Pierre Le Baud

Pierre Le Baud (c.1450 - 1505) was a 15th-century French clergyman and historian known for his writings on the history of Brittany. He served as chaplain to duchess of Anne of Brittany.

Le Baud was probably born in Saint-Ouën-des-Toits, Maine, on the borders of Brittany. On entering the church he became attached to the diocese of Nantes. He became cantor and chaplain of Laval Cathedral and went on to serve as chaplain to local dignitary, Guy de Laval, and then to Margaret of Foix, wife of Francis II, Duke of Brittany. After the duke's death he became chaplain to the new duchess, his daughter Anne. He seems to have supported Anne's marriage to King Charles VIII of France.

He died on 29 September 1505. The exact date is known because of a note written by his nephew, Bertrand d'Argentré, also a clergyman and historian, who continued Le Baud's work.

Le Baud compiled two histories of Brittany. The first was created during Duke Francis' reign, and involves complex genealogical arguments designed to establish the legitimacy and antiquity of the Montfort dynasty. Known as Compillation des cronicques et ystoires des Bretons (Compilation of the Chronicles and Histories of the Bretons), it tells the stories of the ancient Britons from the mythical Trojan Brut; the migration of the Britons to Brittany; and Breton history up to the death of Arthur III, Duke of Brittany in 1458. It was later translated into Latin by Bertrand d'Argentré, who continued the narrative up to his own day, in the reign of king Francis I.

In addition to its own value, Le Baud's "Compilation" is important because it incorporates verbatim, and thus preserves, some very early literature of the history of Brittany, such as the Life of Saint Goeznovius and the Chronicle of Nantes.

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