of its adversary. The blow was regular, and, with the general surprise, Chabot was declared victorious.

It is said that the Chestnut grove, expecting to gain the duel easily, had envisaged to give a superb meal the very same day duel. In any case, he was humiliated so much of this defeat which he tore off the evening come the bandages from his wound, and he died in the night.

Legends of South-west: the boot of the dandy

The blow of Jarnac did not have as a framework the small city saintongeaise edges of Charente but the esplanade of the castle of Saint-Germain-in-Bush hammer, the July 10th 1547. Guy Chabot of Saint-Froze, lord of Montlieu, came to end from its adversary in front of the joined together court and the people.

This day, the young Chub, which will become baron de Jarnac only with died of his/her father, demolishes against any waiting the champion of the king Henri II and his Diane mistress of Poitiers. The surprise is total. The cruel masquerade of this judgment of God by the weapons, of this ordalie, is turned over against its promoters. The event marks the spirits strongly, the more so as an huge crowd attends the tournament, which is concluded by a blood bath. The royal disappointment and of the court indeed led the people to be thrown on the money covers too hastily drawn up by presumptuous Vivonne, in preparation for its triumph. The king, furious, makes restore the order without pity (I).

External bonds

the Blow of Jarnac
Memories of the life of the electronic marshal of Vieilleville of BNF CHAP. XII. Duel of Jarnac and the Chestnut grove.

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