province. The Breton John Kerlouët and Louis de Saint Julien Trimouille, lord of Lusignan, had occupied La Roche-Posay and Saint-Savin, a few kilometres from Poitiers. Chandos decided to retake the abbey of Saint-Savin, with a surprise attack under cover of night. The planned attack failed when, thinking they had been detected by the enemy, Chandos' force retreated towards the bridge across the Vienne at Lussac, along the route to Poitiers through Chauvigny. The French, unaware of their presence, had decided to follow the same route to harass any English troops. The adversaries met at the bridge of Lussac. In the battle, Chandos' long coat made him slip on the frost. James de St. Martin or Guillaume Boitel struck Chandos with his spear. Chandos' uncle Edward Twyford, standing over his wounded nephew, repulsed the attackers. One of his squires pierced both legs of the squire of James Saint-Martin with his lance; Saint-Martin died three days later at Poitiers. John Chandos was carried on a large shield to Morthemer, the nearest English fortress. He died on New Year's Day 1370, after a day and night of agony, at the age of 55. When the news of Sir John's death reached the court of Edward III in England, and the court of Black Prince at Guyenne, they were greatly upset. Chandos was not only a great warrior, but also an able administrator and a wise politician. A cenotaph was erected to commemorate the spot where he fell. This monument has since been moved to the nearby town of Mazerolles. Bertrand du Guesclin recaptured the castle from the English in 1372. Modern era The large communal fish pond was dug in 1492. In 1519, Renée Geoffroy, heiress to the castle, married François de Rochechouart-Mortemart. At that time, the castle formed a large quadrangle with corner towers, battlements, and underground rooms. Its imposing mass loomed between the pond and the village. The castle was sacked by the troops of the Admiral de Coligny in 1569, and then dismantled by the people, who used its stones to build houses. During the French Revolution, under a decree of the convention (Year II), the town was renamed Lussac-sur-Vienne. Fierce fighting took place between Resistance forces and the Wehrmacht in the summer of 1944. Population Personalities The area was the birthplace of the famous mistress to Louis XIV, Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan (1640–1707). See also Communes of the Vienne