The lengthy chanson de geste that mythologizes the life of the French knight Bertrand du Guesclin (c. 1320–1380) sends a strong message about military masculinities and the kind of man who is worthy of praise. It comes as no surprise, then, that du Guesclin responds quite firmly against a charge of cowardice levelled against him when he advises Henry of Trastamara against engaging in the Battle of Najera:

Consistently loyal to whichever cause he was fighting for, the historical Bertrand du Guesclin very much earned his reputation and the rewards that came to him. The poem that commemorated and mythologized his life has a strong message about military masculinities that shows why he was so respected. His unwavering loyalty meant that he could act as he saw fit, even when his actions were questionable. This loyalty is part of the poem's argument: those who are consistently loyal are the worthiest of praise. This article explores more of the poem's arguments about military masculinities.

The historical Bertrand du Guesclin (c. 1320–1380), a minor Breton noble, was one of the most famous of the French soldiers of his generation, valuable enough to be mythologized both in his lifetime and in subsequent centuries. He proved himself so useful that he served the last ten years of his life as Constable of France, a military position hitherto reserved for someone of the higher nobility. When the Hundred Years’ War between England and France escalated after 1369, he managed to retake much of the territory lost to the English after the Battle of Poitiers (1356) and the subsequent Treaty of Bretigny (1360).