Robert de Baudricourt, Seigneur de Baudricourt, was the son of Liébaud, a man of Lorraine, chamberlain of the duc de Bar, and a lady of Champagne, Marguerite d'Aunoy. He was captain of Vaucouleurs at the time of Jeanne d'Arc and later Bailly of Chaumont for King Charles VII - after October 17, 1437.

This personage, prudent and rich, was very strong in favor with René d'Anjou, who made him his councillor an chamberlain. He was still living in 1450. A squire, then made a knight, he was lord of the territory of Baudricourt in the Vosges, a fief o the duchy of Lorraine. This family had already served against the English. Jean, Robert's son, was the first son of Lorraine to bear the bâton of marshal of France.


Robert de Baudricourt was a minor figure of 15th century French nobility. His principal claim to fame is to have been the first stepping stone in the career of Jeanne d'Arc. In 1429, Robert de Baudricourt's only title was captain of the royal garrison at Vaucouleurs. It was to him that Jeanne d'Arc appealled to provide an escort to the court of Charles Valois, Dauphin of France.

Initially, Baudricourt simply did not take the sixteen year old peasant girl seriously, but since Vaucouleurs was not a large town, he could hardly avoid her. Having cornered him in a public place, she began to lecture everyone present, holding them spellbound, and putting public pressure on Baudricourt to assist her. Finally, he relented, and provided an escort to visit the Dauphin.

Baudricourt advanced during the war against the English and over the rest of his career, rising to squire, then knight and finally was made a lord.