On September 29, 1364, the Battle of Auray brought a decisive end to the Breton War of Succession, a bloody conflict that had raged for over two decades as part of the Hundred Years' War. The battle saw the forces of John of Montfort, supported by the English, defeat those of Charles of Blois, backed by the French. Charles of Blois was killed in the fighting, and the victory secured Montfort's son as Duke John IV of Brittany, reshaping the political alignment of the duchy.

The Battle of Auray and the Breton War of Succession provided rich subject matter for chroniclers and poets of the period, who explored themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the tragic costs of dynastic ambition. The conflict was immortalized in the works of Jean Froissart, whose Chronicles gave vivid accounts of the battle and its aftermath, influencing later poets and playwrights who drew upon Breton history for their works. The battle's legacy can be seen in the poetry of the Breton literary revival and in the broader tradition of French historical verse.